Jamaat-e-Islami’s women affairs secretary Nurunnisa Siddika stated that women cannot hold top leadership positions in the party, citing adherence to Islamic principles. Speaking to reporters at the Election Commission on Sunday, she said the Qur’an designates men as guardians and leaders of women, and the party’s structure follows that guidance. She described the decision not to nominate female candidates in the upcoming parliamentary election as an internal policy matter.

Siddika emphasized that the presence of women in top positions is not the main concern; rather, ensuring women’s rights, dignity, and safety is more important. She argued that despite Bangladesh having female prime ministers over the past five decades, violence against women and gender inequality persist, suggesting that moral and just leadership, not gender, is key to social progress.

Earlier, a Jamaat delegation met Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin to discuss political and electoral issues. The party’s women leaders alleged that female activists faced at least 15 attacks in different districts and that women voters were being intimidated ahead of the election.

An interfaith harmony rally was held at Dhaka University (DU) on Sunday, February 1, 2026, to mark World Interfaith Harmony Week. The rally began at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla and was inaugurated by DU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Saima Haque Bidisha as the chief guest. The event was jointly organized by the Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and the Department of World Religions and Culture.

The rally was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Dr. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, the Director of the Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Professor Dr. Mohammad Ilyas, the Chairman of the Department of World Religions and Culture, Professor Dr. Md. Abu Sayem, retired Professor Kazi Nurul Islam, and teachers and students from related departments. During the inauguration, Professor Bidisha emphasized the importance of establishing interfaith harmony in society.

She urged students to contribute from their respective positions to build a non-communal, humane, and discrimination-free society, and to develop themselves as knowledgeable and responsible citizens. The rally concluded after parading through various roads on the campus.

BNP central leader and former minister Advocate M Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, contesting from Natore-2 constituency with the paddy sheaf symbol, alleged that during the Awami League’s nearly 18 years in power, Natore became a hub of terror like other parts of the country. He made the remarks on Sunday while addressing roadside gatherings and conducting mass outreach in Chanpur Bazar and other areas of Kafuria Union in Natore Sadar.

Dulu accused the ruling party of killings, abductions, and looting, claiming it deprived citizens of their rights to food and vote. He pledged that if the BNP wins the upcoming parliamentary election on February 12, the party would restore peace in Natore and across Bangladesh, ensuring no tolerance for terrorism or extortion. He also said that under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, people’s confidence in the BNP has grown, and the party aims to build a new Bangladesh based on a 31-point plan.

Dulu further stated that during his tenure as MP and minister, he had implemented significant development projects in Natore, but alleged that the Awami League government neglected development and engaged in corruption.

Munshi Rafiqul Alam Majnu, the BNP candidate for Feni-1 constituency and convener of Dhaka South BNP, stated that only Allah has the power to grant entry to heaven, not any political party. He made the remarks on Sunday, February 1, during daylong campaign events and street meetings across several wards of Boxmahmud Union in Parshuram upazila.

Majnu criticized a political party for allegedly seeking votes by claiming that voters would attain heaven through their support. He emphasized that such claims contradict Islamic teachings, noting that only ten companions of the Prophet were assured of heaven during their lifetimes. He described Jamaat as a fundamentalist organization and warned that its rise to power would harm the country.

Calling for votes for the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol, Majnu urged voters to bring the party back to power for national development and safety. Several BNP and affiliated leaders were present at the campaign events in different wards of Boxmahmud Union.

Rubel Ahmed, a friend of former Bangladesh Chhatra League central general secretary Golam Rabbani, has confessed to his involvement in the murder of Inquilab Moncho spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. His statement was recorded by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Mahbubur Rahman on Saturday, after which he was sent to jail. According to court sources, Rubel voluntarily agreed to give a confessional statement following his remand, and the court approved the recording upon request from CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdur Kadir Bhuiyan.

Rubel was arrested by the CID with the help of the Detective Branch from Ati Noyabazar in South Keraniganj on January 21 and was placed on two separate remands totaling nine days. Hadi, known for his role in the July uprising and the movement to ban the Awami League, was shot on December 12 while campaigning in Bijoynagar and later died in Singapore on December 18. The case initially investigated by the DB police named 17 accused, including former ward councilor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi and former Chhatra League activist Faisal Karim Masud.

