As Bangladesh moves toward its February 12 national election, debate has intensified over the legacy of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the country’s only Nobel laureate and head of the interim government formed after the August 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina. Yunus, now 85, was appointed three days after Hasina’s resignation to stabilize a fractured state following violence that killed more than 1,400 people. His administration sought to restore credible elections, balance institutional powers, and prevent a return to authoritarianism.

Supporters credit Yunus with initiating major reforms and accountability measures, including commissions on constitutional, judicial, and human rights issues, as well as investigations into enforced disappearances and abuses under Hasina’s rule. Critics argue the unelected government moved too fast and lacked broad consensus. Political parties remain divided: the BNP questions the interim authority’s limits, while the National Citizens Party and Jamaat-e-Islami back deeper reforms.

Yunus’s final act will be overseeing the first free election in over a decade, coupled with a referendum on reform proposals. Analysts say the outcome will determine whether his leadership is remembered for stabilizing a collapsing nation or for failing to deliver lasting structural change.

Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has instructed all administrative and law enforcement officials to perform their duties with professionalism, neutrality, discipline, patience, and citizen-friendly behavior during the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and referendum. He gave the directive on Thursday while exchanging views with officials from the Dhaka metropolitan, divisional, and district administrations, as well as various law enforcement agencies, at the National Stadium conference hall in Dhaka.

The meeting discussed inter-institutional coordination and overall security management to ensure a peaceful, fair, and impartial election. Senior military officers were also present. During his visit, the army chief observed the activities of troops deployed under the “In Aid to the Civil Power” framework and provided necessary guidance.

Since January 22, the army chief has been holding similar meetings with senior military, civil administration, and law enforcement officials across multiple regions, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Cumilla, Rangpur, Bogura, Barishal, Jashore, Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, Ghatail, and Savar, to strengthen coordination among all agencies involved in election duties.

BNP’s Rajbari-2 constituency candidate Harunur Rashid declared that extortionists and criminals will have no place in the party. He made the statement on Thursday afternoon during a series of street meetings across nine wards of Jamalpur Union in Baliakandi upazila. Rashid emphasized that after 17 years of being deprived of voting rights, it was time to restore them, warning those involved in wrongdoing that he would not tolerate misconduct.

Addressing the Hindu community, Rashid assured them of safety, saying no one would be able to harm them while he was alive. He urged voters not to betray the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, which he described as belonging to Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, and Tarique Rahman. He pledged to dedicate a victory to Tarique Rahman.

The event was attended by local BNP leaders, including freedom fighter Abul Hossain Khan, vice president Jafar Ali Mia, senior joint secretary Anwar Hossain, and student wing president Nazmul Hossain, among others.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Thursday sentenced former Member of Parliament Saiful Islam to death in the Ashulia case involving the burning of six bodies and the killing of seven people during the July Revolution. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of all his properties for distribution among the poor. The verdict was delivered at 1:15 p.m. by a three-member panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with judges Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

According to the prosecution, the case was filed against 16 accused, including eight who are currently in custody and eight, including Saiful Islam, who remain absconding. The tribunal heard testimony from 24 witnesses, including ASI Sheikh Abzalul Haque, who turned state witness and sought forgiveness from the victims’ families. The prosecution submitted 313 pages of documents, 62 witness statements, 168 pages of evidence, and two pen drives.

Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam described the Ashulia killings as one of the most brutal acts in human history, asserting that the crimes were proven beyond doubt through video evidence and eyewitness testimony.

The Bangladesh Army announced that it will take immediate action if any polling center or ballot box is seized during the upcoming election. The statement was made by Brigadier General Dewan Monjurul Islam, Director of Military Operations, during a press briefing at the army camp located in the National Stadium area of Gulistan, Dhaka, on Thursday. He said more troops have been deployed this time compared to previous elections to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful voting process.

According to Brigadier General Islam, the army has so far recovered 10,152 weapons and established a round-the-clock monitoring cell to coordinate with civilian authorities. He emphasized that the army is acting under the Chief of Army Staff’s directives to assist the civil administration and the public. The duration of the army’s post-election deployment will be determined by the government.

He added that the army is fully prepared to prevent any election-related sabotage and that social media misinformation poses a major threat. Cyber surveillance is continuing to counter such risks.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will organize an election rally in front of its central office at Naya Paltan in Dhaka on February 8 as part of its campaign for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election. The rally is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., with BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman addressing the event as the chief guest.

