The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs said the upcoming February 12 national election in Bangladesh is expected to be free, fair, peaceful, and transparent, leading to the formation of a new parliament. Speaking at a press briefing at the Sylhet Press Club on Friday evening, he expressed optimism that the historic election would strengthen democracy and help Bangladesh emerge as a dynamic state.

Ijabs emphasized that the EU EOM operates under three technical principles—independence, impartiality, and non-interference—and will observe the electoral process but not certify the results. He noted that the election belongs solely to the people of Bangladesh. The mission will assess the overall environment for political and civic participation, including that of women, youth, and vulnerable groups, as well as monitor media and social media to evaluate voter access to information.

According to Ijabs, the EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement and hold a press conference in Dhaka on February 14, followed by a final report with recommendations about two months later.

Leaders and activists of Inqilab Manch reoccupied Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection late Friday night after enduring police sound grenades and tear gas for two hours. Earlier in the evening, police had dispersed the group and taken control of the area around 7 p.m., but by 8:45 p.m. the protesters regained their position. The group has been demonstrating since Thursday near the Intercontinental Hotel, demanding a United Nations-led investigation into the killing of Hadi.

Police had earlier used sound grenades and tear gas to remove the protesters from the hotel area, prompting Inqilab Manch to block Shahbagh in protest. Independent MP candidate for Dhaka-18, Mohiuddin Roni, was injured during the confrontation and is receiving hospital treatment, according to his associate Obaidur Rahman Sohan. In a Facebook post Friday night, Inqilab Manch reaffirmed that the election scheduled for the 12th would proceed and warned against attempts to derail it.

Another post from the group alleged that ruling party activists were blending with the public to divert the situation and urged supporters to move to safe locations.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has invited BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman to join a direct public discussion on the upcoming national election. The invitation was made on Friday evening through a post on Dr. Rahman’s verified Facebook page, where he emphasized the importance of free and fair elections as the foundation of legitimacy and public trust.

In his post, Dr. Rahman stated that political engagement should be civil and non-confrontational, particularly after the July revolution, and called for both leaders to appear before the media and the public to present their respective manifestos. He proposed that such a discussion would allow citizens to evaluate their visions and make informed decisions about the country’s future governance.

Dr. Rahman concluded by urging for a new chapter in Bangladesh’s politics, one that honors the will of the people and upholds transparency and accountability in leadership.

Nahid Islam has declared that there will be no compromise in seeking justice for the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, the convener of Inqilab Moncho. In a Facebook post on Friday evening, he condemned a police attack on the group’s peaceful program demanding a UN-led investigation into Hadi’s killing. Several activists were reportedly injured in the incident, which Nahid described as an act of unprofessional conduct by law enforcement. He urged the government to accept the legitimate demands of Inqilab Moncho and take action against those responsible for the attack.

Nahid also shared a video of his speech from an election rally held earlier in the day in Savar’s Dhaka-19 constituency. In his remarks, he reiterated that failure to ensure justice for Hadi and to arrest the killers would be recorded as a major failure of the interim government. He called on the authorities to respect Hadi’s family and take effective steps to deliver justice without delay.

The interim government of Bangladesh announced that it will send a formal letter to the United Nations on Sunday regarding a possible UN-led investigation into the killing of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. In a statement issued Friday evening, the government said law enforcement did not use firearms while dispersing protests demanding justice for Hadi’s murder near the state guesthouse Jamuna. Twenty-three people were injured, but none suffered gunshot wounds, according to medical officials.

Authorities stated that gatherings around the Jamuna area remain prohibited to ensure public order and the safety of the Chief Adviser. Police reportedly used sound grenades and water cannons to control the situation after protesters attempted to breach barricades. The government rejected allegations of excessive force and reaffirmed its commitment to a lawful and transparent investigation process.

