A Washington Post report published on January 22 revealed that the United States seeks a ‘friendship’ with Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami, a once-banned Islamist party. The report cited a U.S. diplomat expressing conditional support, suggesting economic pressure could be used if the party pursued hardline policies. The article argues that this approach reflects strategic calculation rather than unconditional partnership. It also notes that Jamaat, once suppressed, has re-emerged as a key political force following Sheikh Hasina’s fall, with U.S. diplomats predicting its strongest electoral performance in the February 12 election.

The report highlights concerns that U.S. engagement with Jamaat could strain India–U.S. relations and deepen regional tensions. India views Jamaat as a security concern, while Bangladesh faces a test of democratic credibility amid foreign interest. Interim leader Dr. Yunus has promised a fair election, but questions remain about equal opportunity among parties.

A separate Al Jazeera report described how Bangladesh’s election has shifted online, with TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube becoming central campaign arenas. Digital platforms now shape political narratives, especially among young voters, signaling a transformation in how democracy is contested.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has dismissed allegations that party chairman Tarique Rahman violated the electoral code of conduct, describing them as completely false and part of a hyper propaganda campaign. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 24, after visiting the grave of the late Arafat Rahman Koko in Banani, Dhaka, on his death anniversary.

The allegations were raised by the National Citizen Party (NCP), whose Election Steering Committee Chairman Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan claimed that Tarique Rahman used loudspeakers for campaign activities past the permitted time of 8 p.m., continuing until midnight. Bhuiyan also accused the administration and Election Commission of favoring a particular political party and warned that their credibility would be damaged if no action was taken.

Rizvi countered that Tarique Rahman had postponed his northern region tour at the Election Commission’s request and later conducted campaign activities in accordance with its regulations.

A severe cold wave has intensified in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, where the minimum temperature dropped to 10 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning. The biting cold and dense fog have disrupted normal life in both urban and rural areas, affecting daily activities and mobility. The Sreemangal Weather Observation Center recorded the temperature between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.

According to the center’s acting officer, Anisur Rahman, the cold conditions are expected to persist for the next few days. The ongoing chill has led to a rise in cold-related illnesses, with tea garden workers, children, and the elderly suffering the most. The situation has particularly affected laborers who depend on outdoor work for their livelihood.

Local residents are struggling to cope with the cold, and health concerns are mounting as the temperature remains low. Authorities have not yet indicated any immediate relief measures, while forecasts suggest the cold spell may continue.

A growing military alignment among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey has evolved beyond diplomatic statements into tangible cooperation involving joint exercises, defense technology exchange, and financial investment. Pakistan’s large active force, Saudi Arabia’s high defense spending, and Turkey’s advanced defense industry have together created a developing security framework that India views with concern. New joint drills and drone technology transfers are seen as enhancing Pakistan’s capabilities, prompting India to reassess its strategic calculations.

India’s defense establishment is particularly alert to Turkey’s political stance on Kashmir and its close ties with Pakistan, which have stalled India-Turkey defense dialogues. While maintaining strong economic and energy links with Saudi Arabia, India seeks to ensure that Riyadh’s cooperation with Islamabad and Ankara does not evolve into an anti-India platform.

For Bangladesh, the article argues, joining any military bloc could undermine its balanced foreign policy and peacekeeping reputation. The author concludes that maintaining restraint, neutrality, and strategic autonomy best serves Bangladesh’s long-term national and regional interests.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced his plan to transform northern Bangladesh into the capital of agro-based industries during a series of election rallies on Friday, January 23, 2026. Speaking at a large gathering in Panchagarh’s sugar mill field, he said closed sugar mills would be reopened and workers reinstated. The event marked his first election rally outside Dhaka, followed by similar meetings in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, and Rangpur, which drew enthusiastic participation from party supporters.

Dr. Rahman accused successive governments of deliberately keeping northern Bangladesh impoverished and pledged to change the region’s economic landscape within five years. He promised to establish specialized hospitals in every district, recover embezzled funds allegedly laundered abroad, and eliminate corruption and extortion. In Dinajpur, he vowed to build agro-industries and storage facilities for potatoes and lychees, while in Thakurgaon he promised to upgrade Saidpur Airport to international standards and ensure fair prices for farmers.

