Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that the level of freedom currently visible on Facebook and other social media platforms was not present during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon at the World Trade Center in Chattogram after a meeting with law enforcement officials. Chowdhury cautioned that freedom does not mean spreading false information or creating confusion.

Responding to a question, he said shutting down Facebook or the internet is no longer acceptable and that action would be taken against anyone attempting such measures. He emphasized that everyone should be able to write and express opinions freely. According to him, journalists previously operated under restrictions and lacked the courage to question the Home Minister, but that situation has now changed.

Chowdhury also commented that the law and order situation in Chattogram surrounding the election remains stable, with the army, Border Guard Bangladesh, and police working in coordination to prevent any disorder.

A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on Mohammad Ejaz, the administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), due to an ongoing corruption investigation. The order was issued on Sunday afternoon by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

According to the report, the ACC’s Assistant Director Md Ashiqur Rahman filed the application seeking to restrict Ejaz from leaving the country while the inquiry continues. The court granted the request, citing the need to ensure the integrity of the investigation.

The decision underscores the ACC’s active pursuit of corruption allegations involving public officials. Further details about the nature of the allegations or the timeline of the investigation were not disclosed in the report.

BNP Chairman’s adviser and Chapainawabganj-1 candidate Professor Md. Shahjahan Miah has claimed that not a single BNP worker in Chapainawabganj has joined Jamaat-e-Islami. He made the statement on Sunday morning during an election campaign in favor of the ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol at Kamalakantapur village in Shibganj’s Chhatarajipur Union. Miah alleged that Jamaat members were staging photo sessions with their own activists wearing garlands to spread false claims.

He described BNP as an ideological, strong, and popular political party, asserting that the idea of any member defecting to Jamaat was baseless. According to him, Jamaat was spreading rumors and conspiracies after seeing the growing support for BNP ahead of the January 12 election. He also said that many Jamaat members had instead joined BNP, though the party did not wish to publicize it.

Miah urged supporters to remain alert against rumors and to unite in voting for the ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol. Local BNP leaders, including Shibganj Upazila convener Ashraful Haque and Taufiqul Islam, were present at the campaign event.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Sitakunda on Monday, where a large political rally will be held at Sitakunda High School field under the initiative of the Chattogram North District 11-party alliance. Organizers expect over 150,000 participants at the event, which has already generated significant political interest across Sitakunda, Mirsarai, Sandwip, and other parts of northern Chattogram.

Ahead of the rally, a meeting with local journalists was held at the Jamaat office in Sitakunda to ensure smooth and peaceful arrangements. Organizers described the gathering as more than a political event, calling it a platform to discuss future political directions, democratic restoration, and citizens’ rights. Dr. Rahman is expected to address current political issues, elections, and public aspirations.

Over 50 volunteer teams are working on preparations, including stage setup, sound systems, separate seating for men and women, medical and water facilities, and safety measures. Police and volunteers will jointly manage traffic and security. Speakers at the preparatory meeting said the rally would strengthen political awareness and direct engagement between party leadership and the public.

Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Elias Mia announced that 451 remote polling centers in the district will be brought under closed-circuit camera surveillance. He made the statement on Sunday morning while speaking to journalists, emphasizing that the initiative aims to ensure a peaceful and transparent election process in the region.

The deputy commissioner described Sunamganj as a generally peaceful district with limited political tension. However, he noted that transportation and the movement of election materials in remote haor areas are difficult, and in case of any unrest, it would be hard to reach those locations quickly or preserve election records properly. To address these challenges, the administration decided to install CCTV cameras in those 451 centers.

According to the district administration, the use of surveillance cameras is expected to help maintain neutrality and transparency during the upcoming election process in Sunamganj’s remote areas.

Abdul Monayem Munna, president of the Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, alleged that a deliberate campaign of misinformation and propaganda is being carried out to tarnish the organization’s image ahead of the upcoming national election. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday at the BNP’s election management office in Gulshan, Dhaka, he said that certain groups are using social media and online portals to spread false and misleading information against Jubo Dal.

