In Hatiya upazila of Noakhali, youth leader Kamal Uddin, a supporter of Abdul Hannan Masud of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and senior joint convener of Jubo Shokti’s Jahajmara West branch, has joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The formal joining took place on Saturday night, January 31, when he presented flowers to BNP’s organizing secretary and Noakhali-6 constituency candidate Mahbubur Rahman Shamim.

Kamal Uddin stated that he resigned from his Jubo Shokti position based on a family decision and joined BNP inspired by its ideals of restoring democracy and ensuring voting rights. He pledged to work actively to strengthen BNP’s organizational activities. Hatiya BNP joint general secretary Lutfullahil Majid Nishan said several other leaders and activists also joined BNP, uniting under its symbol to strengthen the party ahead of the upcoming election.

In response, Hatiya Jubo Shokti convener Md. Yusuf Reza commented that Abdul Hannan Masud’s popularity continues to grow and that a few defections would not affect the organization’s overall strength.

The three-day 2nd Bangladesh Light Engineering Expo 2026 will begin on February 2 at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Center in Dhaka. Organized by the Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BAISHIMAS) with support from the Ministry of Commerce and the World Bank-backed Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) project, the event will run daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The expo aims to enhance the competitiveness and export orientation of the country’s light engineering sector by showcasing the latest technologies, machinery, and innovative products.

BAISHIMAS President Md. Abdur Razzak said the sector supplies backward linkages to agriculture, textiles, construction, power, and automobile industries, contributing about 3 percent to national GDP. Around 50,000 small and medium enterprises employ over 300,000 skilled workers, meeting nearly half of the domestic demand worth USD 8.2 billion. Despite this, Bangladesh holds less than 1 percent of the USD 7 trillion global engineering market. The current export value of USD 795 million could reach USD 12.56 billion by 2030 with proper policy and investment support.

The expo will feature over 50 booths, two seminars, and participation from government officials, business chambers, and international buyers. Organizers expect the event to strengthen domestic industry, attract investment, and expand global market access.

Following the announcement of the 13th National Parliament election schedule, the Bangladesh Army, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, conducted joint operations across the country. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), these operations, carried out from December 11 to Sunday, resulted in the arrest of 1,774 individuals and the recovery of 179 firearms along with 1,941 rounds of ammunition.

The ISPR stated that the operations aimed to maintain stability in law and order during the election period. The army intensified regular patrols, set up checkpoints, conducted special raids in suspected areas, and strengthened intelligence-based activities to ensure a secure electoral environment. All arrested individuals were handed over to the respective police stations.

The ISPR emphasized that these coordinated efforts were part of broader measures to keep the national situation stable and to ensure safety ahead of the upcoming election.

A mass rally was held in Debidwar, Cumilla, on Sunday in support of Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and candidate of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance for the Cumilla-4 constituency. The demonstration endorsed Abdullah’s Shapla Koli election symbol and the 'Yes' vote in the ongoing referendum. The rally began in front of Debidwar Mohila College, paraded through major roads of the upazila, and concluded at the Sujat Ali Government College field.

Leaders from various allied parties participated in the event, including Saiful Islam Shahid, secretary of Jamaat’s Cumilla North district; Mojibur Rahman Farazi of Khelafat Majlis; withdrawn candidate Mofazzal Hossain of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis; Debidwar Jamaat chief Professor Shahidul Islam; NCP joint coordinator Jahangir Alam; National Youth Power organizer Nazmul Hasan Nahid; NCP joint coordinator Saiful Islam Shamim; Debidwar municipal Jamaat chief Ferdous Ahmed; and Islami Chhatra Shibir president Saiful Islam.

The rally demonstrated coordinated support among alliance partners ahead of the Cumilla-4 electoral contest.

At a campaign rally in Pirgacha Government College field, Rangpur-4, NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain announced that the Teesta mega project would be implemented if the 11-party alliance wins the upcoming election. Speaking as the chief guest, he said the alliance’s Shapla Koli symbol represents their commitment to addressing water shortages and deepening the Teesta River. Hossain also pledged to eliminate regional development disparities in northern Bangladesh and ensure transparency in public allocations.

Other speakers, including Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary Maulana Abdul Halim and NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, echoed the call for a fair and equitable Bangladesh. They criticized rival parties for alleged corruption and inefficiency, urging voters to support the alliance’s candidates. Bhuiyan added that a previous public hearing on the Teesta riverbank led to a development allocation of 2.5 billion taka.

The event, part of the NCP’s electoral march, was attended by leaders from allied groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami, Jubo Shakti, and Chhatra Shakti, who emphasized unity and vigilance during the election.

