Bangladesh’s legendary band musician Ayub Bachchu and acclaimed actress Farida Akhter Bobita are among ten individuals selected to receive the Ekushey Padak for 2026. The announcement was made by Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday. The honorees include Bobita for film, Professor Dr. Mohammad Abdus Sattar for fine arts, Marina Tabassum for architecture, Ayub Bachchu for music, Warfaze for band music, Islam Uddin Palakar for theatre, Shafik Rehman for journalism, Professor Mahbubul Alam Majumdar for education, Tejas Halder Jos for sculpture, and Orthy Ahmed for dance.

Earlier, the government invited nominations for the 2026 Ekushey Padak at the end of July last year, with submissions due by October 30. According to an information department release, nominations were sought from ministries, public universities, district administrators, and previous recipients of national honors.

The government reaffirmed its policy to recognize individuals, groups, and institutions—living or deceased—for outstanding contributions in fields such as language movement, arts, journalism, education, science, and social service through the annual Ekushey Padak awards.

The Bangladesh government has announced new working hours for all government, semi-government, autonomous, and semi-autonomous institutions during the upcoming Ramadan. Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam disclosed the schedule at a briefing held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. Offices will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a 15-minute break for Zuhr prayers from 1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

According to the announcement, banks, insurance companies, the Supreme Court, and other autonomous bodies will have the flexibility to set their own schedules based on operational convenience. The decision aims to adjust working hours in line with the fasting period observed by employees during the holy month.

The revised hours will apply throughout Ramadan, after which regular office timings are expected to resume as usual.

Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul stated that the interim government will not delay the oath-taking process for newly elected members of parliament. He made the remarks on Thursday at the Secretariat while responding to questions from journalists. According to him, after the election, a person nominated by the President on the advice of the Chief Adviser will administer the oath to the members of parliament.

Dr. Nazrul further explained that if the oath cannot be administered within three days, the Chief Election Commissioner will take responsibility for conducting the ceremony. His comments were aimed at clarifying the procedure and ensuring that the transition process following the election remains timely and orderly.

The assurance from the Law Adviser indicates the interim government’s commitment to maintaining procedural efficiency and avoiding any administrative delays during the post-election transition period.

A major political shift has occurred in the Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency after the cancellation of Engineer Manjurul Ahsan Munshi’s nomination. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has decided to support Jasim Uddin, a leader of the Gano Adhikar Parishad, as the alliance candidate. The announcement was confirmed on Thursday, February 5, by AFM Tarek Munshi, member secretary of BNP’s Cumilla North district unit. Jasim Uddin will contest under the truck symbol against Hasnat Abdullah, the Shaplakoli symbol candidate from the Jamaat-led alliance.

According to Tarek Munshi, BNP has no candidate under the paddy sheaf symbol in Cumilla-4 for the February 12 election, and the central leadership instructed local units to back Jasim Uddin. He said party activists were directed to work for Jasim to strengthen the hand of acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Gano Adhikar Parishad’s central committee member Abu Hanif confirmed BNP’s official endorsement and said their party welcomed the support positively.

The BNP’s decision reshapes the local electoral equation, setting up a direct contest between the BNP-backed Jasim Uddin and Jamaat’s Hasnat Abdullah.

The United Nations has adopted Bangladesh’s proposal to withdraw its reservation on Article 14(1) of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The decision aims to ensure effective compensation and rehabilitation rights for victims of state-perpetrated torture or enforced disappearance. The proposal was approved on December 29 at a weekly meeting of the Advisory Council chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, according to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

The convention, adopted in 1984 and ratified by 173 states, was joined by Bangladesh in 1998. Along with the Bahamas, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, and the United States, Bangladesh had initially placed a reservation on Article 14(1), limiting victims’ access to full compensation and rehabilitation. The withdrawal of this reservation now opens the way for victims and their dependents to claim fair and adequate compensation.