Munna presented several recent incidents which he claimed were examples of politically motivated disinformation. These included cases in Katuakhali, Kushtia, Rajbari, Bhola, and Narayanganj, where he said ordinary or unrelated events were falsely linked to Jubo Dal. He asserted that such actions were intended to undermine the growing popularity of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its youth wing.

He declared that Jubo Dal would not bow to falsehoods or propaganda and would continue its democratic struggle through political, media, and legal means. Munna urged citizens and journalists to verify facts and remain vigilant against misinformation to protect democratic and peaceful electoral processes.

At least 25 people were injured on Saturday afternoon in a violent clash between residents of Manikdah and Hamirdi unions in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district. The confrontation erupted at Pukhuria Bazar after some locals were reportedly not invited to a school’s annual sports competition. During the unrest, the head teacher, assistant teachers, students, and guardians of Pukhuria A.S. Academy were trapped inside the school premises, while severe traffic congestion developed on both sides of the highway. Several shops were allegedly vandalized and looted before police and local residents brought the situation under control after about three hours.

According to police and locals, the incident began when unruly youths from Hamirdi union created chaos during a cultural segment of the event. The school’s head teacher, Enamul Kabir, tried to calm them, but an argument broke out over the issue of not inviting certain local dignitaries. The tension escalated after a student named Tamim was assaulted, prompting residents from nearby villages to join the confrontation. Police, aided by local people and political activists, eventually restored order and rescued those trapped inside the school.

Traffic movement on the highway returned to normal by evening, police confirmed.

At a roadside rally in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud alleged that a rival political party, while speaking of nationalism, has nominated foreign citizens as candidates in the upcoming elections. He compared such candidates to migratory birds who come to Bangladesh during elections and leave afterward. The event, held on Sunday, was attended by several NCP leaders, including election committee chairman Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, who urged voters to support the party’s Shapla Koli symbol for a corruption-free and well-governed Bangladesh.

Speakers at the rally, including NCP joint member-secretary S.M. Saif Mostafiz, Monira Sharmin, and Mahin Sarkar, criticized attempts to send foreign citizens and loan defaulters to parliament. They argued that such individuals would not legislate in the national interest but rather in favor of vested groups. The NCP leaders called on citizens to vote for candidates who would remain with the people and uphold justice, transparency, and good governance.

The rally also emphasized the party’s commitment to eradicating corruption, ensuring fair politics, and strengthening national sovereignty through responsible leadership.

Bangladesh Railway has temporarily suspended three of its employees for allegedly allowing passengers to travel without tickets in exchange for money. The suspension was issued on Saturday, December 31, under the signature of the Chief Commercial Manager (East) of Bangladesh Railway. The accused employees are Steward-1 Md. Arif, Steward Manager-2 Md. Jewel Rana, and Conductor/Guard-3 Md. Mostafizur Rahman Limon, who were on duty in coach 'ঞ' of the 704 Mahanagar Provati Express running from Dhaka to Chattogram on January 18.

The allegations surfaced on social media and were later verified through a preliminary investigation, which confirmed the authenticity of the claims. Following this confirmation, the railway authorities decided to suspend the three employees temporarily. The report states that further action will be taken after a detailed investigation based on evidence.

The incident highlights ongoing efforts by Bangladesh Railway to address misconduct among its staff and ensure accountability within the organization.

Field-level voters in Faridpur-4 constituency, covering Sadarpur, Charbhadrasan, and Bhanga, believe a three-way contest is likely in the upcoming national election. The seat, historically dominated by the Awami League since independence, has occasionally been won by the Jatiya Party and BNP. Former independent MP Mujibur Rahman Nixon, a relative of Sheikh Hasina, held the seat for three consecutive terms. Following the political shift on August 5, 2024, many Awami League leaders reportedly left the area amid fear of legal action, creating a vacuum now being filled by opposition forces.

Supporters of former MP Nixon have largely joined the BNP’s campaign, backing its candidate, Krishak Dal’s central general secretary Shahidul Islam Khan Babul. BNP activists claim unity under his leadership, with no internal disputes. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, which previously performed poorly in the area, reports increased youth support and hopes to capitalize on public discontent over corruption and irregularities. Voters identify Babul, Jamaat’s Mohammad Sarwar Hossain, and independent candidate architect Mujahid Beg as the main contenders.