The DB’s charge sheet suggested political revenge as the motive behind Hadi’s killing. Following dissatisfaction from the complainant, the court later transferred the investigation to the CID.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has imposed new restrictions on sports journalists’ access to the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The decision has drawn strong protest and condemnation from two major journalist organizations, the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) and the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA). Both groups issued statements on Sunday expressing concern that the new rules would disrupt their daily professional activities.

In its statement, the BSJA said the restrictions would hinder journalists’ work and limit their ability to promote cricket effectively. The association emphasized its willingness to cooperate on security matters but criticized the BCB for not consulting journalist bodies before making such a major decision. The BSPA also voiced deep concern, saying the new rules create an unfavorable environment for media professionals and urged the BCB to reconsider the decision immediately.

The BSPA further suggested that dialogue and consultation with media stakeholders could lead to a more cooperative and mutually beneficial solution.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan criticized the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for not stating its position on alleged Indian aggression. Speaking at a street rally on Sunday at Shahjadpur BSCIC bus stand in Sirajganj, he said that while anti-hegemony forces once protested such acts, a major political party has remained silent. He urged voters to support anti-aggression candidates and announced that if the 11-party alliance came to power, it would arrange double training for army personnel.

Bhuiyan, also chairman of the NCP election management committee, accused a nationalist party of nominating foreign citizens as candidates who would leave the country after elections. He pledged to build a corruption-free and well-governed Bangladesh, ensuring fair rewards for workers, and called for votes for Saif Mostafiz under the Shapla symbol. He further urged citizens to vote “yes” in a referendum to prevent authoritarian rule.

Several NCP leaders, including Monira Sharmin, Tarikul Islam, Sakib Mahdi, and Yasin Arafat, were present at the event and visited the grave of Shaheed Abu Sayeed.

The Additional District Judge Court No. 2 in Dhaka has delivered a final verdict in favor of Unilever Bangladesh in arbitration miscellaneous cases No. 436/2025 and 437/2025 filed by former distributors Masud & Brothers and Agrani Trading Corporation. The distributors had challenged the termination of their distributorships and sought injunctions against the termination notices and the appointment of new distributors in their respective areas. On January 29, 2026, the court dismissed the cases, finding no merit in the distributors’ applications.

Before filing these arbitration cases, the distributors had previously filed two declaratory suits and two money suits in an incorrect legal forum, which were dismissed for lack of maintainability. During the hearing on February 28, 2026, Unilever Bangladesh presented its position, demonstrating that the termination was lawful and in accordance with the distributor agreements. The company also informed the court that the distributors had concealed key documents and provided misleading information in earlier proceedings.

The verdict confirms that Unilever Bangladesh lawfully terminated the distributorships and can continue normal business operations through newly appointed distributors.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged that its Amir, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s official X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked as part of a deep conspiracy. According to the party, hackers used the email address of a Bangabhaban official to gain access and post objectionable content intended to damage the Amir’s image. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, and the account was reportedly compromised at 4:37 p.m. before being detected around 5 p.m. Jamaat’s cyber team regained control shortly afterward and filed a general diary with the police that night.

At a press conference held Sunday morning at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer described the hacking as a deliberate attempt to malign the party and its leadership. He said the attack followed several days of hacking attempts targeting Jamaat’s social media pages. Cyber team members presented digital evidence showing that another senior leader’s account was also hacked at the same time.

Jamaat leaders stated they will inform the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies, urging a full investigation into the use of the Bangabhaban official’s email and the broader cyberattack.

Senior Vice President of the Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, Yasin Ali, has alleged that BNP supporters and their families are facing coordinated attacks across Bangladesh. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday at the BNP Election Steering Committee office in Gulshan, he claimed that a violent assault took place on January 21, 2025, in Jagannathpur Union of Comilla’s 14-Gram upazila. The attack allegedly targeted the family of Mizan Khan, a local BNP volunteer leader, leaving several relatives, including elderly and children, critically injured.

Yasin Ali accused Jamaat-Shibir activists of orchestrating the assault under the direction of Jamaat candidate Abdul Mohammad Taher. He said around two hundred armed men carried out the attack with local weapons, aiming to kill the entire family. The injured were admitted to Comilla General Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for critical care.