In Rangpur, Dr. Rahman said his alliance would implement the Teesta Master Plan and create employment instead of unemployment benefits. He urged voters to support the ten-party alliance and mark “yes” in the upcoming referendum.

Former state minister for education and BNP candidate for Chandpur-1 constituency, Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon, has accused a rival political party of deceiving the public by claiming that voting for them would guarantee entry to heaven. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon at the inauguration of his election campaign in Nayakandi village under Sacher Union of Kachua, Chandpur.

Milon said that if people could attain heaven simply by voting, they would abandon religious practices. Highlighting his previous tenure as state minister, he claimed to have made examinations free from cheating, stopped the killing of juvenile hilsa fish, and relocated the Chandpur launch terminal to reduce passenger suffering and accidents. He pledged that, if re-elected in the February 12 election, he would transform Kachua into the country's leading education hub.

The event was chaired by Kachua Upazila Jubo Dal president Md. Mohiuddin Majumdar and attended by local BNP and affiliated organization leaders, including members of the Bangladesh Olama Dal.

Candidates and supporters from various political parties have become increasingly active in campaigning for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. Despite a festive atmosphere, concerns over safety have intensified following incidents including the shooting of a BNP leader and the arrest of two armed suspects from a Jamaat candidate’s rally. Jamaat-e-Islami leaders have alleged an attempted murder of their Dhaka-7 candidate, Hafez Enayet Ullah, and demanded stronger government and Election Commission action to ensure a fear-free vote.

Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair emphasized that maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the administration and law enforcement agencies. Party leaders accused the government of ignoring repeated calls to recover illegal weapons and prosecute past political killings. The National Citizens Party and BNP also expressed alarm, with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir condemning recent attacks and warning of conspiracies to derail the election.

Opposition parties have urged immediate and effective measures from the government and Election Commission to restore public confidence and prevent further violence during the campaign period.

Patients at the 50-bed Sreebardi Upazila Health Complex in Sherpur are being deprived of essential medical care due to an acute shortage of doctors and staff. Despite having modern medical equipment, the hospital cannot provide adequate services. Out of 21 sanctioned doctor positions, only six are filled, with two on deputation, leaving just four doctors to serve patients. Among 163 total posts, 88 remain vacant, forcing the facility to operate with only 71 employees.

The hospital serves around 300,000 residents across 10 unions and one municipality, as well as patients from neighboring Jhenaigati. Each day, 300 to 350 patients visit the emergency and outpatient departments, overwhelming the few available doctors. Key departments such as anesthesia, surgery, gynecology, and medicine have no specialists, leaving many patients—especially women—without treatment. Locals say they are compelled to seek costly private care, burdening low-income families.

Health officials stated that the shortage has been reported to higher authorities, but no action has yet been taken to resolve the crisis.

Healthcare services at Matlab North Upazila Health Complex in Chandpur have collapsed due to an acute shortage of doctors. Despite being a modern facility upgraded from 31 to 50 beds, only four doctors are currently serving nearly 500,000 residents across one municipality and 14 unions. The hospital has lacked key specialists, including gynecology, surgery, pediatrics, and anesthesia consultants, for years. Cesarean operations have remained suspended for 14 of the hospital’s 16 years, forcing expectant mothers to seek costly private care.

The hospital’s infrastructure, including an X-ray machine and laboratory, remains underutilized due to the absence of technicians and adequate staff. Several doctors are on deputation or absent without cause, further worsening the crisis. Local anti-corruption committee president Matiur Rahman Chowdhury said poor residents depend solely on the hospital, yet essential maternal services have been unavailable for most of its existence. Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Mahbubur Rahman stated that despite the hospital’s upgrade, the lack of manpower and technical staff severely limits service delivery.

The ongoing shortage has forced many patients to travel to Chandpur or Dhaka for treatment, increasing both costs and health risks.

Road widening and four-lane development work on the Shariatpur–Dhaka highway is continuing despite eight electric poles remaining in the middle of the road. The situation has raised serious safety concerns among drivers, passengers, and local residents, who fear major accidents could occur at any time. The project, approved in 2020 to improve connectivity between Shariatpur and Dhaka via the Padma Bridge, covers 27 kilometers and costs Tk 1,682 crore. Work has progressed slowly over seven years due to various complications.

