Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that he would sacrifice his life if necessary to protect people's rights, warning that any attempt to manipulate election results by force would be resisted by the youth. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at a rally in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar in support of the 11-party alliance candidate Saiful Alam Milon for the Dhaka-12 constituency.

Dr. Rahman alleged that attacks on Jamaat activists across the country were destroying the level playing field and that violence against women and intimidation were undermining fair elections. He said the interim government and Election Commission would bear responsibility if the election process failed. He added that Jamaat had not filed unjust cases since August 5 and would congratulate whichever party formed the next government through a fair vote.

The Jamaat leader expressed optimism about victory, pledging to curb extortion, corruption, and terrorism if elected. He said 90 percent of extortion would end immediately under their rule and that the youth would be empowered as skilled nation-builders rather than dependents on allowances.

A views-exchange meeting was held in Dhamrai, Dhaka, where Mufti Ashraf Ali was nominated as the Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish candidate for the Dhaka-20 constituency under the ten-party alliance ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election. The event took place on Thursday at the Munno Community Center near the Dhaka-Aricha highway and was presided over by Mufti Ashraf Ali, president of the Dhaka district Khelafat Majlish.

Senior leaders including Professor Abdul Jalil, Maulana Nurul Haque, Amir Ali, Maulana Firoz Ahmed, Professor Saifuddin, and Rayhan Ali attended the meeting. Speakers expressed grief over the killing of Jamaat secretary Rezaul Karim in Jhenaigati, Sherpur, and called for an Islamic governance system to end injustice and oppression across Bangladesh.

During the meeting, Mufti Ashraf Ali vowed that if elected to parliament, he would end abduction, murder, and injustice in Dhamrai and work to make the area free from extortion, terrorism, and drugs.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman arrived in Rajshahi on Thursday to attend an election rally at the city’s historic Madrasa Maidan. From early morning, BNP leaders and activists from various upazilas and nearby districts gathered at the venue to see him and hear his speech. He reached Rajshahi by air from Dhaka around 12:30 p.m. and first visited the shrine of Hazrat Shah Makhdum (R.) before joining the rally.

According to party sources, Tarique Rahman is expected to seek votes for the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, and present the party’s plans for public welfare and governance. After completing his Rajshahi program, he will travel by road to Bogura, addressing another rally at ATM Field in Naogaon on the way, and later attend a public meeting at Altafunnesa Field in Bogura at night.

Party leaders expressed hope that Tarique Rahman’s visit will energize BNP’s election campaign in northern Bangladesh and boost enthusiasm among grassroots activists.

The United Kingdom has issued a travel advisory for its citizens regarding visits to Bangladesh. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) released the warning on Thursday, January 29, urging British nationals to plan their trips carefully and follow local authorities’ guidance. The advisory cites potential risks of political violence and extremist attacks linked to the upcoming national election.

According to the FCDO notice, travelers who ignore the advisory may face cancellation of their travel insurance. The office recommended avoiding all but essential travel to several parts of the country, particularly the three districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It noted that reports of violence and criminal activity are frequent in remote areas, and attacks targeting political gatherings or polling centers could occur during the election period.

Bangladesh’s national election is scheduled for February 12, with campaigning having started on January 22.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Noakhali on Friday, January 30, 2026, to attend a public rally at Noakhali Zilla School field. The event is being organized by the 11-party alliance as part of its campaign activities ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. District Jamaat Ameer Khondaker Ishaq confirmed the visit during a meeting at the party office in Maijdee on Monday night.

According to district Jamaat publicity secretary Dr. Borhan Uddin, extensive preparations are underway at both district and upazila levels to welcome the party chief. The rally will feature speeches from alliance leaders and candidates from Noakhali’s six constituencies. Party activists have reportedly shown renewed enthusiasm surrounding the visit, which is expected to focus on the current political situation.

Local leaders believe the Ameer’s visit and his address will play a significant role in shaping the alliance’s campaign momentum in the district ahead of the national election.

