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.

At least 23 people, including Inquilab Mancha leader Abdullah Al Jabir, were injured on Friday when police used sound grenades, tear gas, water cannons, and batons to disperse protesters near Dhaka’s Hotel Intercontinental intersection. The demonstrators were marching toward the chief adviser’s residence in Jamuna demanding justice for the killing of former spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. The confrontation turned the Shahbagh, Kakrail, and Paribagh areas into a conflict zone, halting traffic and forcing nearby shops to close.

Doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital confirmed that all 23 injured had leg wounds, likely from batons, and none were hit by bullets or sharp weapons. Witnesses said the clash began around 3:30 p.m. when students tried to break police barricades. Police said they acted to control the situation and denied any use of live ammunition. Authorities have deployed additional police, RAB, and BGB forces across key intersections and banned gatherings in the Jamuna area.

Inquilab Mancha has been staging a sit-in since Thursday, demanding a UN-led investigation into Hadi’s killing and vowing to continue protests until their demands are met.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has declared all polling centers across the country as smoke-free zones ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. The directive, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Shahidul Islam from the Election Management and Coordination-1 branch, was issued on Friday. It states that no one, including voters, candidates, election officials, or law enforcement personnel, will be allowed to smoke inside polling centers during voting on February 12.

The commission instructed returning officers, presiding officers, and local administrations to take necessary measures to enforce the decision. Notices prohibiting smoking are to be displayed at entrances and key points of polling centers. Officials said the move aims to ensure a healthy, comfortable, and disciplined environment for voters and to facilitate smoother election management.

According to the Election Commission, maintaining smoke-free polling centers will contribute to a safer and more orderly voting process nationwide.

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued appointment orders for 1,490 candidates under the 44th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination. The order, released on Friday following issuance on Thursday, comes seven months after the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) recommendation. The new officers have been appointed to various cadres, including 244 in administration, 48 in police, 9 in foreign affairs, and 29 in audit and accounts.

According to the official circular, all appointed officers must join their assigned offices under the respective cadre-controlling ministries by February 9. If no further instructions are issued, they are to report directly to their designated ministries on that date. Failure to join within the deadline will be considered a refusal of the appointment, resulting in cancellation of the appointment letter. The ministry also reserved the right to amend or revoke any appointment if adverse information about any appointee emerges.

The PSC had earlier published the final results of the 44th BCS on June 30 of the previous year, recommending 1,690 candidates for 1,710 vacant posts across different cadres.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced that it will create the post of vice president and introduce an upper house in parliament if it comes to power. The party also pledged to limit the prime minister’s tenure to ten years, ensure a deputy speaker from the opposition, and guarantee that women hold 20 percent of seats in the upper house. The manifesto was unveiled on Friday afternoon at a ceremony in Dhaka’s Hotel Sonargaon, where BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman presented its key features ahead of the national election.

In the section on state system reform, the manifesto promises to restore full faith in Almighty Allah as a guiding constitutional principle, reinstate the caretaker government system, and ensure judicial independence. It also calls for transparency in international agreements, reform of constitutional institutions, and the establishment of an independent election commission. The BNP further commits to implementing the 31-point reform plan and the July Charter, promoting social justice, and forming an inclusive, welfare-oriented government.

The manifesto emphasizes national unity under Bangladeshi nationalism, pledging to overcome social divisions and establish a Truth and Healing Commission to strengthen collective identity.

Inqilab Moncho announced that it will return to the streets after its activists were dispersed by police during a clash in Dhaka on Friday afternoon. 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 Jaber and Raksu General Secretary Ammar, were reported seriously injured, with claims that Jaber was shot.

Following the incident, Inqilab Moncho issued a statement on Facebook urging supporters not to gather temporarily and to remain safe until they recover from injuries. The group reiterated its intention to resume street demonstrations after receiving medical treatment.

The Facebook post also called for calm in handling the situation, emphasizing that the movement would continue once the injured activists recover.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced that his party had proposed a ten-year limit for the prime minister’s tenure nearly two years before the government’s reform commission discussed similar ideas. Speaking at the BNP’s election manifesto launch on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka, he said the proposal was part of the party’s 31-point reform plan and was officially documented. Rahman emphasized that if BNP forms the next government, it will introduce this limit through legal and constitutional means.

He further discussed broader constitutional reforms, including gradual changes to Article 70, which restricts lawmakers’ independence. Rahman said the party aims to make the provision more flexible over time. He also reaffirmed BNP’s commitment to restoring the caretaker government system, arguing that only a non-political interim administration can ensure free and fair elections, as seen in 1991, 1996, and 2001.

Rahman concluded that democratic practices, especially the right to vote, must be preserved under a system trusted by the people.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has outlined a comprehensive plan for the power and energy sectors in its manifesto for the 13th national election, presented on Friday at the Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka by party chairperson Tarique Rahman. The party claims that over the past fifteen years, corruption, opaque procurement, costly short-term contracts, high capacity charges, and import dependency have made the sectors inefficient and expensive. BNP pledged to ensure transparency, efficiency, and optimal use of domestic resources to build an affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly energy system.

