The Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) branch of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has launched a campaign supporting a 'Yes' vote in the upcoming national referendum. The initiative, held on Sunday, aimed to promote awareness about the vote’s significance in realizing the aspirations of the historic July uprising. As part of the campaign, members displayed banners, set up photo booths, and distributed leaflets across key campus locations including the main roundabout, Prashanti Park, and administrative buildings.

NSTU Shibir leaders stated that the campaign seeks to encourage reforms in the state structure to protect democracy and citizens’ rights. They linked the referendum to the ideals of the July revolution, emphasizing the need for a just and accountable governance system. The campaign reportedly received strong responses from teachers, students, and staff.

According to the organizers, the February 12 referendum, held alongside the 13th national parliamentary election, offers citizens a chance to express direct support for structural reforms and the creation of a fair, inclusive Bangladesh.

The formal proceedings of BNP Chairperson Tareq Rahman’s public rally began at the Upashahar College field in Jessore on February 2, 2026. Rahman was expected to arrive after 2 p.m. from a rally in Khulna. The event commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran as thousands of BNP leaders and activists gathered from early morning, filling the field and surrounding areas with slogans and festive colors.

Participants from Jessore’s eight upazilas and nearby districts including Magura, Jhenaidah, and Narail joined the rally. Many attendees wore colorful attire, headbands, and caps, while children dressed in the likeness of late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia roamed the grounds. Supporters carried national and party flags, chanting slogans welcoming Tareq Rahman and expressing enthusiasm for his leadership.

Local administration and law enforcement maintained strict security measures. Police managed traffic on major connecting roads, while a RAB team conducted field sweeps with a dog squad. A three-tier security ring was established at the Birampur Primary School ground, where Rahman’s helicopter was scheduled to land before he traveled to the rally venue by a special red-green bus.

A group of thieves stole five cows from the barn of farmer and grocery trader Rafiqul Islam in Kopatia Para, Maona Union of Sreepur upazila, Gazipur, early Sunday, February 1, 2026. The stolen livestock, including one bull, two cows, and two heifers, are valued at around seven lakh taka. Locals said the thieves emptied the barn, leaving the farmer destitute.

Rafiqul Islam reported that around 1 a.m. he checked on the cows and found everything normal. However, at dawn he discovered the barn door locked from outside. After calling his nephew Shamim to help open it, he found all the cows missing. He suspects the thieves locked him inside before stealing the animals.

The incident has caused alarm in the area, with residents claiming cattle thefts have recently increased. They urged authorities to identify and arrest the culprits. Rafiqul Islam said he is preparing to file a complaint with Sreepur Police Station, though the officer-in-charge could not be reached for comment.

Police in Mirsharai, Chattogram have arrested Imam Hossain, 25, joint convener of Baraiyarhat College Chhatra Dal, on charges of gang-raping a seventh-grade girl after forcing her to consume an intoxicating substance. The arrest followed a case filed on Sunday by the victim’s mother at Jorarganj Police Station, naming two other suspects, Hridoy, 25, and Rana, 27. The incident reportedly occurred on January 26 around 7 p.m. in a garden near a pond beside Shahjahan’s house in Jamalpur village under Baraiyarhat municipality.

According to the case statement, the accused threatened the girl not to disclose the assault and later pressured her family to avoid filing a case. Police confirmed that Imam Hossain is currently in custody while efforts are underway to arrest the remaining suspects. Chattogram North District Chhatra Dal General Secretary Sarowar Hossain Rubel said he would look into the matter and take necessary organizational action after returning from an election rally.

Law enforcement officials stated that the investigation is ongoing and further arrests are expected as part of the case proceedings.

Professor Ali Riaz, special assistant to the chief adviser, stated that every letter of the July Charter was written in blood. He made the remark on Sunday, February 1, at 11:30 a.m. during a discussion on referendum campaigning held at the central auditorium of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). Riaz emphasized that the charter was born from the sacrifices of those who died in July 2024 and that it will determine Bangladesh’s future direction, not serve any government agenda.

Addressing constitutional reform concerns, Riaz clarified that the July Charter does not omit 'Bismillah' or deny the Liberation War, calling such claims misleading. He said the 39-page document upholds equality, human dignity, social justice, religious freedom, and cultural values—principles rooted in the Liberation War’s declaration. He also stressed that secularism in the charter reflects Bangladesh’s multiethnic and multireligious reality, not opposition to religion.

SUST Vice-Chancellor Professor A.M. Sarwaruddin Chowdhury described the July Revolution as essential, adding that a referendum validating the charter could prevent future authoritarian resurgence.

