Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the southern region of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP), said that seeking votes is more honorable than extortion. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at a rally of the 11-party alliance in Chandla Union of Brahmanpara upazila, Comilla. Abdullah emphasized that police officers should not be bribed and that law enforcement should act with conscience and professional integrity to ensure a fair election.

He called on party workers to intensify their campaign efforts until election day, visiting more households daily and personally appealing to voters. Abdullah claimed that even some workers from rival parties were dissatisfied with corruption and might support his side. He contrasted two groups in Bangladesh—one allegedly aligned with foreign interests and corruption, and another striving for national independence and freedom from authoritarianism.

Abdullah concluded by asserting that the power to decide the nation’s future lies with the voters, not the candidates, urging citizens to act responsibly in the upcoming polls.

A caravan campaign supporting the 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum and 13th National Parliament election was launched in Dhaka-18 constituency on Thursday, February 5, 2026. The event took place in Uttara, where Ariful Islam, the candidate of the ten-party 'United Bangladesh Alliance' that includes Jamaat and NCPC, inaugurated the campaign in front of the BNS Center. The mobile campaign traveled through various areas of Uttarkhan and Dakshinkhan police stations, promoting the importance of voting 'Yes' in the referendum.

During the campaign, vehicles displayed the Shapla Kolly symbol and played songs supporting the 'Yes' vote, drawing significant public attention. Many residents stopped to watch the caravan and responded positively. In his opening remarks, Ariful Islam said the alliance was formed to resist Indian dominance, terrorism, corruption, and extortion, and to build public support for the July Charter and the 'Yes' vote.

He added that the alliance envisions a new Bangladesh where no one can become autocratic if the 'Yes' vote wins, emphasizing that their campaign aims to realize a people’s Bangladesh.

Production at the state-owned Jamuna Fertilizer Factory in Jamalpur came to a halt early Friday after rats chewed through electrical wires, causing a short circuit and a sudden blackout across the plant. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. in the factory’s power plant, disrupting electricity supply and stopping the production process. General Manager (Operations) Md. Fazlul Haque confirmed that repair work was underway and production was expected to resume by Saturday.

The Jamuna Fertilizer Factory, the country’s largest urea producer, has faced repeated production interruptions in recent months. After resuming operations on November 24 following a 23-month gas shortage, the plant has experienced multiple shutdowns due to low gas pressure and technical faults. The latest disruption adds rodent infestation to its list of operational challenges.

Factory officials and engineers cited long-standing maintenance and safety constraints, including inadequate budgets and outdated equipment. Experts noted that proper cable protection and regular pest control could have prevented the blackout. Authorities said the situation was under control and pledged to strengthen preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.

BNP’s nominated candidate for Barishal-2 (Uzirpur–Banaripara) constituency, S. Sarfuddin Ahmed Santu, said that if the BNP comes to power, Uzirpur will be free from extortion, land grabbing, and terrorism. He also promised to eliminate unemployment and ensure that citizens can access services without paying bribes or relying on brokers. Santu made these remarks on Thursday, February 5, at 4 p.m. during a courtyard meeting held at the Markazul Karim Samela Majed Qaumi Madrasa field in Shikarpur Union, Uzirpur, ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for February 12.

The meeting was organized by the Shikarpur Union BNP and its affiliated organizations, drawing a large number of activists. It was presided over by Union BNP President Md. Abdur Rof and conducted by General Secretary Mohammad Faruk Hossain Molla. Several district and upazila-level BNP leaders, including Md. Abul Kalam Shahin, Nazim Uddin Panna, and Mamun Reza Khan, also addressed the gathering.

Speakers at the event urged everyone to work together to ensure BNP’s victory by voting for the party’s symbol, the paddy sheaf.

Three individuals were arrested in Kishoreganj, Nilphamari, for allegedly embezzling Tk 2.1 million by issuing fake visas under the pretense of sending a person to Australia. The joint forces conducted raids on Wednesday night in separate locations of Nitai Union and detained the suspects. Police sent them to the district jail on Thursday following their arrest.

According to the temporary army camp in Kishoreganj, the arrests were made after a complaint was filed. The detainees were identified as Sahabul Haque (21) of Nitai Kacharipara village, Hridoy alias Bokri Dipjal alias Shipon (20) of Mushrut Paniyalpukur Balapara village, and Sujon (19) of Tokeyapara village. Police Sub-Inspector Kazi Ripon stated that the accused defrauded Jewel Mia, son of Abdul Mannan from Kasba, Brahmanbaria, of Tk 2,116,000 using fake Australian visas.