A show-cause notice has been issued to Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Keramat Ali and another individual in Chapainawabganj-1 (Shibganj) constituency for allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct. The notice was issued by the constituency’s Election Inquiry and Judicial Committee, chaired by Joint District and Sessions Judge Md. Uzzal Mahmud. The action followed a written complaint from Tosikul Alam, the chief election agent of Shibganj Upazila BNP.

According to the complaint, the accused installed replicas of the party’s scale symbol made of plastic and non-degradable materials at key intersections and road dividers in Shibganj and decorated them with lights. The inquiry committee conducted an on-site investigation and confirmed the allegations, deeming the act a clear breach of the electoral code.

The notice requires the accused to appear in person and submit a written explanation by February 1, explaining why legal action should not be recommended to the Election Commission. The Shibganj police officer-in-charge has been instructed to serve the notice promptly and report back to the committee.

The prosecution has formally filed charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and seven others in connection with the 2016 Kalyanpur 'Jahazbari' incident in Dhaka, where nine people were allegedly killed in a staged militant operation. The charges were submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal at 11 a.m. on Thursday.

According to the prosecution, the accused include former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Inspector General of Police A.K.M. Shahidul Hoque, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman, and former Special Branch Chief Monirul Islam. The case centers on allegations that the 2016 operation was orchestrated as a fabricated militant drama leading to multiple deaths.

The tribunal proceedings mark a significant legal development involving several high-profile former government and law enforcement officials, though further details on the next steps in the case were not provided in the report.

Hasanat Abdullah, chief organizer of the NCP’s southern region, criticized BNP leader Mirza Abbas during an election courtyard meeting in Gunai Ghar Shaktala, Debidwar, Cumilla, on Tuesday night. He claimed that only a year and a half ago, Abbas appeared in court wearing a burqa, yet now displays arrogance. Abdullah made the remarks while responding to a BNP leader’s statement about women removing veils.

During his speech, Abdullah stood beside Abu Bakar, whom he described as a 'July fighter' who lost his voice while resisting fascism. He lamented that such activists, including Abu Bakar, have been neglected and that few now speak about their sacrifices. Abdullah also referred to July martyr Mainuddin, saying that the causes for which they fought and died are now met with silence.

The meeting was organized to protest an attack on NCP candidate Nasiruddin Patwari in Dhaka-8 constituency, where Abdullah emphasized the need to remember those who fought against fascism.

Comilla University (CoU) will begin its 2025–26 undergraduate admission process on Friday with the ‘A’ unit examination under the Faculty of Science and Engineering. The test will be held simultaneously at Comilla University and Rajshahi University centers from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. A total of 46,336 candidates have applied for 300 seats, meaning more than 154 applicants will compete for each seat. Of them, 29,821 will sit for the exam at the Comilla center and 16,515 at the Rajshahi center.

The one-hour multiple-choice test carries 100 marks, with a 0.25 mark deduction for each wrong answer and a minimum pass mark of 33. The university administration issued detailed instructions on January 28 to ensure a fair and peaceful examination. Candidates are prohibited from bringing any electronic devices, papers, or bags into the exam hall and must follow strict identification and procedural rules.

Additional police, intelligence agencies, RAB, BNCC, and Rover Scouts will be deployed for security. Only candidates will be allowed inside the Comilla center, while guardians must remain outside. The ‘B’ and ‘C’ unit exams will take place on January 31 under the same guidelines.

Jamaat-e-Islami has announced an emergency press conference to protest incidents of violence that occurred in Sherpur and other parts of the country surrounding the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The event is scheduled for Thursday at 12 p.m. at the party’s central office. The announcement was made through a message sent to the media by Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, the party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of the Central Media and Publicity Department.

According to the message, central leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami will be present at the press conference. The party’s move comes amid reports of unrest linked to the upcoming national election, which has drawn attention across various regions. The announcement emphasizes the party’s protest against the recent violent incidents.

Further details about the agenda or statements expected at the press conference were not provided in the announcement.

A protest rally and gathering were held in Dhaka on Wednesday night in response to an attack on Jamaat-e-Islami leader Kazi Maria Islam Baby. The incident occurred earlier that afternoon in Ward 52 of the capital’s Kadamtali area, where she was reportedly injured by members of the Jubo Dal while conducting campaign activities in the Dhaka-4 constituency. The protest, organized by the Kadamtali unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, began at Muradpur Zero Point and concluded after marching through key roads.