Detective Branch (DB) police in Barishal faced obstruction from local BNP activists while attempting to arrest a leader of the banned Chhatra League in Babuganj upazila on Sunday evening. The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. at Rahutkathi Bazar in Dehergati Union, where the DB team detained Yasir Arafat, also known as Sohel Kazi. As officers tried to place him in their vehicle, a group led by Babuganj Upazila Jubo Dal convener Rakibul Hasan Khan Rakib reportedly surrounded the car and forcibly freed the detainee.

DB Sub-Inspector Redowan confirmed that an incident took place but declined to provide details, while other senior police officials said they were unaware of the matter. Local sources said Sohel Kazi had been an active Chhatra League leader and a candidate for the upazila unit presidency before the organization was banned. He is also believed to be a close relative of Rakibul Hasan Khan Rakib.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion in the area. Concerned citizens described the act of obstructing law enforcement and snatching a detainee as a direct challenge to state authority and called for an impartial investigation and strict legal action against those involved.

An election rally of Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. today, Monday, at the Government Ideal High School field in Sitakunda, Chattogram. He is expected to arrive by helicopter at 2:30 p.m. Party activists from seven upazilas of northern Chattogram have been gathering at Sitakunda bazar since morning to attend the event. Organizers said the field is expected to be filled to capacity by noon, with a plan to assemble around 200,000 activists.

The Sitakunda bazar area has been decorated with banners, festoons, and billboards welcoming the Jamaat leader. Vehicles including buses, trucks, and microbuses are parked along both sides of the market, while groups of activists are marching toward the rally ground. A large number of security personnel from the army, police, RAB, BGB, and Ansar have been deployed to maintain order around the venue.

Participants are arriving not only from Sitakunda but also from Mirsarai, Sandwip, Rangunia, Raozan, and Hathazari upazilas, according to local sources.

Leaders of the women’s wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami submitted a nine-point memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday, protesting what they described as ongoing violence, intimidation, and rights violations against female campaigners supporting the 11-party electoral alliance. The memorandum called for preventive measures to ensure women’s safety during election campaigns across the country.

The submission took place at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, in the presence of Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and head of the party’s publicity division Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, journalist Oliullah Noman, and several senior women leaders. The memorandum cited multiple incidents between January 9 and 25 in Bhola, Natore, Meherpur, Jessore, and other districts where female activists were allegedly harassed, assaulted, or obstructed while campaigning.

The nine demands include strict enforcement of penalties for violence or harassment against women during campaigns, mandatory investigations into such incidents, special police patrols for female campaigners, a gender-sensitive complaint platform under the Election Commission, and public commitments from all parties to ensure violence-free elections. The women leaders urged the Commission to act decisively to guarantee a safe and participatory electoral environment for all.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said a nationwide wave of support has formed for the 11-party alliance ahead of the upcoming election. Speaking on Sunday afternoon at an election rally at Gachbaria Madrasa field in Shubhapur Union of Chauddagram, Cumilla, he described the election as different from those of 2008, 2014, 2018, or 2024, calling it an opportunity for qualitative change rather than a mere power shift.

Dr. Taher stated that although Bangladesh has seen many governments since independence 54 years ago, no systemic change has occurred and corruption has persisted under every administration. He said the upcoming election offers a major chance to end corruption after a change in power. The 11-party alliance, he added, includes freedom fighters, July movement activists, and like-minded Islamic groups, and has already generated mass enthusiasm across the country.

He expressed hope that if the alliance wins, corruption, autocracy, and fascism will be eradicated, enabling Bangladesh to embark on a renewed democratic path.

The Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RAKSU) announced that it has completed 103 initiatives within its first 100 days in office, focusing on student welfare despite facing a severe budget shortage. The announcement came during a press conference titled “RAKSU’s 100 Days: Activity Review and Accountability” held on February 1, where Vice President Mostakur Rahman Zahid said the union had been inactive for years due to lack of funding but managed to carry out extensive work without waiting for a budget.

Assistant General Secretary S M Salman Sabbir presented a detailed report of the activities, emphasizing RAKSU’s commitment to transparency and accountability. The initiatives included proposals to improve academic flexibility during mourning periods, enhance campus safety by restricting high-speed vehicles in residential areas, and strengthen digital education through coordination with the ICT Center. RAKSU also demanded increased bus trips and announced a roadmap for a “Tech Help Desk.”

