An analysis by Tofayel Arif, published on February 2, 2026, highlights the growing cybersecurity risks associated with public internet use in Bangladesh. The report explains that public Wi-Fi networks, available in hotels, restaurants, malls, hospitals, and parks, often lack strong security verification. These open networks allow multiple users to connect without unique credentials, making them vulnerable to data theft and hacking.

The article identifies several major threats, including weak or absent data encryption, man-in-the-middle attacks, fake Wi-Fi networks, social media and email hacking, financial data exposure, malware infections, and unauthorized device control. It warns that children and teenagers are particularly at risk due to lower awareness of online safety. In Bangladesh, the problem is compounded by limited cybersecurity awareness, weak password practices, and disabled two-factor authentication.

The report advises users to avoid banking or sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi, disable auto-connect, use HTTPS websites, log out after use, and consider VPN protection. Regular device and app updates are also recommended to reduce exposure to cyber threats.

In the Gaibandha-5 (Saghata-Fulchhari) constituency, voters from the riverine char areas are expected to play a decisive role in the upcoming national election. The main issues dominating local discussions are the prevention of river erosion and the improvement of living standards through infrastructure development. Residents of the eight char unions along the Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers have long suffered from annual erosion that destroys homes, farmland, schools, and markets, leaving many families displaced.

Local voters say they will support candidates who promise permanent and effective solutions to these problems. BNP candidate Faruk Alam Sarkar has pledged to prioritize riverbank protection, agricultural growth, and the establishment of police stations and tourism centers. Jamaat candidate Abdul Warres has promised to build livestock centers, hospitals, and educational institutions, and to construct a bridge or tunnel between Balashi and Bahadurabad. Despite the region’s agricultural potential, poor communication, lack of healthcare, and inadequate education remain major concerns.

Observers believe that sustainable river management and char development will determine the outcome of the Gaibandha-5 election.

Students of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) held a protest march and rally on Sunday night, denouncing alleged extortion by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders in various university projects and threats made to officials. The demonstration began at 10:30 p.m. from the central Shaheed Minar and moved through campus roads before concluding with a rally at the same location. Protesters chanted slogans rejecting extortion and political dominance on campus.

During the rally, several students from different departments spoke out against what they described as the misuse of student politics for personal gain. Business Administration student Kazi Saurav emphasized that the campus should remain free from extortion, while Oceanography student Jihadul Islam Rafi expressed frustration over the persistence of such practices despite expectations of reform. Education student Mujtaba Faisal Naim warned that no political group should be allowed to reintroduce extortion or tender manipulation in the new political climate.

The protest reflected growing student discontent with alleged political interference and financial misconduct within the university’s administrative and project activities.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has accused Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman of insulting women through his recent remarks. Speaking on Monday in front of the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, during a protest organized by the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, Rizvi questioned why Jamaat had not nominated any women candidates and warned that women’s hardship would increase if Jamaat came to power.

At the same rally, Mohila Dal President Afroza Abbas said the Jamaat chief had humiliated all women and demanded that he publicly apologize if he could not prove his claim that his social media account was hacked. She urged women to stand against Jamaat, accusing the party of being anti-liberation and of betraying women during the 1971 war.

BNP Standing Committee member Begum Selima Rahman also demanded an apology from Shafiqur Rahman, warning that failure to do so would provoke strong reaction from women. She said women would demonstrate on February 12 that no party disrespecting them could ever win.

In the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, covering Sarail, Ashuganj, and parts of Bijoynagar, the electoral situation has become increasingly tense as two rebel BNP candidates, Barrister Rumin Farhana and S N Tarun Dey, refuse to withdraw from the race. Their defiance has placed heavy pressure on the alliance-backed candidate, Maulana Junaid Al Habib, despite clear instructions and expulsion warnings from the party’s central leadership.

Party sources indicate that the BNP high command is making last-ditch efforts to reach a compromise with the rebels. Grassroots activists are reportedly more active in campaigning for Rumin Farhana, while disciplinary actions against her supporters have been stricter than those backing Tarun Dey. Several local leaders, denied party nominations, are also contesting independently, deepening divisions within local BNP units and weakening overall coordination.

