Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a 37-point set of pledges focused on healthcare reform as part of its election manifesto, unveiled under the theme “Healthcare as Everyone’s Right.” The manifesto was formally presented by party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday, January 4, at the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Sheraton in Banani, Dhaka. The health-related commitments include ensuring affordable and quality medical services, free healthcare for citizens under five and over sixty, and tripling the national health budget.

The party’s plan also promises to strengthen public hospitals, introduce national health insurance and digital health cards, and expand telemedicine and referral systems. It emphasizes transparency through public disclosure of financial data, anti-corruption measures, and e-GP procurement. Jamaat further pledges to improve healthcare governance, enhance medical education, and ensure safety and rights for patients and healthcare workers.

The manifesto positions healthcare as a central pillar of Jamaat’s broader vision for a “Safe Bangladesh,” prioritizing 26 key areas of national development, with health reform presented as a major component.

Thousands of female activists of Jamaat-e-Islami held a protest rally and procession in Chuadanga’s Chowgacha upazila on Wednesday afternoon, denouncing alleged harassment of their members in various parts of the country, including Chowgacha and Jhikargacha. The event, organized by the upazila’s women’s wing, drew around ten thousand participants and concluded at the Kamil Madrasa field after marching through the town’s streets. The rally was presided over by Shahina Khatun, with Jamaat’s parliamentary candidate Dr. Mosleh Uddin Farid as chief guest.

Speakers at the rally alleged that female activists were being threatened and assaulted while campaigning for votes. They cited incidents in Mukhtarpur, Naodapara, and Matichakla villages where women were reportedly harassed, their belongings seized, and later returned after written undertakings. The speakers blamed administrative inaction for emboldening opponents and warned that continued attacks would provoke a strong response.

Organizers also claimed that BNP activists blocked several vehicles carrying participants on the way to the rally, which were later released following administrative intervention.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, authorities have identified 13 out of 147 polling centers in Dhaka-20 (Dhamrai) constituency as vulnerable. Government Returning Officer and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khan Salman Habib said preparations are underway to ensure additional security at these locations. Dhamrai Upazila has a total of 376,639 registered voters, including 187,835 men and 188,802 women, across 710 polling booths.

According to the administration, the centers were listed as vulnerable based on past incidents of political violence, influence of local power groups, and previous attempts to seize polling stations. Election Officer Md. S.M. Sadikur Rahman confirmed that sufficient law enforcement will be deployed to maintain order. Dhamrai Police Officer-in-Charge Md. Nazmul Huda Khan stated that police, RAB, BGB, and army personnel will be stationed at the identified centers to ensure peaceful voting.

UNO and Assistant Returning Officer Khan Salman Habib added that CCTV cameras have been installed at all polling centers, and strict legal action will be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt the election process.

Dhaka’s streets have turned vibrant with political activity as campaigning for the 13th parliamentary election enters its 14th day. From alleys to main roads, candidates are meeting voters, holding rallies, and presenting their pledges. The capital’s atmosphere has shifted from routine congestion to election fervor, with symbols like paddy sheaf, scales, and football dominating processions and posters.

Multiple candidates from different parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, held meetings and rallies across the city on Wednesday. BNP leaders emphasized patience, social reform, and religious harmony, while others accused rival groups of attempting to disrupt a fair election. Jamaat leaders urged supporters to remain calm yet vigilant, and Islamist party representatives called for guarding polling centers against alleged manipulation.

With the February 12 vote approaching, Dhaka’s political landscape is marked by intense competition and public engagement, reflecting renewed voter interest in a contested national election.

Supreme Court lawyer and Jamaat-e-Islami nominated candidate for the Sunamganj-2 (Dirai-Shalla) constituency, Mohammad Shishir Monir, has declared his intention to build a community based on unity and harmony. Speaking on Wednesday at an electoral unity and harmony rally held at Shashkhai Bazar in Shalla upazila, he emphasized that such harmony cannot be achieved by excluding anyone from society.

Monir stated that a certain group is attempting to create division in society on communal grounds, but true harmony requires the participation of all, including priests, imams, farmers, and laborers. He said he entered politics with the hope of social change and expressed confidence that, with public support, he would bring positive transformation to Dirai-Shalla’s social structure.