According to the manifesto, BNP aims to raise power generation capacity to 35,000 megawatts and expand transmission lines to 25,000 circuit kilometers by 2030. It plans to modernize outdated plants, introduce smart grids, and review rental and short-term contracts to reduce unnecessary costs. The party also proposed strengthening BAPEX for gas exploration, constructing a new oil refinery with five million tons annual capacity, and ensuring transparency in all energy purchase agreements.

BNP set a goal to increase renewable energy’s share to 20 percent by 2030, promote green financing, and reassess the Rooppur nuclear power plant’s effectiveness while investigating any alleged irregularities.

Police reportedly used sound grenades and batons to disperse members of Inquilab Mancha during a sit-in protest in front of the Intercontinental Hotel on Friday afternoon. The group was demanding that the killing of Osman Hadi be investigated under the supervision of the United Nations. Witnesses saw police firing tear gas and sound grenades to break up what participants described as a peaceful demonstration.

Among those present at the protest were Osman Hadi’s wife Rabeya Islam Shompa, Inquilab Mancha’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, and Dhaka University branch spokesperson and Daksu leader Fatima Tasnim Juma. Following the incident, Jaber posted on Facebook urging supporters not to gather temporarily, to seek medical care, and to remain safe until they return to the streets. In another post, he called for calm and advised against escalating the situation.

The posts indicate that Inquilab Mancha intends to resume its activities after recovering from injuries sustained during the police action.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a 51-point election manifesto ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament election. The manifesto, unveiled on Friday at the Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, was presented by BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman. This marks Rahman’s first manifesto as party leader. The slogan of the manifesto is “Bangladesh First,” and it carries the pledge “We will work, we will build the nation.” The BNP has committed to implementing nine key promises if it comes to power.

According to the announcement, the manifesto is divided into five sections, outlining a five-year plan that emphasizes 51 specific points. The document reflects the party’s vision for national development and governance priorities for the next term. The event in Dhaka served as a formal presentation of the BNP’s policy direction under Tarique Rahman’s leadership.

The manifesto’s release signals the BNP’s preparation for the upcoming election campaign, positioning the party’s agenda and leadership ahead of the national vote.

A total of 401,460 postal ballots from expatriate voters registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app have arrived in Bangladesh ahead of the 13th National Parliament Election and referendum. The information was confirmed on Friday by Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project on expatriate voter registration. As of 9:30 a.m. Friday, 766,862 ballots had been sent to expatriate voters, of which 526,498 were received, 482,817 votes were cast, and 449,006 ballots were submitted to postal authorities abroad. Returning officers have so far received 124,746 ballots.

The Election Commission has also started sending postal ballots to domestic voters registered under the ICPV system. So far, 694,146 ballots have been dispatched within the country, with 324,002 voters having received them. Among these, 259,394 have voted, 213,697 have submitted their ballots, and 30,706 ballots have been received by returning officers.

In total, 1,533,684 voters at home and abroad have registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app to vote by post. The national election and referendum are scheduled for February 12 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced its manifesto for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, pledging to build a just and inclusive Bangladesh under the slogan “Bangladesh First.” The manifesto, titled “We Will Work, We Will Build the Nation,” was unveiled by BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman at the Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. It marks Rahman’s first manifesto as party leader and outlines nine major promises and a 51-point plan divided into five sections for the next five years.

The nine key pledges include introducing a ‘Family Card’ to support low-income families, ensuring fair prices for farmers through a ‘Farmer Card,’ recruiting 100,000 health workers, reforming education with a skill-based policy, expanding youth employment and entrepreneurship, developing sports infrastructure, promoting environmental resilience through river dredging and tree planting, strengthening religious harmony, and expanding digital economy initiatives such as PayPal and e-commerce hubs.

BNP described the manifesto as a new social and state contract rooted in the philosophies of Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s Vision 2030, and Tarique Rahman’s 31-point state reform plan, emphasizing governance based on justice, accountability, and citizens’ rights.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed concern over repeated clashes between police and government employees in Dhaka. In a statement issued to the media on Friday, the party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its central publicity and media department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, said the incidents occurred when government employees held a peaceful rally at the Central Shaheed Minar demanding publication and implementation of the ninth pay scale gazette. As the procession moved toward the state guesthouse Jamuna around 11:15 a.m., police reportedly used batons, tear gas, and water cannons, injuring many participants.

Zubair stated that peaceful protest is a constitutional right of every citizen and that the use of force cannot resolve legitimate demands. He emphasized that government employees are vital partners in state administration and urged the government to respect and implement their justified demands. Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman also supported resolving the issue through dialogue and called for a peaceful settlement.

Zubair further urged the government to engage in discussions with all parties to find a peaceful solution, ensure proper treatment for the injured, and accept the employees’ legitimate demands.