The Bangladesh government has decided to hire a British law firm to represent it in an international arbitration case filed by S Alam Group founder Saiful Alam and his family. The case is being heard at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) under the World Bank. The firm will be paid an hourly fee of 1,250 US dollars. The decision was approved on Tuesday at a meeting of the government’s advisory committee on public procurement, chaired by Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed.

Following the meeting, Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters that the S Alam family had filed a case in London challenging the government’s actions related to alleged money laundering. He said the arbitration notice from ICSID required a formal response from Bangladesh and described the matter as complex. He confirmed that the government would appoint a British firm but did not recall its name.

The arbitration case was filed in October last year, alleging that Bangladesh’s seizure and punitive actions over alleged money laundering caused losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the S Alam family. The family claims protection as Singaporean citizens under international investment law and Bangladesh’s 1980 Foreign Private Investment Act.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has warned that postal ballots from expatriate voters for the 13th National Parliamentary Election may be canceled if they do not arrive in the country by tomorrow. According to the EC, nearly 300,000 ballots from overseas voters have already reached Bangladesh. The commission reiterated that ballots must reach returning officers by 4:30 p.m. on election day to be counted.

A notice on the EC’s Postal Vote BD app urged voters to promptly mail their ballots, emphasizing that any ballot arriving after February 5 may not reach the returning officer in time. The EC clarified that the voting process is entirely manual and that the mobile app is not connected to ballot submission or declaration forms. Once received, ballots are separated from declaration forms before counting to ensure anonymity.

The EC reported that 766,862 postal ballots were sent abroad, of which 524,080 were received by expatriates. A total of 467,707 overseas voters cast their ballots, and 297,350 have so far arrived in Bangladesh. The national election and referendum are scheduled for February 12.

Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (JAGPA) spokesperson Rashed Pradhan called for voters to show a 'red card' against corruption and extortion during an election rally in Garaya, Thakurgaon, on Tuesday afternoon. Speaking at an 11-party alliance Jamaat-e-Islami campaign event, he criticized Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, urging him to speak with restraint. Pradhan also expressed support for the alliance’s candidate Delwar Hossain, who is contesting under the 'scales' symbol, and pledged to gift the Thakurgaon-1 seat to Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, described as the future prime minister.

He recalled past incidents in the area following the verdict against Allama Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, noting that both Muslims and Hindus had joined protests at that time. Pradhan urged unity among voters on the upcoming 12th to ensure victory for the alliance’s candidate. The rally was presided over by union Jamaat leader Nurul Huda and attended by district Jamaat secretary Kofil Uddin and Khelafat Majlish president Abu Said.

In Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila, a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) courtyard meeting for the Madaripur-1 constituency turned into a gathering of several Awami League leaders, despite restrictions on their participation. The event, held on Tuesday afternoon at the residence of former mayor and Awami League leader Awlad Hossain Khan, was organized by Shibchar municipal BNP in support of BNP candidate Nadera Akter. Awami League leaders present said they were acting under the direction of former chief whip Noor-e Alam Chowdhury Liton to support the BNP candidate.

The meeting saw participation from union chairmen, municipal councillors, and Awami League activists who publicly urged voters to support the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol. Nadera Akter, addressing the gathering as chief guest, pledged to address citizens’ problems directly if elected and outlined plans for family and agriculture cards and subsidies for disaster-affected farmers. The joint presence of Awami League and BNP figures on the same stage has stirred mixed reactions in local political circles.

The unusual cross-party support has generated new discussions and controversy in the region’s political landscape ahead of the national election.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has suspended the election for the Sherpur-3 parliamentary constituency following the death of Jamaat-e-Islami’s district secretary and candidate, Nuruzzaman Badol. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud confirmed the decision to the media on Wednesday morning. Badol passed away early Tuesday, February 3, reportedly from kidney-related complications while under hospital care.

According to Bangladeshi law, if a candidate dies before a national parliamentary election, the election process in the concerned constituency must be suspended or canceled. Jamaat-e-Islami confirmed Badol’s death in a Facebook post, identifying him as the party’s nominated candidate for Sherpur-3.