A case was filed under the Cyber Security Act at Kishoreganj Police Station, with Jewel Mia as the complainant. The arrested individuals have been sent to the district jail pending further legal proceedings.

Law enforcement agencies have identified remote and high-risk polling centers in Gaibandha-5 constituency’s char areas and initiated special security preparations ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. As part of these measures, the Bangladesh Army’s 66 Infantry Division has begun field exercises in the region to strengthen readiness.

According to administrative sources, the char areas of Fulchhari and Saghata along the Brahmaputra River have been marked as vulnerable due to poor communication links, isolation, and difficulty in delivering emergency assistance. The drills, directed by Major General Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, GOC of the 66 Infantry Division and Rangpur Area Commander, include troop deployment in remote centers, helicopter-based rescue and supply operations, and rapid response strategies to maintain law and order.

Officials stated that additional security layers will be established at high-risk centers during the election, with plans to use river and air routes for quick personnel and equipment delivery. The army’s preparatory activities will continue until the election to ensure peaceful voting and voter safety in the remote char regions.

In Godagari upazila of Rajshahi, local Awami League leader Sunandan Das Ratan was seen campaigning for the BNP candidate Major General (Retd.) Sharif Uddin in the Rajshahi-1 constituency. A 53-second video posted on Facebook by a former Chhatra League activist showed Ratan urging people to vote for the BNP symbol, saying, “We need an umbrella.” Ratan, a former assistant publicity secretary of the Godagari Awami League and a proposed vice president in 2024, confirmed the video was recorded during his campaign in Mohanpur Union.

Ratan, a retired customs officer accused of amassing illegal wealth, previously held local political positions under former MP Omar Faruk Chowdhury. He claimed his support for the BNP candidate was his personal decision, denying any current position in the Awami League. The video drew criticism from a banned Chhatra League member, who accused Ratan of betraying the party for personal gain. Local BNP president Abdus Salam Shawal said he was unaware of the matter and could not stop anyone acting independently.

The incident has stirred debate in Godagari politics, highlighting shifting loyalties ahead of upcoming elections.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on citizens to unite for a corruption-free, exploitation-free, and humane Bangladesh. Speaking as the chief guest at a large rally held on February 5, 2026, at the historic Madrasa ground in Rajshahi, he urged voters to cast their first vote in favor of 'yes' and the second for the party’s symbol, the balance scale, representing justice. He described the upcoming national election and referendum as a decisive moment for establishing a just state through people’s mandate.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that the 11-party electoral alliance’s candidates were selected based on honesty and competence, asserting that none of them were involved in bank robbery, extortion, loan default, or violence against women. He pledged that Jamaat would neither engage in corruption nor tolerate corrupt individuals. Outlining the party’s governance vision, he said that if Jamaat assumed state responsibility, the government would bear all educational expenses from primary to postgraduate levels, ensuring free education for every child.

The rally was conducted by local Jamaat leaders and attended by alliance candidates from multiple constituencies in Rajshahi.

Eight senior police officers have been transferred ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the order on Thursday, signed by Mahbubur Rahman, Deputy Secretary of Police Branch-1. The directive stated that the changes were made in the public interest and would take immediate effect.

According to the order, Additional DIG M A Jalil from Police Headquarters and Additional DIG Md Saifuzzaman Faruqi from the Special Branch have been reassigned to the Dhaka Range DIG office. Additional DIG Mohammad Belayet Hossain from the Khulna Range has been appointed as Additional Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police. Supernumerary SP Saheb Ali Pathan from Rajshahi’s Sardah has been made Deputy Commissioner of GMP, while Additional DIG Mohammad Jabedur Rahman from Sardah has been transferred to CID. S M Ashrafuzzaman has been moved to Industrial Police as Additional DIG, and Additional DIG Md Rashidul Hasan from Rajshahi Range has been attached to Rangpur PTC. The transfer order for Additional DIG Mohammad Robiul Hossain Bhuiyan to the Anti-Terrorism Unit has been canceled.

The ministry emphasized that the reshuffle was implemented immediately in the public interest.

Jamaat-e-Islami central Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stated that if the 11-party alliance wins the upcoming election, it will mark the end of political vengeance in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at an election rally held at Munshirhat High School field in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla, where he was the chief guest. Dr. Taher urged voters to support the alliance’s symbol, the balance scale, for the sake of national development.

In his speech, Dr. Taher said that the past twelve elections were characterized by changes in power and that successive governments had engaged in corruption, which he described as the country’s number one problem. He called the current election a fight against corruption, oppression, and extortion, warning that one party was becoming increasingly authoritarian. The rally was chaired by Union Jamaat Ameer Maulana Zafar Ahmed and attended by several local and regional leaders from Jamaat, NCP, and Khelafat Majlish.