During the briefing, Yasin Ali condemned the incident, demanded the immediate arrest of those involved, and warned that continued violence would be resisted by mobilizing the public alongside BNP volunteers.

Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4, presided over by Judge Robiul Alam, is set to deliver verdicts on Monday, February 2, in two separate corruption cases involving former prime minister Hasina and her niece Tulip Rizwana Siddiq. The cases allege fraudulent allocation of government plots in the Purbachal New Town Project. A total of 36 individuals, 18 in each case, are accused of irregularly obtaining 20 kathas of land through abuse of power and procedural violations.

According to court and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) records, the first case was filed on January 13 last year by ACC Assistant Director S.M. Rashedul Hasan against Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Hasina, and Tulip, with a charge sheet submitted on March 10. The second case, filed the same day by ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya against Azmina Siddiq, Hasina, and Tulip, also led to a charge sheet on March 10. Witness testimony concluded earlier this year, with 28 and 31 witnesses testifying in the respective cases.

The court had framed charges on July 31 last year, and after closing arguments in January, fixed February 2 for verdicts in both cases.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will announce new consumer-level prices for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for February 2026 on Monday, February 2. According to a BERC notice issued on Sunday, the updated prices will be declared at a press briefing scheduled for 3 p.m. at the commission’s office in the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in Dhaka. The adjustment will be based on the Saudi Aramco-declared Saudi CP for February.

In January, the price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder was set at 1,306 taka, up from 1,253 taka in December. The upcoming announcement will determine whether the February price increases or decreases compared to January. The new rate will remain effective for one month.

The BERC’s monthly price adjustments are part of its regular process to align domestic LPG prices with international benchmarks, ensuring consistency with global market trends.

Tourist travel to Bangladesh’s only coral-rich island, Saint Martin, has been suspended for nine months following a government decision. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ended the current tourism season last Saturday, and from Sunday, no tourist vessels are allowed to operate to the island. Authorities said the restriction aims to preserve the island’s fragile environmental balance, limiting tourist access to only three months each year.

Typically, tourists are permitted to visit Saint Martin from October 1 to March 31, but this year the period was shortened to January 31 due to environmental risks. Cox’s Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner Imran Hossain Sajib confirmed that Saturday marked the last day for tourist ships to travel to the island. He added that future changes would depend on government decisions.

Saint Martin Union Parishad Chairman Foyezul Islam expressed concern that most island residents depend on tourism for their livelihood. He said the extended closure has caused disappointment among locals and suggested that a longer tourist season would help them sustain their income.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman alleged that a political party was trying to secure parliamentary seats through killings. He made the remark on Sunday afternoon at a roadside gathering in Sherpur’s Gopalakhila High School field after visiting the grave of Maulana Rezaul Karim, the slain Jamaat secretary of Sreebardi upazila, who died in recent election-related clashes.

Dr. Rahman expressed grief over Rezaul’s death and urged supporters to respond through ballots on February 12. He criticized the administration for failing to arrest anyone despite a murder case being filed and called on officials to remain neutral. He also demanded a fair investigation and justice for the killing.

The violence occurred on January 28 during an election manifesto event at Jhenaigati Mini Stadium, where BNP and Jamaat activists clashed over seating arrangements. Rezaul Karim later died from his injuries, and his wife filed a case naming 231 individuals, including BNP candidate Mahmudul Haque Rubel, but no arrests have been made so far.

Professor Ali Riaz, special assistant to the Chief Adviser, said the July Charter was formulated to prevent any future authoritarian rule in Bangladesh. Speaking on Sunday at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet, he stated that the nation had endured 16 years under personal dictatorship before the 2024 mass uprising brought temporary relief from fascism. He emphasized that the current constitution still allows the possibility of autocracy, and therefore the upcoming referendum must secure a 'Yes' victory to enforce the July Charter.

Riaz explained that the July Charter, drafted through consensus among all political parties, aims to ensure democratic governance and constitutional accountability. He said a 'Yes' vote would enable joint formation of the caretaker government and Election Commission by the government and opposition, restrict unilateral constitutional amendments, and limit any individual to a maximum of ten years as prime minister. It would also guarantee judicial independence and prevent the return of fascism.

Vice-chancellors from several universities in Sylhet region also spoke at the event, supporting the call for democratic reforms.