The announcement was made by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General and Member Secretary of the Election Steering Committee, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, during a press conference held in Naya Paltan on Thursday. The event is part of BNP’s broader efforts to mobilize supporters and present its political agenda ahead of the national polls.

The rally is expected to mark a significant moment in BNP’s election campaign, with the party leadership aiming to energize its base and outline its electoral priorities.

Local administration and law enforcement in Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur have identified 77 polling centers as vulnerable ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election for the Pirojpur-2 constituency, which includes Nesarabad, Kaukhali, and Bhandaria upazilas. Officials said strict security measures are being implemented to prevent irregularities, influence, violence, or any obstruction to voters’ rights.

Nesarabad Upazila Election Officer Rubayet Hossain stated that the area has the highest number of voters and polling centers among the three upazilas, making it more prone to risk. He added that preparations are in the final stage to ensure smooth voting for 198,001 registered voters, with ballot boxes, papers, and CCTV cameras ready for timely distribution. Pirojpur Election Commissioner Abdu Mannan reported that the constituency has a total of 405,302 voters, seven candidates including one independent, and 166 polling centers overall.

Authorities emphasized that enhanced security and logistical readiness aim to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election process in the constituency.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced that metro rail services in Dhaka will continue to operate normally during the national election and referendum period, despite a nationwide restriction on vehicular movement. DMTCL Director A.K.M. Khairul Alam confirmed that metro trains will run as on regular working days to ensure smooth travel for passengers and facilitate voter movement across the city.

According to the announcement, station gates located directly beside polling centers may remain closed for security reasons, while all other gates will stay open. To maintain uninterrupted metro operations during the election period, DMTCL has canceled all staff leave. Earlier, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges issued a circular on February 2 imposing restrictions on various types of vehicles, including taxis, pickups, microbuses, and trucks, from midnight on February 11 to midnight on February 12.

Additionally, motorcycle movement across the country will be banned for 72 hours from midnight on February 10 to midnight on February 13, though exceptions will apply for emergency and election-related activities.

Education Adviser Professor Dr. C R Abrar stated that the world has entered the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, the Internet of Things, and automation, which are rapidly transforming global economies and societies. He emphasized that the primary goal of education should not be limited to awarding degrees but to developing skilled, innovative, and technology-aware human resources. He made these remarks on Thursday at the inauguration of the 'NWPGCL-BUET Robo Carnival 2026' held at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) campus.

Dr. Abrar described the carnival as more than a technology exhibition, calling it a timely platform for shaping Bangladesh’s future development. He noted that the event would enhance students’ innovative thinking and research capacity while bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application. He praised the collaboration between BUET and the state-owned NWPGCL as a model partnership.

He further highlighted that using AI and robotics in the energy and power sectors could improve efficiency, strengthen safety, and ensure sustainable growth. He urged reducing dependence on foreign technology through domestic research and innovation and called for stronger collaboration among students, teachers, researchers, and industry.

Serious allegations have emerged against a contractor over substandard roadwork on the M A Gani Road in Burichang upazila of Comilla. Locals claim that the contractor ignored tender conditions, used low-quality materials, and completed the carpeting hastily at night without following the approved schedule. As a result, the newly carpeted surface began to peel off within just seven days, sparking anger and concern among thousands of users of the Burichang–Brahmanpara road.

Residents alleged that the required quality standards were not maintained, with minimal bitumen used and carpeting thickness far below the specified 50 millimeters—sometimes only 5 to 25 millimeters. Witnesses reported that the contractor’s team continued nighttime repairs despite local objections, raising further doubts about transparency. Contractor Mohammad Abul Hossain acknowledged hearing about damaged sections and said repairs were being arranged.

Locals have demanded an impartial investigation into the project’s quality and strict action against those responsible. The Comilla Roads and Highways Department’s executive engineer, Khondaker Golam Mostafa, stated that post-completion re-carpeting should not occur and confirmed that an investigation is underway.

A total of 379,924 postal ballots from expatriate voters have arrived in Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. The information was confirmed on Thursday by Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project on expatriate voter registration. As of 9:30 a.m., 766,862 ballots had been sent to registered expatriate voters through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app, with 526,008 ballots received and 480,416 votes already cast. Additionally, 444,952 expatriate voters have submitted their ballots to postal authorities in their respective countries, and 107,168 ballots have been received by returning officers in Bangladesh.