The statement also urged citizens to remain calm and responsible ahead of the upcoming national election, which the government described as a historic milestone for Bangladesh’s democratic progress. It emphasized the importance of a peaceful, participatory, and credible electoral process.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson and election committee chairman Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has strongly condemned a police attack on members of Inquilab Moncho. In a verified Facebook post on Friday, February 6, 2026, he described the incident as 'disgraceful' and questioned whether demanding justice for Shaheed Hadi’s killing was a crime.

According to a Facebook post by Inquilab Moncho, its member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber was shot during the police action at a program organized to demand justice for the killing of spokesperson Shaheed Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. The group also claimed that its leaders Juma and Shanta were injured. Inquilab Moncho leaders have been staging a sit-in in front of Jamuna since Thursday to press their demand for justice. The incident has drawn condemnation from Jamaat, NCP, and several others.

The repeated condemnations highlight growing political tension surrounding the demand for accountability in Hadi’s killing, with multiple parties publicly denouncing the police response.

The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) announced a 10-point election manifesto ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament Election 2026. The declaration was made by JSD General Secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan on Friday evening at the National Press Club in Dhaka. He stated that Bangladesh’s independence was rooted in the struggle against exploitation and inequality, and that the current state structure still bears colonial and discriminatory traits. The manifesto, he said, aims not only at changing the government but also at reforming the state.

The manifesto’s key proposals include a bicameral parliament, a federal government with nine provinces, a national consensus government, and provisions for recall and citizen-initiated legislation. It also calls for an independent Election Commission, constitutional and judicial reforms, universal healthcare, technology-based education, and women’s empowerment. Other priorities include anti-corruption measures, renewable energy, and employment creation for 50 million people.

JSD leaders urged citizens to support the manifesto through a referendum and to vote for the party’s “Tara” symbol in the upcoming election.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed concern and condemnation over the police action during a peaceful program of Inqilab Mancha, where the group’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber was shot and more than a hundred activists were injured. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of the central publicity and media department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, issued a statement on Friday addressing the incident.

In the statement, Zubair said that the police crackdown on activists marching toward the Chief Adviser’s residence in Jamuna to demand a UN-supervised investigation into the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi was unacceptable. He described the use of sound grenades, tear gas, batons, and bullets against peaceful protesters as condemnable and a violation of citizens’ constitutional rights in a democratic state.

He called for an impartial investigation into the incident, identification and exemplary punishment of responsible police officers, and proper medical treatment for the injured. Zubair reaffirmed Jamaat-e-Islami’s stance against injustice and repression and urged the state to abandon repressive measures and listen to the people’s legitimate demands.

Nahid Islam, the Dhaka-11 candidate representing the 11-party alliance and convener of the NCP, expressed concern about the fairness of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. He made the remarks on Friday, February 6, during an election campaign and public outreach event in Satar Kul, Badda, Dhaka. Speaking to journalists, he said there were doubts about whether the election would be fair and claimed that a level playing field was absent.

According to Nahid Islam, a candidate from a particular party was distributing money and goods to voters under the guise of a family card program, violating the electoral code of conduct. He stated that the matter had been reported to the Election Commission. The NCP convener also condemned an attack on members of the Inquilab Mancha who had been protesting to demand justice for Osman Hadi, calling the incident shameful and urging an investigation into who was responsible and who incited the police.

The comments highlight ongoing concerns among opposition candidates about election integrity and enforcement of campaign regulations ahead of the national polls.

The interim government of Bangladesh stated on Friday evening that law enforcement did not use any firearms while dispersing a protest demanding justice for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. The demonstration, organized under the banner of Inquilab Moncho, began Thursday afternoon in front of the state guesthouse Jamuna, where gatherings are prohibited. Authorities said 23 people, including the group’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, were injured but none sustained gunshot wounds, according to doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The government explained that police initially refrained from using force but later deployed sound grenades and water cannons after protesters broke barricades and attempted to move toward the guesthouse. Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed that no firearms were used. The statement also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for Hadi’s killing and said it is reviewing legal aspects of a possible UN-led investigation, with a formal letter to be sent to the relevant UN body on Sunday.

