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.

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.