The Election Commission’s suspension of the Sherpur-3 poll aligns with legal provisions ensuring fairness in the electoral process when a candidate’s death occurs before voting.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has canceled its earlier decision to deploy members of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) at polling centers for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. The revised directive, signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain on February 3, 2026, was sent to returning officers across the country.

According to the updated instructions, BNCC cadets will now assist only in maintaining order at the IT-supported postal ballot counting centers (OCV and ICPV) located in the offices of returning officers. The election is scheduled to be held on February 12, 2026. The EC’s decision modifies its previous plan that had included BNCC participation in broader election-related duties.

The change follows administrative adjustments ahead of the national polls, with the EC clarifying the limited scope of BNCC involvement in election operations.

A new controversy has emerged in the political scene of Madaripur-1 constituency after BNP-nominated parliamentary candidate Nadera Akter was seen sharing a stage with several Awami League and affiliated organization leaders at an election courtyard meeting. The event took place on Tuesday afternoon at Khanbari in Shibchar upazila, where Awami League leader and former Shibchar municipal mayor Awlad Hossain Khan and other local party members were present. Awami League leaders concluded their speeches with the slogan 'Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.'

The joint appearance has triggered mixed reactions in local politics, particularly causing discontent and unease among grassroots BNP activists. Several BNP leaders, speaking anonymously, said that sharing a stage with Awami League leaders contradicts the party’s ideology and long-standing political stance, potentially confusing activists and negatively affecting the campaign.

Local discussions have also surfaced about whether this reflects an undeclared political understanding ahead of the election or merely personal and social ties. However, no official statement has been issued by either side. Madaripur district BNP member secretary Jahandar Ali Jahan commented that those who practice good politics should not be blamed for being active in the field.

Abdul Awal Mintoo, vice chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and candidate for Feni-3 constituency, declared that Jamaat-e-Islami would never be allowed to come to power in Bangladesh. Speaking at an election campaign rally on Tuesday evening at the Sonagazi municipal grounds, he described Jamaat as a group of hypocrites and accused them of working against national development. Mintoo urged voters to ensure that no member of Jamaat could hold even a local position.

He appealed to residents to vote for the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, in the upcoming election on the 12th. Mintoo said that if the BNP returned to power and Tarique Rahman became head of government, Bangladesh would move forward with divine blessings. He called on supporters to mobilize family members, especially women, to cast their votes for the BNP.

Several BNP leaders, including central and district-level representatives, were present at the rally, showing organizational support for Mintoo’s campaign in Feni-3.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Barishal and Faridpur on Wednesday, marking his first trip to Barishal in 20 years. He will depart Dhaka by helicopter at 11 a.m. and is expected to arrive at the historic Bell’s Park field by noon to address an election rally. Following the event, he will travel to Faridpur. The rally will feature candidates from BNP and its allied coalition representing 21 constituencies in the Barishal division.

Party leaders and activists from across the division have begun gathering at the venue since early morning to welcome their leader. According to the report, Tarique Rahman is expected to outline the party’s election roadmap and discuss development plans for the southern region. The atmosphere across the division has taken on a festive tone ahead of his arrival.

The visit is viewed as a significant moment for BNP’s regional campaign efforts, as it brings together party members and supporters from multiple districts in anticipation of the upcoming election.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to speak at an election rally today at the helipad ground of Teesta Barrage in Lalmonirhat district. The event, part of the campaign supporting the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, will begin around 12:30 p.m. in Hatibandha upazila. The rally is organized by the 11-party alliance.

According to local party leaders, the gathering will support seven candidates contesting under the 'scale' symbol across Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts. Lalmonirhat Jamaat chief Advocate Md. Abu Taher is contesting from Lalmonirhat-3, while Anwarul Islam Raju, Jamaat’s central vice president for industry and commerce, is running from Lalmonirhat-1 (Patgram and Hatibandha). Both are expected to attend the rally alongside other alliance candidates.

The event marks a major campaign effort by Jamaat-e-Islami in northern Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming national election and referendum.

Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the interim government has already arranged the necessary funds to implement the new pay scale, ensuring that future elected administrations will find it difficult to reverse the decision. He made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting of the Advisory Council on Procurement at the Secretariat, noting that implementation may take some time.

Discussing the government’s financial management, the adviser said the interim administration has worked to leave behind a relatively stable economic foundation for the next government. He explained that the fragile economic situation that emerged after August 5, 2024, had been largely stabilized over the past one and a half years. On the upcoming referendum, he said the government has allocated funds in the budget for its organization but is not supporting any specific outcome. He added that election expenses are higher this time due to the referendum.

Dr. Ahmed also mentioned that several unnecessary projects initiated by the previous government were discontinued, temporarily reducing employment. However, he described these measures as necessary for maintaining long-term economic balance.

The government of Bangladesh has approved separate proposals to purchase about 210,000 tonnes of fertilizer from various sources to meet farmers’ demand. The approval came on Tuesday during the fifth meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held at the Secretariat, chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.

According to the decisions, the committee approved the import of 40,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer from Morocco’s OCP Nutrécrops under the 11th optional lot at a cost of Tk 319.51 crore, priced at USD 651 per tonne. It also approved two separate proposals to import 30,000 tonnes each of TSP fertilizer from the same supplier under the 17th and 18th lots, each costing Tk 184.53 crore. Additionally, 40,000 tonnes of DAP fertilizer will be imported from Saudi Arabia’s Ma’aden Company under the first lot of 2026 for Tk 323.92 crore.

Further approvals include 30,000 tonnes of bagged granular urea from Bangladesh’s KAFCO for Tk 153.08 crore and 40,000 tonnes of bulk granular urea from Saudi Arabia’s SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company for Tk 205.31 crore. Officials said these imports will ensure uninterrupted fertilizer supply for farmers and support food security.

Jamuna Fertilizer Factory, the largest urea producer in Bangladesh, has resumed production after a temporary shutdown. The production restarted on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m., according to factory sources. Operations are currently running at 75 percent capacity due to low gas pressure, with plans to gradually return to full capacity once gas supply improves.

Factory General Manager (Operations) Md. Fazlul Haque stated that production was restarted despite the risk of low gas pressure, considering the demand during the agricultural season. The decision was made to keep the plant operational on a limited scale to meet fertilizer needs.

Earlier, on January 22, the factory’s booster tripped when gas pressure dropped to 8 kilograms, forcing a complete shutdown of urea production for safety reasons. The resumption aims to stabilize fertilizer supply during the ongoing farming period.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has curtailed the involvement of Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) members in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and referendum scheduled for February 12, 2026. Initially, the EC planned to deploy BNCC members at polling centers to assist with election duties. However, following objections from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the EC decided to restrict their role to maintaining discipline at postal ballot counting centers and the EC Secretariat.

According to a circular signed by an EC deputy secretary on Tuesday, BNCC members will work at IT-supported postal ballot counting centers and at the Secretariat’s result collection and dissemination sections from February 11. The directive outlines six operational guidelines, including coordination with returning officers, verification of cadets’ neutrality, and pre-deployment training. The EC will cover related expenses from its budget.

The decision followed a February 1 meeting between the Chief Election Commissioner and BNP representatives. BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan stated that involving young students in a politically sensitive process could make both the students and their institution controversial, prompting the EC to revise its earlier plan.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has detained Mohammad Saroware Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, in connection with the hacking of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s X account. The arrest took place early Tuesday night following a DB operation at a government quarter near Rajarbagh Police Lines. DB Chief Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam confirmed the detention and said Alam’s mobile phone and laptop were seized for examination.

The incident followed a viral post from the Jamaat chief’s X handle on Saturday night containing objectionable remarks about working women. The post was later removed, and Jamaat issued a statement claiming that the account had been hacked and false statements were spread in the Ameer’s name. The DB operation was launched to trace the source of the cyberattack.

Authorities are currently analyzing the seized devices to determine the extent of the hacking and any possible accomplices involved in the incident.