The government urged all citizens to remain calm and responsible ahead of the upcoming national election, emphasizing its goal of a peaceful, participatory, and democratic process.

Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) Vice President Abu Sadiq Kayem has demanded the immediate arrest and punishment of those who ordered and carried out a violent attack on Inquilab Mancha activists protesting for justice in the killing of Shaheed Hadi. He issued the demand on Friday afternoon while speaking in Jhalakathi during a campaign event supporting the 'Yes' vote, warning that failure to act would trigger a nationwide movement involving students and the public.

Kayem criticized the authorities for not arresting the killers of Shaheed Usman even after one and a half to two months had passed since the incident. Referring to the attack on demonstrators in front of Jamuna, he gave a 24-hour ultimatum for the arrest of all those involved. He also accused what he described as counter-revolutionary and pro-Indian forces of conspiring again and urged everyone to remain vigilant against them.

He warned that if the attackers were not brought to justice promptly, students and citizens would once again take to the streets to demand accountability and resist external influence.

Inqilab Mancha has called on its supporters to take position at the Raju Sculpture in Dhaka following a violent clash with police on Friday afternoon. The organization’s leaders earlier announced they would return to the streets after receiving medical treatment. The confrontation occurred around 4:30 p.m. near the Intercontinental intersection, where police used water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades to disperse demonstrators. Several activists, including Jabber and Raksu GS Ammar, were seriously injured.

According to a Facebook post from Inqilab Mancha, the group urged followers not to hold any gatherings for the time being and to remain safe until they resume their movement. Another post from Abdullah Al Jabber’s account claimed that over a hundred people were injured and that Jabber was shot. The organization reiterated its call for calm and emphasized that it would return to the streets after treatment.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between student activists and law enforcement, with Inqilab Mancha signaling plans to continue its protest activities once members recover.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahman Masud has declared that there will be no compromise in handling postal ballots. Speaking to journalists on Friday, February 6, after a meeting with polling officials at Nilphamari Government College, he said the Election Commission is fully alert regarding expatriate voting and will not accept any postal ballot that could raise questions about election transparency.

Masud emphasized that maintaining the integrity of the election process is the Commission’s top priority, even if it results in some votes being invalidated. He described postal balloting as a new initiative and assured the public that the Commission would remain vigilant to ensure its fairness. The meeting was chaired by Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Mohammad Nayiruzzaman, with local officials and election officers in attendance.

Addressing the issue of looted weapons, Masud stated that most of the stolen arms have been recovered and the remaining few do not pose a threat to overall security. He added that recovery operations are still ongoing and that the situation will not disrupt the election environment.

Police dispersed activists of Inquilab Mancha using sound grenades and tear gas on Friday evening. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. near the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka. Officers advanced from the direction of the Intercontinental Hotel while deploying the devices, forcing the group to scatter within moments.

According to the report, this was another instance of police action against Inquilab Mancha activists. The confrontation unfolded as law enforcement moved toward the protest area, using sound grenades and tear gas to clear the site. The report did not mention any injuries, arrests, or official statements from either side.

The repeated dispersal of Inquilab Mancha gatherings indicates ongoing tension between the group and police authorities, though the source provides no further details on the cause or aftermath of the latest incident.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has elaborated on his 'I Have a Plan' slogan, describing it as a comprehensive strategy for rebuilding Bangladesh. Speaking on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka during the announcement of the party’s manifesto for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, he said the plan aims to create a democratic and secure state for nearly 200 million citizens through sector-specific initiatives.

Rahman stated that the BNP’s plan was formulated based on the needs and expectations of the people. He emphasized that the program considers over 40 million youths, nearly half of the country’s population who are women, and millions of farmers and workers. The plan includes measures to generate employment both domestically and abroad, enhance economic capacity, and build a self-reliant Bangladesh.

The manifesto presentation marked a key moment in BNP’s campaign, positioning the party’s development agenda as people-centered and inclusive, with a focus on practical and sustainable national reconstruction.