In the health sector, the union submitted memorandums to address staff shortages at the medical center, called for ambulance allocation, and advocated for improved healthcare for female and special-needs students, as well as measures against cyberbullying and online harassment.

Eight leaders and activists of the Kaliganj upazila and municipal units of Jubo Dal have been expelled for violating party discipline in the Jhenaidah-4 constituency. The expulsion was announced on Sunday, February 1, through a letter signed by office secretary Minhajul Islam Bhuiyan, following the decision of Jubo Dal central executive committee president Abdul Monayem Munna and general secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Noyon. The expelled members include Suja Uddin Ahmed Pial, Mostafa Kalam Tito, Manjurul Haque Khoka, Mohammad Ali, Zahidul Islam Zahid, Asaduzzaman Asad, Abdul Latif, and Imran Hossain.

According to the letter, they were removed from all party positions and primary membership for engaging in activities against the organization and supporting an independent candidate. The expelled members were campaigning for Saiful Islam Firoz, a former BNP aspirant who is contesting as an independent candidate after being denied the party nomination. BNP ultimately nominated Rashed Khan for the Jhenaidah-4 seat, while other aspirants accepted the decision.

The expulsions highlight internal tensions within the BNP’s local units ahead of the election in Jhenaidah-4, where party discipline has become a key issue.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and candidate for Dhaka-11, stated that the interim government has largely failed to stand by the families of those killed in the July uprising. Speaking on Sunday at a discussion with families of the martyrs and injured fighters in Merul Badda, Dhaka, he pledged that his party would never forget July. He also expressed his wish to meet 800 affected families individually and visit the graves of the deceased.

The meeting was attended by leaders from both the NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami, including Atiqur Rahman, a member of Jamaat’s central Majlis-e-Shura. Earlier in the day, Nahid began his election campaign from Saeednagar Saeedia Karimiah Mosque, promising to address infrastructure problems and the long-standing gas crisis in the area if elected. He urged voters to support the Shapla symbol and vote “yes” in the referendum.

Nahid said his 11-party alliance is receiving strong public response and is being viewed as a unified political force. He noted that despite the absence of a level playing field, his campaign continues to gain momentum among ordinary citizens.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced a plan to form a reserve force comprising youth participants, which would be twice the size of the existing army. The announcement was made on Sunday in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, during a campaign rally for the 11-party alliance’s ‘Shapla Koli’ symbol and the ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum. NCP spokesperson and election steering committee chairman Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan made the declaration while addressing the event.

Bhuiyan stated that Bangladesh has faced threats to its sovereignty at various times, and certain political groups have allegedly been used to undermine national independence. He said the NCP intends to engage the youth to counter such threats. According to him, this initiative is part of the party’s election manifesto. Bhuiyan also criticized rival parties for lacking clear positions on defending the country against external aggression, while accusing them of nominating candidates with foreign ties.

Other speakers at the event included NCP election committee member secretary Monira Sharmin and Sirajganj-6 NCP candidate S.M. Saif Mustafiz.

A former local leader of the Krishak Dal, Helal Uddin Palowan, was killed in Kapasia, Gazipur, following a dispute with his nephew over a mobile phone theft. The incident occurred on Saturday night when Helal Uddin was attacked with a shovel, leaving him critically injured. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on Sunday morning.

According to police, the attack took place in the Kotbajalya area, where four to five unidentified assailants struck him from behind with local weapons and a shovel. The officer-in-charge of Kapasia Police Station said the killing appeared to be linked to a family dispute. The victim’s body was sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Gazipur district Krishak Dal member secretary Fakir Iskandar Alam described the killing as brutal and condemned the incident, expressing condolences to the family. Police said legal action would follow based on the complaint filed.

Hasanat Abdullah, chief organizer of the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), declared that the Bangladesh branch of India's Jatiya Party has taken a stance for the 'no vote' campaign and is politically 'dead'. Speaking at an election road meeting in support of the Eleven-Party Alliance candidate Akhtar Hossain in Rangpur-4 on February 1, he said the 'funeral' of the Jatiya Party would be held on February 12, urging voters to reject it decisively.

During the event at Kaunia Model School field, Abdullah emphasized that his party did not enter the election with money from extortionists or loan defaulters. He said the NCP aimed to stand against corruption and social ills, criticizing those who rely on drugs or short-term gains. He urged voters not to be swayed by gifts or money distributed before the election.

Abdullah also called on supporters to vote 'yes' in the upcoming referendum, claiming that while the BNP publicly supports the 'yes' vote, it is secretly campaigning for 'no'. Several NCP and allied youth leaders also addressed the gathering.