He also alleged that some are using the events of 1971 for political purposes to divide the people of Dirai-Shalla. The rally, chaired by former UP member Montu Chandra Das and conducted by youth Subrata Das of Mourapur village, drew a large crowd from various professions.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, known as the Pir of Charmonai, announced on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, that his party has left the Jamaat-e-Islami–led alliance. Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office in Paltan, Dhaka, he explained that they had originally formed an eight-party understanding, not an eleven-party alliance. He said the distinction was that an alliance requires a single leadership, while an understanding does not.

Rezaul Karim stated that Jamaat-e-Islami’s dishonest behavior led to the separation. He said Jamaat turned the understanding into an alliance by including additional parties without prior discussion or collective decision-making. According to him, this violated the spirit of cooperation and mutual consultation that had initially united the eight parties for the country’s welfare and Islamic values.

He added that on December 28 they were informed about the inclusion of other parties, which contradicted the original agreement. Rezaul Karim said the alliance no longer reflected Islamic principles, national interest, or internal harmony, prompting Islami Andolan Bangladesh to withdraw.

Human rights organization Odhikar reported that in 2025, India’s Border Security Force (BSF) committed severe abuses, including killings and torture, and illegally pushed more than 2,500 Muslims and Bengali-speaking people into Bangladesh. Among those forced across the border were Indian citizens and Rohingya refugees, according to the group’s annual human rights statistics released on Wednesday.

The report also detailed Bangladesh’s internal political and human rights situation in 2025, noting continued violence, extortion, and factional conflicts despite hopes for reform after the 2024 uprising. It documented allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings by law enforcement, ongoing political clashes among major parties, and persistent labor unrest in the garment sector. The interim government ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture in July 2025 and amended the National Human Rights Commission Act to strengthen detainee protections.

Odhikar’s findings further highlighted that enforced disappearances and human rights abuses declined under the interim government, while freedom of expression increased compared to the previous authoritarian period.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of providing shelter to the Jatiya Party (JaPa), which it described as an ally of the Awami League in previous disputed elections. The allegation was made on Wednesday evening during a press briefing at the NCP’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka. Tariqul, chief coordinator of the NCP election management committee and convener of Jatiya Juboshokti, said BNP had sheltered JaPa for the past 16 months and blamed BNP for allowing nearly 250 JaPa candidates to contest in the upcoming election.

Tariqul further claimed that JaPa’s participation in the election was a betrayal of the July uprising and that the party had directly supported the Awami League in three rigged elections, contributing to what he called a rise of fascism in Bangladesh. He added that NCP’s earlier demand to ban JaPa was blocked by BNP’s opposition.

NCP election committee secretary Monira Sharmin questioned the neutrality of the Election Commission and administration, alleging they were acting in favor of a specific party. She warned that if such conditions persist, voters’ rights and safety in the February 12 election could be at risk.

Bangladesh Bank has purchased an additional 171 million US dollars from 16 commercial banks. The transaction took place on Wednesday, February 4, and was confirmed by the bank’s Executive Director and Spokesperson, Arif Hossain Khan. The cutoff price for the purchase was set at 122.30 taka per dollar.

According to the information provided, this is the second round of dollar purchases in February, bringing the total for the month to 389.5 million dollars. The central bank has been conducting multiple auctions to buy dollars during the 2025–26 fiscal year. As of the latest data, Bangladesh Bank has purchased a cumulative total of 4.32 billion dollars through these auctions.

The continued dollar purchases indicate the central bank’s ongoing efforts to manage foreign exchange reserves and stabilize the domestic currency market, as reflected in its repeated interventions through auctions.

The Election Commission (EC) has approved the use of caravans or mobile vehicles for campaign activities ahead of the upcoming referendum and 13th parliamentary elections. The directive, issued on February 4 and signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Shahidul Islam, instructs all relevant authorities, including contesting candidates and executive magistrates, to be informed of the decision. The EC emphasized that such campaign vehicles must not disrupt traffic, cause public inconvenience, or disturb public order.

According to the official circular, the initiative aims to make election campaigns more vibrant and engaging. Caravans may use digital technology or biodegradable materials for decoration, but all activities must strictly adhere to the electoral code of conduct. The EC warned that any violation of public interest or law and order would not be tolerated.

Analysts noted that the move could add a new dimension to election campaigning, though they cautioned that without proper discipline and security measures, the initiative might lead to public discomfort.