Local observers expect the main electoral battle to center on these three candidates, reflecting shifting alliances and voter sentiment in the region.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has denied allegations that personal data of 14,000 journalists were leaked from its website. The EC explained that for a short period, applicant information for journalist and observer accreditation cards was visible on the site but could not be downloaded. The issue arose after complaints surfaced on Saturday, prompting the EC to clarify that the visibility occurred while the site was being worked on, not due to hacking or data theft.

According to EC Public Relations Director Ruhul Mallik, the application portal for journalists was closed on Thursday following objections, and the observer application section was being shut down on Saturday. Some registered users who logged into their dashboards could temporarily view the admin panel, which led to confusion about a data breach. Mallik emphasized that no external party accessed or misused the data.

The EC recently developed the pr.ecs.gov.bd website to process applications for journalists and election observers online for the first time. However, due to technical and information-handling issues, the commission decided to revert to manual applications for the upcoming February 12 referendum and parliamentary elections.

BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson and party chairperson’s adviser Mahdi Amin has condemned an alleged misogynistic post from the verified X (Twitter) account of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Speaking at a press conference in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Sunday, Amin said that if the post is genuine, it represents a dangerous attempt to push society into medieval darkness. He noted that the post, made on January 31, suggested women face exploitation and moral decline when leaving home in the name of modernity.

Amin questioned the credibility of Jamaat’s claim that the account was hacked about nine hours after the post drew widespread criticism. He pointed out inconsistencies in the timeline of the hacking report and the general diary filed at Hatirjheel police station. Amin further accused Jamaat of a history of misogynistic behavior, citing previous remarks by its leaders and the party’s exclusion of women from leadership roles.

He reaffirmed BNP’s commitment to women’s freedom, dignity, and equality, describing Jamaat’s stance toward working women as deeply insulting and contrary to the values of a civilized society.

A man in Rajshahi allegedly killed his mother with a sharp weapon after she refused to give him money for drugs. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Old Krishi Bank intersection in the Kharkhari area of the city. The victim, Sohagi Khatun, aged 55, was the wife of Azizul Islam. Locals detained the accused, identified as Suman, and handed him over to police.

According to eyewitnesses and police sources, Suman, reportedly addicted to drugs, demanded money from his mother that night. When she refused, he attacked her repeatedly in the chest and abdomen with a sharp weapon, killing her on the spot. He then left the body on the road and locked himself inside their house. Locals later apprehended him and informed the police.

Chandrima Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam confirmed that the body was sent to Rajshahi Medical College morgue for autopsy and that Suman was being interrogated. Police said initial findings indicate the accused is a drug addict, and legal action is underway.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the nation stands at a critical juncture and described February 12 as a day of change. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon during an election rally in Sherpur. Rahman warned that any attack on mothers would trigger an explosion in the country and pledged to ensure lawful employment for youth instead of distributing unemployment allowances.

He also addressed a recent incident involving his social media account, which he said had been briefly taken over by miscreants who posted offensive comments about women. Rahman stated that control had been regained and apologized to any women who felt hurt by the incident. Additionally, he condemned the killing of Jamaat leader Professor Maulana Rezaul Karim in Shrimati upazila and the attack on an election meeting, criticizing the authorities for failing to arrest the main suspects after three days.

Rahman said he had directly urged the home adviser to show visible progress in the investigation and warned against testing their patience.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced that it will submit a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday at 3 p.m., protesting continued violence and attacks against women participating in election campaigns. The party’s central women’s division will deliver the memorandum, according to a press release issued by the organization.

The statement said that women campaigning in support of the 11-party electoral alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have been subjected to brutal assaults in various parts of the country. The organization alleged that such attacks are depriving women of their democratic rights.

In the memorandum, Jamaat-e-Islami will call for proper investigations into the incidents, legal action against those responsible, and effective preventive measures by the Election Commission to ensure a safe environment for election campaigning.