Leaders and activists from the Dhaka South Jamaat, including Ashraful Alam Imon, participated in the demonstration. The Dhaka South Jamaat and Dhaka-4 candidate Syed Zainul Abedin strongly condemned and protested the attack. Kazi Maria Islam Baby is identified as a Rukon and women’s leader of Jamaat-e-Islami.

The protest reflected growing political tension in the area following the attack, with party leaders emphasizing their opposition to violence against political activists.

In a detailed commentary published on January 29, 2026, researcher and journalist Amir Khasru analyzed the evolution of state security and defense concepts, emphasizing Bangladesh’s need to adapt to changing global realities. He traced the historical roots of defense thinking from ancient civilizations to modern times, arguing that defense and security should not be equated with warfare. Khasru highlighted that small and weaker states must ensure participatory national defense arrangements to safeguard sovereignty.

The article discussed how colonial and neo-colonial influences created psychological dependency among smaller nations, weakening their defense outlook. It examined theories from Harold Nicolson, Hans Morgenthau, and Stephen Walt to explain how diplomacy, realism, and the balance of threat shape modern international relations. Khasru also warned against “fake narrative theories” used by dominant powers to manipulate perceptions and undermine sovereign defense systems.

He concluded that Bangladesh must remain alert to global shifts where defense diplomacy and threat balancing increasingly define alliances, citing examples such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey’s recent defense cooperation.

BNP-nominated candidate Rashed Khan has pledged to improve education, health, and communication infrastructure in Jhenaidah-4 constituency, which includes Kaliganj upazila and four unions of the sadar area, if he wins the upcoming national election. He made the commitment on Wednesday afternoon during a public rally at the Government Bhushan High School field in Kaliganj town.

During his speech, Rashed Khan said that no roads in the area would remain unpaved and that all citizens would receive essential services. He warned those who had taken control of local markets after August 5 that extortion would no longer be tolerated. Addressing Hindu residents, he assured them of full safety under BNP and urged voters to reject anyone misusing the party’s symbol or name for personal gain. He also criticized an independent candidate, accusing him of relying on falsehoods to seek votes.

The rally reflected Rashed Khan’s campaign focus on local development and law and order issues ahead of the national polls.

Hasanat Abdullah, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region, said on Wednesday night that after the fall of a brutal dictatorship and the loss of two thousand lives in July and August, it is unimaginable that people would again be killed for political reasons. He made the remarks in a Facebook post referring to the killing of Maulana Rezaul Karim, secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami in Sherpur-3 Sreebardi upazila.

In his post, Hasanat held both the BNP and the government responsible for the incident, alleging that since Tarique Rahman’s return to the country, the government and administration have been favoring a particular party. He also accused the BNP of internal conflicts that have led to multiple killings over the past one and a half years, saying repeated warnings were ignored. Hasanat questioned Tarique Rahman’s plans to prevent his party members from engaging in violence while promoting programs like family and farmer cards.

The statement reflects growing concern over renewed political violence and accountability among major parties following recent unrest in Sherpur.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) continues to face a deepening trust crisis ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and a simultaneous referendum scheduled for February 12. The commission has repeatedly altered decisions, amended laws and codes of conduct mid-process, and faced legal complications over schedules and constituency boundaries. A new directive barring election officials from campaigning for or against the referendum has sparked further debate, as the government’s ongoing ‘yes’ campaign may send mixed signals to voters.

Observers note that the EC’s limited experience in organizing large-scale national polls without prior local elections raises concerns about its preparedness. The commission, formed in November 2024 under the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has been criticized for inconsistent decisions, including leniency toward loan defaulters and dual citizens, and for controversies over postal ballots, party symbols, and registration.

Election analysts argue that frequent rule changes have weakened the EC’s credibility, while commissioners insist they are acting fairly and without political pressure. The High Court has dismissed a petition seeking to halt the election and referendum.