An independent investigation committee formed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has found partial truth in sexual harassment allegations brought by former Bangladesh women’s team captain Jahanara Alam against former selector and manager Manjurul Islam. The BCB announced the findings in a press release after receiving the committee’s report and recommendations.

According to the BCB statement, the committee found insufficient evidence for two of the four allegations made by Jahanara but confirmed preliminary proof of unprofessional and inappropriate behavior by Manjurul Islam. The inquiry was initiated after Jahanara publicly raised the allegations on a YouTube channel on November 7. The BCB formed the committee on February 9, led by former Supreme Court Justice Tariq ul Hakim, with four other members including legal and sports officials.

The committee formally submitted its report to BCB President Aminul Islam on February 2. The BCB has not yet disclosed any further action based on the committee’s recommendations.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stated that the party does not support politics based on murder, extortion, or corruption. Speaking on Wednesday evening at an election rally in the field of Tarashail High School in Konkapait Union, Chauddagram upazila of Comilla, he said that corruption had not decreased under any past government. He alleged that the parties they are competing against in the current election had made Bangladesh the top-ranked country for corruption three times during their rule.

Dr. Taher urged voters to choose between continuing corruption and anarchy or supporting the 11-party alliance committed to building a safe and developed Bangladesh. The rally, which drew a large crowd, was presided over by Union Jamaat Ameer Maulana Hasan Mojumdar and conducted by Jamaat leader Nazmul Haque Molla Badol.

Several local and central leaders, including Daksu GS S.M. Farhad, Chauddagram Jamaat Ameer Mahfuzur Rahman, and other political and social figures, also addressed the gathering, emphasizing anti-corruption commitments ahead of the election.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has pledged to make Faridpur a new administrative division if his party comes to power. He made the announcement on Wednesday during an election campaign rally in Faridpur. Rahman urged voters to participate actively on election day, remain at polling centers until results are announced, and guard their votes to prevent irregularities. He also promised to construct the Padma Barrage to boost agricultural development in the region.

During his speech, Rahman described the upcoming February 12 election as a turning point for Bangladesh, calling on citizens to end what he termed 15 years of misrule that deprived people of their voting rights. He said the BNP government would introduce a family card program for four crore families and undertake the re-excavation of about 20,000 kilometers of canals nationwide to support agriculture and environmental protection.

Rahman further warned voters to stay alert against attempts to mislead them through collection of NID cards and mobile payment numbers, and he criticized alleged corruption in recent mega projects, emphasizing that the country belongs to its people, not to any party or individual.

A special operation by the Bangladesh Army in Babuganj, Barishal, led to the arrest of notorious criminal and drug dealer Shahid Pyada, aged 49, along with eight of his associates early Wednesday, February 4. The raid took place in the Bir Sreshtho Jahangirnagar Union area, where the army recovered yaba tablets, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a large quantity of illegal cigarettes, and locally made weapons. Shahid Pyada was detained from his residence, while his associates were captured from his fish enclosure area.

The detainees, including Shahid Pyada, Shamim Sheikh, Shamim Mridha, Sirajul Islam, Shawon Sheikh, Faruk Sheikh, Washim Bepari, Mamun Khan, and Sultan, were handed over to Babuganj Police Station for legal action. The operation was conducted by a special team from the 62 East Bengal Regiment under the 6 Infantry Brigade of the 7 Infantry Division.

The arrests mark a significant step in the army’s ongoing efforts to curb organized crime and drug trafficking in the Barishal region, according to the report.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has pledged to ensure a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the Rohingya crisis with international cooperation if it comes to power. The announcement was made on Wednesday at a hotel in Banani, Dhaka, during the party’s election manifesto unveiling event. The party said it would work to guarantee the safe repatriation of Rohingya refugees.

The manifesto outlines Jamaat’s foreign policy priorities, including enhancing the global standing of Bangladesh and its passport. It emphasizes maintaining friendly relations with neighboring countries such as India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Thailand based on mutual respect and fairness. The party also plans to strengthen ties with the Muslim world and build constructive relations with developed nations including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, and Canada.

Jamaat further stated that Bangladesh would expand relations with Eastern Europe, Africa, and South America, and increase active participation in the United Nations, SAARC, and ASEAN. The manifesto also commits to continuing Bangladesh’s role in UN peacekeeping and supporting transparent migration management.