The Advisory Council described the move as a historic step that will strengthen Bangladesh’s international image in human rights protection and enhance state accountability and transparency. The decision fulfills a long-standing demand of human rights advocates in the country.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 1,561 cases over two days against traffic law violators across various areas of the capital. The operation was conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a statement issued Thursday by Muhammad Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division. The cases involved different types of vehicles, including buses, trucks, covered vans, CNGs, and motorcycles.

According to DMP traffic sources, the highest number of cases was recorded in the Mirpur division with 300, followed by Uttara with 228 and Motijheel with 177. Other divisions such as Ramna, Lalbagh, Wari, Tejgaon, and Gulshan also reported numerous cases. During the operation, 523 vehicles were dumped and 213 were towed. The DMP stated that these actions are part of its ongoing efforts to maintain traffic discipline in Dhaka.

The traffic department confirmed that similar enforcement drives will continue across the city to ensure compliance with traffic regulations and improve road safety.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to visit northern Bangladesh on Saturday for the second phase of his election campaign. According to the party’s media cell, he will travel by helicopter in the morning and address rallies in Thakurgaon at 11:30 a.m., Nilphamari at 1:30 p.m., and Birampur in Dinajpur at 2:30 p.m.

In the first phase of his northern campaign, Rahman traveled by road on January 29, holding rallies in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Bogura, Rangpur, Sirajganj, and Tangail over three days. Earlier, he conducted election programs in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Feni, Cumilla, Mymensingh, Gazipur, Dhaka, Barishal, and Faridpur.

So far, the BNP chairperson has held 24 election rallies outside Dhaka and two within his own constituency, Dhaka-17, in Karail and Banani.

Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami and candidate of the 11-party alliance for Khulna-5 (Dumuria-Phultala), warned that the upcoming election would not be free or acceptable if the government and administration remain indifferent. Speaking at a press conference at Khulna Press Club on Thursday, he urged authorities to recover illegal arms, arrest armed groups and extortionists near polling centers, and curb the use of black money. He said the government, Home Ministry, and Election Commission share responsibility for ensuring a fair vote.

Parwar alleged that despite assurances from the Election Commission and the interim government head about a festive and fair election, attacks on candidates, workers, and voters were already taking place. He claimed one side was distributing large sums of illegal money across local units, corrupting politics. He also said law enforcement had failed to act against known criminals despite having their lists.

He identified 52 of 150 polling centers in Khulna-5 as vulnerable, citing fears of intimidation, ballot snatching, and pre-filled ballots. The list was submitted to the administration and monitoring agencies.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that a planned campaign of false propaganda is being carried out against the party. Speaking as chief guest at an event at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Thursday, he said the upcoming election is a struggle for the BNP amid widespread conspiracies, misinformation, and technological manipulation through so-called propaganda bots. The event was organized by Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS) to launch five new BNP election campaign songs.

Rizvi stated that those who fought for democracy and did not hide under the ruling party’s influence are now being targeted by deliberate misinformation. He emphasized that the roots of nationalist forces are deeply entrenched and cannot be obscured by lies or propaganda. He called on poets, writers, artists, lyricists, performers, and composers to take responsibility in countering such defamation and to ensure the victory of truth and justice.

The event was presided over by actor Helal Khan, with speeches from JASAS leaders and cultural figures including Rezauddin Stalin and Moniruzzaman Monir.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the upcoming election presents a crucial opportunity for Bangladesh after 15 years without genuine voting rights. Speaking at a roadside rally at Farabari High School field in Akcha Union, Thakurgaon-1, on Thursday, he stated that the current government is neutral and willing to hold a fair election. He expressed optimism that this time there would be no vote manipulation or coercion, crediting student and public movements for restoring the people’s right to vote.

During the rally, Fakhrul outlined BNP’s election pledges, including a Family Card for affordable essentials, a Farmer Card for irrigation and fertilizer purchases, and debt waivers up to Tk 10,000 for farmers. He promised to suspend NGO loan installments for one year and create jobs for one crore youths within 18 months. He also announced plans for road development, a warehouse, technical and nursing training, and agricultural industries in Thakurgaon.

Fakhrul emphasized communal harmony, urging all religious communities to vote without fear. Calling it his last election, he sought support for BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, and reiterated his commitment to honest governance.