The Election Commission has also begun sending postal ballots to domestic voters registered under the ICPV system. So far, 662,191 ballots have been dispatched within the country, with 260,447 voters receiving them. Among these, 211,122 have voted, and 168,519 have submitted their ballots to post offices or drop boxes. Returning officers have received 27,367 domestic ballots.

According to Salim Ahmad Khan, a total of 1,533,684 voters, both domestic and expatriate, have registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app to participate in the election and referendum via postal ballots.

BNP candidate and central treasurer M Rashiduzzaman Millat in Jamalpur-1 (Dewanganj-Bakshiganj) constituency has drawn controversy after a video of his campaign speech went viral on social media. In the video, recorded Monday night at Haruabarhi Rahmani Madrasa field, Millat is heard saying that police have been instructed not to arrest or harass Awami League supporters and that they can vote freely. He urged them to support the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol, claiming Awami League would not win elections for at least 20 years.

The remarks triggered widespread debate across the district, with many voters expressing surprise and anger. Some Awami League activists reportedly began openly campaigning for Millat, while others criticized the move as political opportunism. Dewanganj Upazila BNP leaders confirmed that some Awami League members were joining BNP activities under local approval.

Police officials, including the Dewanganj officer-in-charge and Jamalpur superintendent of police, denied Millat’s claims, stating that regular arrest operations continue and no such instructions were given. Jamaat candidate Nazmul Haque Sayeedi accused Millat of betraying political commitments and demanded the removal of the Dewanganj police chief for alleged bias.

Pakistan has decided to boycott its cricket match against India in protest of Bangladesh’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup. The decision was announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who told his cabinet that politics should not interfere with sports and that Pakistan should stand firmly beside Bangladesh. He described the move as a well-considered and appropriate decision.

In response, Dr. Asif Nazrul, the interim government’s adviser on law, justice, parliamentary affairs, and sports in Bangladesh, publicly thanked Pakistan for its stance. He expressed his appreciation through a verified Facebook post on Thursday, acknowledging Pakistan’s solidarity with Bangladesh following the controversial exclusion.

The development highlights a rare show of regional support in international cricket, with Pakistan aligning itself with Bangladesh’s position against perceived politicization in the sport.

A prolonged strike at Chattogram Port has escalated into a national crisis, disrupting supply chains and threatening market stability ahead of Ramadan. The strike, initially an eight-hour protest, has turned indefinite following opposition to the government’s plan to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal to foreign operator DP World. As a result, over 120 ships are waiting to unload, including at least 35 carrying essential Ramadan goods such as dates, lentils, chickpeas, sugar, and edible oil. Importers face rising storage costs, and analysts warn that these expenses will likely push consumer prices higher.

The port’s operations have slowed to half capacity, causing severe congestion and revenue losses at the Chattogram Customs House. Business leaders and shipping agents report that each day of delay costs importers tens of thousands of dollars, which will ultimately burden consumers. The government has banned gatherings near the port, ordered regular labor bookings, and formed a six-member committee to assess revenue losses and identify those responsible.

Labor leaders insist the strike will continue until the lease plan is canceled, while port authorities have declined to comment on the pending agreement with DP World.

Operations at Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) have come to a standstill due to an indefinite strike called by the Nationalist Workers Party and the Sramik Oikya Parishad (SKOP). The strike, initially an eight-hour work stoppage, escalated into a full shutdown after the government decided to appoint a foreign operator at the terminal. Despite warnings and transfer orders from the Ministry of Shipping, protesting workers have refused to leave their posts. The port has now accumulated 37,000 containers, with 120 cargo ships waiting offshore.

The unrest follows a High Court ruling on November 30 that upheld the legality of hiring a foreign operator, prompting preparations for a contract between Chattogram Port Authority and global terminal operator DP World. However, the agreement, scheduled for February 1, was postponed amid the protests. Business leaders and port users have expressed concern over the prolonged disruption, warning of severe impacts on trade and the national economy.

Port officials say the situation is being monitored by the government’s top level, while industry associations caution that continued paralysis could damage Bangladesh’s global trade reputation and cause market instability.