Students from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing and left-leaning groups at Jahangirnagar University organized a broom procession on Sunday evening to protest remarks made on social media by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman that were deemed derogatory toward working women. The procession began at the university’s central Shaheed Minar around 6:30 p.m., marched through key campus roads, and concluded at Bottola with a brief rally.

During the rally, participants dismissed claims that Dr. Rahman’s Twitter account had been hacked, calling it a staged excuse, and demanded a public apology for the offensive comments. Nadia Rahman Anwesha, general secretary of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti’s Jahangirnagar unit, said students took to the streets in response to attempts to demean women on social media. Other speakers, including students Faria Zaman Niki and Sohagi Samia, condemned the remarks and criticized the political tolerance of such statements.

The protestors declared that their broom procession marked only the beginning of continued demonstrations against those who support or echo such views on campus.

The Rajshahi University (RU) unit of Chhatra Dal held a protest rally on Sunday, February 1, 2026, condemning a controversial social media post allegedly made from the verified X (formerly Twitter) account of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. The post, which contained derogatory remarks about working women, sparked widespread criticism online. The demonstration began at the university’s Buddhijibi Chattar and later turned into a procession across the campus, with participants chanting slogans demanding withdrawal of the remarks and respect for women.

During the rally, Urdu department student Afrin Jahan called for changing the mindset that devalues women, urging people to view women as human beings. RU Chhatra Dal vice president Shakilur Rahman Sohag criticized Jamaat’s historical role and said Dr. Rahman’s comments were against human values. RU Chhatra Dal president Sultan Ahmad Rahi accused Dr. Rahman of insulting women, including nurses, and said such behavior disqualified his party from moral politics.

Jamaat-e-Islami has claimed that Dr. Rahman’s X account was hacked, though the controversy continues to draw public attention.

An eleven-party alliance held a press conference in Nawabganj, Dinajpur, on Sunday, February 1, 2026, alleging that false propaganda was being spread against Jamaat-e-Islami. The event took place at the temporary upazila office in the New Market area, where alliance leaders claimed that a fabricated story of vandalism had been staged to mislead the public and authorities.

According to the written statement presented at the conference, the incident occurred on Saturday, January 31, during a rally of the 'Dharipalla' symbol at Dalar Dorga Bazar in Putimara Union. The leaders said that loud music from a nearby 'Dhaner Shish' campaign office disrupted the event, leading to tension. They claimed that after their request to lower the volume, supporters of 'Dhaner Shish' attacked 'Dharipalla' activists, prompting the latter to withdraw peacefully.

The alliance leaders further alleged that 'Dhaner Shish' supporters later staged a false act of vandalism, organized a protest march, and spread misleading information on social media. They condemned the alleged misinformation and reiterated that no violence or destruction had been carried out by their supporters.

A massive rally was held in Khagrachhari in support of the scale symbol of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Advocate Yakub Ali Chowdhury, nominated by the 11-party alliance ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The procession began at 4 p.m. from the Khagrachhari Gate area, paraded through Chengi Square and Shapla Chattar, and concluded with a gathering at the Muktamanch. The event was organized by the Marma and Tripura communities.

The assembly was presided over by Tripura Unity Federation convener Chandrinath Tripura, with Yakub Ali Chowdhury as the chief guest. Marma Unity Federation convener Chaithoai Marma, Lisi Tripura, and district Jamaat chief Professor Syed Abdul Momen also spoke. Speakers urged voters to ensure victory for the scale symbol, describing it as a sign of justice and fairness, and claimed that its success would bring peace, security, and harmony to all hill communities.

Participants from the Chakma, Marma, and Tripura groups joined the rally, singing and dancing while seeking votes for the scale symbol, turning the area into a festive atmosphere.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman visited Sherpur district’s Sreebardi upazila on Sunday morning to meet the family of Shaheed Hafiz Maulana Rezaul Karim, the upazila Jamaat secretary. Arriving by helicopter at 9 a.m., he went directly to Rezaul Karim’s home, met his relatives, inquired about their well-being, and offered condolences. He prayed for their patience and strength during this difficult time.

During the visit, Dr. Rahman held Rezaul Karim’s three-year-old daughter and became visibly emotional. Later, accompanied by party leaders and activists, he visited Rezaul Karim’s grave and prayed for the forgiveness of his soul and acceptance of his martyrdom. Central working committee members, including Dr. Shamiul Haque Faruqi and Manjurul Islam Bhuiyan, as well as many Jamaat and Islami Chhatra Shibir members and local residents, were present.