The event drew a large crowd of Jamaat and Shibir activists along with local residents, reflecting active grassroots mobilization ahead of the election.

Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Thakurgaon-3 constituency, Mizanur Rahman, declared that those who doubt the party’s ability to govern Bangladesh are mistaken. Speaking at an election rally on Thursday afternoon at Katihar Bazar in Ranishankail, Thakurgaon, he said Jamaat possesses an ideological strength capable of guiding not only Bangladesh but the entire world.

Addressing rival BNP, Rahman criticized their principles and accused them of corruption and internal violence. He alleged that BNP supporters were tearing Jamaat posters but insisted that such actions could not erase the party’s symbol from people’s hearts. He urged the administration not to suppress Jamaat’s movement by removing campaign materials.

Rahman further stated that his political ideals are rooted in the teachings of the Prophet and cited a peaceful mass gathering in Dhaka as evidence of Jamaat’s discipline. He urged opponents to learn politics from Jamaat before seeking votes, emphasizing that the party’s ideology is based on moral and religious values.

Publishers have strongly criticized the Bangla Academy’s decision to hold the Amar Ekushey Book Fair from February 20, calling it unilateral, undemocratic, and self-destructive. In a joint statement sent to the media on Thursday, they alleged that the academy made the announcement without consulting any stakeholders. The publishers warned that starting the fair during Ramadan would lead to a shortage of visitors, impose inhumane pressure on stall workers, and cause certain financial losses for publishers.

According to the statement, 32 pavilion and 152 stall owners had already expressed written support for holding the fair after Eid-ul-Fitr. The publishers argued that organizing the event during Ramadan would turn it into a failed and tarnished festival, describing the decision as “a blow to an already wounded situation.” They urged the authorities to reconsider immediately and arrange the fair in a festive atmosphere after Eid.

The publishers further appealed to the government and Bangla Academy to acknowledge their concerns, warning that the organizers would bear full responsibility for any resulting crisis if the decision is not revised.

Bangladesh Bank officials have voiced disappointment that the central bank has not been granted autonomy during the interim government’s reform period. At a press conference held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, by the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council at the bank’s headquarters, officials also condemned recent comments by the finance adviser questioning their integrity, calling the remarks unjust, inappropriate, and offensive.

Council leaders, including President A.K.M. Masum Billah and General Secretary Golam Mostafa Shraban, stated that it is unfair to hold the central bank responsible for irregularities in the banking sector without granting it autonomy. They demanded that the bank’s accountability be placed under a parliamentary committee rather than the government. The officials also criticized the failure to amend the Bangladesh Bank Order and the Bank Company Act despite the presence of senior economic figures in the interim administration.

The council further urged the resolution of recruitment and promotion deadlocks, cancellation of all contractual adviser appointments made without transparent procedures, and greater focus from the governor on central bank affairs.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus emphasized replacing conventional training in government service with problem-solving-based programs to improve efficiency and eliminate corruption. He made the remarks on Thursday, February 5, at the state guesthouse Jamuna while receiving a report from the Governance Innovation Unit (GIU) on the performance and institutional evaluation of training institutes. Yunus said the goal is to ensure that citizens do not need to approach government offices, as services should reach them directly through technology-enabled automation.

He criticized outdated training systems that lack skilled personnel and modern methods, calling for performance-based incentives to motivate officials. Yunus instructed the development of high-quality training institutes with ranking systems and encouraged participation from private-sector employees. The GIU’s evaluation, initiated on September 10 under the National Training Council’s guidance with UNDP support, covered five institutions under the Ministry of Public Administration. The report included strategies to enhance quality and overcome institutional challenges.

Committees comprising academia, training representatives, and senior officials guided the process, which followed a learning-by-doing approach and incorporated international best practices and standards.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced that metro rail services will continue as usual during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. Director AKM Khairul Alam confirmed on Thursday that the metro will operate on election days to ensure smooth travel for Dhaka residents and facilitate voter movement, despite restrictions on other vehicles.

According to DMTCL, gates of metro stations located directly beside polling centers may remain closed, while all other gates will stay open. To maintain uninterrupted service, all staff leave has been canceled. Earlier, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges issued a circular on February 2 imposing nationwide transport restrictions, including a ban on taxis, pickups, microbuses, and trucks from midnight February 11 to midnight February 12, and a 72-hour motorcycle ban from midnight February 10 to midnight February 13. Exceptions will apply for emergency and election-related activities.

The decision ensures that metro rail remains the only public transport operating normally during the election period, supporting voter mobility across Dhaka.