District BNP leaders claim they have repeatedly urged rebel candidates to withdraw and expelled many for defying party decisions. The presence of rebel candidates in seats allocated to allies under the coalition agreement has caused discomfort within the alliance, raising fears of vote splitting and potential defeat.

Nahid Islam, the Dhaka-11 constituency candidate from the 11-party alliance and convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that he has gone to court as a conscious citizen after learning from various sources that BNP candidate M A Kaiyum allegedly holds dual citizenship and concealed this information from the Election Commission. He made the remarks on Monday morning while speaking to journalists during a campaign event in West Rampura, following the filing of a High Court petition regarding Kaiyum’s foreign citizenship.

Nahid Islam further alleged that his campaign banners are being torn down daily and that his supporters are facing threats. He said that despite informing the Election Commission, no action has been taken. He also expressed concern that “politics of dead bodies” has resurfaced around the election period.

The dispute over candidate eligibility and campaign disruptions adds tension to the Dhaka-11 race as legal proceedings move forward.

Ferry services on the Mongla River in Bagerhat have been severely disrupted due to a navigability crisis, leaving operations suspended for about 20 hours each day. As a result, ambulances, trucks, and other vehicles are forced to wait for high tide to cross, causing widespread suffering among residents and traders. The disruption has particularly affected the transport of perishable goods and emergency patients.

According to the Roads and Highways Department in Bagerhat, the ferry service was launched in 2003 after two terminals were built at a cost of around 2.5 million taka. Initially, the service reduced transport time and costs, becoming popular among locals. However, within a few years, siltation began to obstruct navigation, and the situation has now worsened, with only one ferry currently operating.

Mongla municipal administrator and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi acknowledged the problem, stating that repeated terminal extensions failed to solve it. She said dredging is the only permanent solution and that the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has been contacted to take prompt action.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman said that those spreading false claims about ID hacking cannot be friends of the people. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon during an election rally in Jashore, asserting that no qualitative change has occurred in politics since August 5. Rahman alleged that a political party used the excuse of ID hacking to deflect criticism, while experts have confirmed that such hacking was not possible. He accused the party of exposing its true character by misleading the public before the election.

Rahman further criticized the same group for allegedly demeaning half of the country’s population and attempting to confine women to their homes. Earlier in Khulna, he reminded that Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) wife, Khadijah (RA), was a successful businesswoman, emphasizing that no one has the right to insult women’s professional roles.

The BNP leader reiterated his party’s commitment to protecting women’s rights and dignity, linking it to broader political integrity and accountability.

Thirty-three inmates of Chandpur District Jail will exercise their voting rights through postal ballots in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. The Election Commission has arranged a special system allowing them to participate in the democratic process and vote for their preferred candidates within the designated timeframe.

According to the district administration and election office, a total of 46,436 voters have registered in Chandpur to vote by postal ballot. This group includes government officials, law enforcement members, election duty personnel, and prisoners. Jail Superintendent Mohammad Joynal Abedin Bhuiyan stated that although 650 inmates were in custody at the close of registration, only 33 applied to vote by postal ballot, including 31 men and two women.

Of the 33 applicants, 25 are voters from various constituencies within Chandpur district, while the remaining eight belong to other districts. The Election Commission’s guidelines will ensure that all eligible inmates cast their votes within the prescribed period.

A representative of the National Citizen Party (NCP) was reportedly attacked by assailants in Debidwar upazila of Comilla. The incident occurred in Barkamata Union’s Ward No. 8, where NCP representative Mohammad Kawser Alam was allegedly stabbed and beaten by unidentified attackers, leaving him critically injured. The attack drew strong condemnation from Hasnat Abdullah, the NCP’s chief organizer for the southern region and the 11-party alliance candidate for Comilla-4 (Debidwar).

In a Facebook post at 11:45 p.m. on Monday, Abdullah denounced the assault, claiming it was part of a campaign of terror and intimidation that also included the burning of election banners earlier in the day. He vowed to pursue legal action against those responsible and expressed confidence that Debidwar residents would respond to the violence through their votes on the 12th.

Debidwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman confirmed that police visited the scene and began an investigation. He said the injured man is under treatment and that no formal complaint has yet been filed, but legal action will follow once a complaint is received.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Abu Sadiq Kayem said that although the BNP’s central leadership has instructed members to support the 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum, many grassroots leaders and activists are instead backing the 'No' side. He made the remarks on Monday night while campaigning for the 'Yes' vote at a rally organized by the United Student Union Alliance at Shaheed Abu Sayeed Square in Rangpur city.

Kayem criticized a recent Election Commission circular that barred government officials from campaigning for the 'Yes' vote, demanding clarification on whose directive it was issued under. He accused the Commission of acting under questionable authority and called for state-led promotion of the 'Yes' campaign nationwide. Addressing BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, Kayem expressed disappointment that some long-time opposition activists were hesitant to support the 'Yes' position.

He emphasized that the 'Yes' vote symbolizes justice, freedom, and the end of authoritarian and dynastic politics, asserting that leadership should be based on merit rather than family lineage.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on political opponents to engage in a competition of ideas and policies aimed at serving the nation and its people. He made the appeal on Monday at 10 p.m. through a post on his verified Facebook page, written in English, inviting rivals to join a 'battle of ideas' to determine who can better serve the citizens of Bangladesh.

In his post, Dr. Rahman emphasized the importance of debating policies, listening to the people, and formulating the best possible strategies for the country. He stated that Jamaat is demonstrating a different path of dialogue and listening through its daily activities. According to him, the people of Bangladesh have rejected violence in the past, continue to do so, and will reject it again, which he described as the way forward for the nation.

The statement reflects Jamaat-e-Islami’s attempt to position itself as a pro-dialogue political force focused on peaceful engagement and policy-based competition.

Zainal Abedin Shishir, the Joint Member Secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has reported receiving a death threat through WhatsApp from a foreign phone number. The threat message warned that he would be shot before the upcoming election and that no one could save him. Shishir disclosed the incident on Monday evening through a post on his verified Facebook account, where he shared details of the threatening message.

In his Facebook post, Shishir stated that he had been repeatedly threatened both online and offline from the same number. He questioned whether he would be the next to be martyred after a colleague named Hadi and expressed his determination to continue fighting against oppression. He also wrote that the struggle against fascism and neo-fascism would continue, emphasizing that he and his associates would not stop their activism.

The report did not mention any official response or investigation regarding the threat, leaving the next steps in the matter unclear.

Senior Vice President of the Jatiyatabadi Central Volunteer Team, Yasin Ali, said that betraying the blood of the July fighters would not be tolerated by God. He made the remarks on Monday, February 2, during a rally in Ramganj, Lakshmipur, organized by the Upazila and Municipal Volunteer Team in support of BNP’s paddy-sheaf symbol candidate, Md. Shahadat Hossain Selim.

Yasin Ali accused the current government, led by Sheikh Hasina, of being fascist and claimed that many July fighters sacrificed their lives to save the country from such rule. He urged young voters, especially first-time voters, to cast their ballots for the paddy-sheaf symbol to save the nation. He also alleged that another faction of the Awami League was waiting to seize power.

Ali called on supporters to go to polling centers early on February 12 and remain until vote counting was complete. The event was chaired by Emran Hossain and attended by several central-level Volunteer Team leaders.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that his party would remain faithful to the ideals of the July martyrs, pledging not to betray their sacrifices. Speaking as the chief guest at an election alliance rally of eleven parties held on Monday, February 2, at Padua ACM High School field in Lohagara upazila, he said the martyrs gave their lives for the nation and urged followers to continue on a clean political path rather than a corrupt one.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that those who accepted the events of the 24th were the true successors of the 26th, warning that those who did not would face a “red card.” He expressed confidence that the people of Bangladesh would make the right decision on the 12th and praised the youth for their leadership in past movements.

He further stated that the youth who fought and sacrificed would build the future of Bangladesh. Rejecting the idea of unemployment allowances, he promised to provide education, training, and dignified work opportunities for young men and women.