The visit reflected Jamaat-e-Islami’s continued engagement with the families of deceased party leaders and its emphasis on spiritual solidarity within the organization.

Brigadier General Abdullahil Aman Azmi testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Sunday as the third witness in a crimes against humanity case involving enforced disappearance and torture at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) in Dhaka’s Kochukhet area. He stated that he was abducted from his Moghbazar residence on 22 August 2016 by around 50 to 60 plainclothes men, handcuffed, blindfolded, and taken to the DGFI complex. Despite being blindfolded, he recognized one of the abductors as Lieutenant Colonel Mokshurul of DGFI.

Azmi said he was held in cell number 11 of the JIC until 5 August 2024, enduring severe physical and psychological torture, poor food, and inadequate medical care. He described being deprived of sunlight and natural air for 2,908 days and suffering from multiple health problems. He also recounted how artificial noise was used to mask sounds from inside the cells. Azmi’s testimony detailed his identification of the detention site through familiar sounds and landmarks near the DGFI complex.

The tribunal adjourned the hearing, setting the next session for the continuation of Azmi’s deposition.

More than one hundred leaders and activists of Ganadhikar Parishad in Jamalpur’s Madarganj upazila have joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. They resigned from their previous party on Saturday night and formally joined Jamaat the following Sunday afternoon at an election rally held at Singhjani High School field in Jamalpur. The new members were welcomed with flowers by Maulana Nurul Amin, the Amir of Madarganj upazila Jamaat.

According to the report, the resignations were submitted citing deviations from party discipline, principles, and ideals within Ganadhikar Parishad. Among those who joined Jamaat are district and upazila-level leaders including Al Amin Mondal, Advocate Mosharraf Hossain, Sultan Mahmud, Shahidul Islam, and several others from youth and student wings. The new members stated that recent inconsistencies in party decisions, sudden changes in candidate nominations, and ideological confusion led to their disappointment and eventual decision to switch parties.

Madarganj Jamaat leaders said the inclusion of these new members would strengthen the organization’s grassroots base and enhance its future political activities in the region.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami filed counter complaints with the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday regarding the electoral environment and code of conduct. Separate delegations met Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin in Dhaka to present their concerns.

BNP alleged that discussions were underway to form so-called 'peace committees' in the name of maintaining order, accused some groups of using religion in campaigns, and claimed abnormal voter transfers in Dhaka and other areas. The party also opposed deploying Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) members in election duties and requested measures against outsiders in constituencies before voting. Jamaat-e-Islami, meanwhile, complained that a level playing field had not been ensured and cited recent killings and violence as major obstacles to peaceful polls. Its representatives urged the EC to act impartially and protect women voters allegedly facing intimidation.

Separately, the Election Observer Society held a human chain outside the EC office demanding travel and meal allowances and better security for local election observers, while over 157,000 postal ballots from expatriate voters had already arrived in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Chapainawabganj on February 5 to attend an election rally at the Nawabganj Government College field. He will be the chief guest at the event, which is being organized ahead of the upcoming national election. The announcement was made by district Jamaat Ameer Abuzar Gifari at a press conference held at the district Jamaat office on Sunday noon.

According to Gifari, the rally is part of Jamaat’s ongoing nationwide programs. During the event, Dr. Rahman is expected to discuss the country’s current political situation, electoral system, democracy, good governance, and public demands. He will also deliver guidance-oriented remarks to party leaders and activists. District Jamaat leaders and candidates from the three parliamentary constituencies of Chapainawabganj were present at the press conference.

Local administration sources said preparations are underway to maintain law and order during the rally, and full cooperation will be provided to ensure a peaceful gathering.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central secretary general Professor Mia Golam Parwar stated that the country is not safe in the hands of those who seek to dishonor women. He said this while addressing an election rally on Saturday, January 31, at the Gazipur Khan Model Government School and College field in Titas upazila, Comilla. The event was organized by the 11-party alliance in support of its parliamentary candidate for Comilla-2 (Homna-Titas), Md. Nazim Uddin Molla.

At the same rally, National Citizen Party (NCP) south region chief organizer and Comilla-4 candidate Hasnat Abdullah criticized a local figure he described as a “sand trader,” alleging corruption and misuse of party positions. He claimed that grassroots BNP activists themselves wanted freedom from such leadership and urged young voters to remain united and help ensure victory for the 11-party alliance.

The meeting was chaired by Nazim Uddin Molla and attended by senior Jamaat and alliance leaders from Comilla and nearby regions, highlighting the coalition’s coordinated campaign efforts ahead of the upcoming election.