The Bangladesh Army has deployed 100,000 personnel to ensure a peaceful and orderly environment for the upcoming national parliamentary election, according to the Army Headquarters. For the first time, troops have been authorized to patrol up to the premises of polling centers. Previously, a maximum of 40,000 to 42,000 soldiers were stationed as striking forces in remote areas. The enhanced deployment has been in effect since January 20.

At a press conference held on Thursday at the Roller Skating Complex in Gulistan, Brigadier General Dewan Mohammad Monzur Hossain, Director of Military Operations, explained that the increased deployment aims to restore voter confidence and ensure safe access to polling centers. He noted that the army chief has assigned nearly all available personnel for election duties, keeping only the minimum required for other operations.

Due to a shortage of vehicles, the army has sought assistance from the civil administration and is hiring vehicles when necessary to maintain continuous patrols. The troops have been conducting day and night patrols to strengthen public trust ahead of the election.

A Bangladesh tribunal has sentenced former Member of Parliament Saiful Islam and five others to death for crimes against humanity related to the killing of seven people and burning of six bodies in Ashulia during the July uprising. The verdict was delivered on Thursday afternoon by the three-member judicial panel of Tribunal-2, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. Seven others received life imprisonment, and two were sentenced to seven years in prison. Former Ashulia police sub-inspector Sheikh Abzalul Haque was acquitted.

The court also ordered the confiscation of Saiful Islam’s assets for distribution among the victims’ families. Those sentenced to death include former Ashulia police officials and a local youth leader. The tribunal area and the Supreme Court premises were placed under tight security, with police, RAB, BGB, army, and intelligence personnel deployed.

The ruling marks a significant judgment in a case tied to violent events during the July uprising, underscoring the tribunal’s continued pursuit of accountability for crimes against humanity.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Boalmari in Faridpur for the first time on Friday. Preparations are underway at the Boalmari municipal stadium, where he will address a public gathering at 4 p.m. The event, described as an election grand rally, has generated significant enthusiasm among party members and residents from Boalmari, Alfadanga, Madhukhali, and nearby areas.

Local Jamaat leaders said the visit marks a historic occasion for Boalmari, expressing hopes for a peaceful and well-organized rally with broad public participation. Boalmari municipal Jamaat president Syed Niamul Hasan stated that the community expects spontaneous involvement from people across all levels.

Authorities have intensified security measures to maintain law and order during the event. Boalmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain confirmed strict monitoring and increased police deployment. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rakibul Hasan said a law and order meeting would be held at 3 p.m. to finalize necessary decisions regarding the rally.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Thursday sentenced former MP Muhammad Saiful Islam and five others to death in the Ashulia seven-murder case, which involved the killing and burning of six bodies during the July Revolution. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of Saiful’s properties for distribution among the victims’ families. The verdict was delivered at 1:15 p.m. by a three-member panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.

The other death-row convicts are former Ashulia police officers AFM Sayed Rony, Abdul Malek, Biswajit Saha, constable Mukul Chowdhury, and Jubo League member Rony Bhuiyan. Seven others, including former DIG Syed Nurul Islam and SP Asaduzzaman Ripon, received life imprisonment, while two were sentenced to seven years. SI Afzalul Haque was pardoned for testifying as a state witness. The tribunal panel also included retired judges Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

The case stemmed from the August 5, 2024 incident in front of Ashulia Police Station, where five people were shot dead and one fatally injured before police allegedly set fire to a vehicle carrying the bodies.

The government will hand over responsibilities to elected representatives as soon as possible after the upcoming national election, according to Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser. He made the statement in a verified Facebook post on Wednesday night, dismissing claims that the interim government would remain in power for 180 working days after the election.

Majumdar described such claims as dishonest propaganda, accusing those spreading them of previously trying to create doubts about the election. He said that now, as the election is proceeding on schedule, these groups are promoting new conspiracy theories. He added that even some highly educated individuals are being misled by such misinformation, but there is no scope for confusion in reality.

The 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum are scheduled to take place across the country on February 12, 2026.