According to the district Roads and Highways Department, the Rural Electrification Board was formally requested a month ago to remove the poles, followed by several verbal reminders. However, no visible action has been taken, forcing road authorities to proceed with construction. Local residents and drivers have criticized the lack of safety measures, calling the situation dangerous. Officials said the poles were supposed to be removed by contractors who have since absconded, and a new contractor has been appointed to complete the task.

Authorities stated that pole removal work is now in process, but until completed, the highway remains at risk of accidents.

Independent candidate Barrister Rumin Farhana formally began her election campaign for the Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail–Ashuganj and part of Bijoynagar) constituency on Friday evening with a large rally at the remote village of Parmanandpur in Pakshimul Union. Speaking as the chief guest, she declared that she would no longer tolerate the neglect of the area and pledged to ensure its development regardless of which party holds power. She emphasized that development should not be the monopoly of any political group.

Farhana described the severe communication problems in the region, recounting her own difficult journey to reach the rally site by car, boat, and autorickshaw through sandy roads. She announced plans to build a bridge on the Bhuiashwar–Parmanandpur road and to pave roads across the area as part of her election commitments. She also promised to work for the improvement of schools, colleges, madrasas, mosques, and temples using both government and personal initiatives.

The rally, attended by a large number of local voters and BNP-affiliated leaders, marked the official start of her campaign under the ‘duck’ symbol.

Election Commissioner Md. Abdur Rahmanel Machud stated that the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum will be completely free, fair, credible, and conducted with integrity. He made the remarks on Friday, January 23, during a meeting with polling officials at Sitakunda Degree College in Chattogram, emphasizing that the election will not be a mockery or whimsical process.

The commissioner said that past elections had been turned into a farce, which was undesirable, and stressed that the country should not be a place for such mockery. He assured that the forthcoming election would be fair, accurate, and trusted by the people. He also noted that blaming the patriotic police force for the actions of a few individuals was unjust and that such situations would not be allowed to recur.

The meeting, organized by the Sitakunda Upazila Administration and Election Office, was chaired by Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia and attended by senior officials, including the Divisional Commissioner, Regional Election Officer, and Superintendent of Police.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to establishing justice in Bangladesh. Speaking on Saturday morning in Rangpur after visiting the grave of Abu Saeed, he said the party is moving forward inspired by Abu Saeed’s sacrifice. He pledged that Jamaat would never compromise the country’s dignity and would resist injustice at any cost.

Dr. Rahman stated that Abu Saeed and others entrusted the nation’s honor to them through their sacrifices, and Jamaat would protect that trust. He emphasized the party’s goal of building a corruption-free and discrimination-free Bangladesh based on justice, aligning its vision with that of the martyrs. He also assured supporters that the party would remain with them through all crises.

After the grave visit, Dr. Rahman met Abu Saeed’s family and prayed for the martyr’s forgiveness. He is scheduled to address a series of election rallies throughout the day in Gaibandha, Bogura, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Ullapara, and Pabna.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman visited the grave of martyr Abu Saeed in Pirganj, Rangpur, on Saturday morning. After offering prayers, he met Abu Saeed’s father and elder brother at their home. During the visit, he prayed for the forgiveness of Abu Saeed and sought divine help for the nation to resist domination and follow the path of the martyrs.

The Jamaat leader was accompanied by party assistant secretary Maulana Abdul Halim, NCP central member secretary Akhtar Hossain, and Shibir central secretary Sibgatullah Sibga. Following the visit, Dr. Rahman was scheduled to address election rallies throughout the day in several districts, including Gaibandha, Bogura, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Ullapara, and Pabna.

The visit and subsequent rallies mark part of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ongoing political activities ahead of upcoming elections, as the party leadership continues outreach across northern Bangladesh.

Cricket analyst Yasef Imroz Ifaz has alleged that India has turned cricket into a political tool to advance regional agendas, claiming the sport is experiencing one of its darkest periods. He argued that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) dominates nearly every aspect of the game, while many key branches of the International Cricket Council (ICC) are controlled by individuals of Indian origin, compromising the organization’s neutrality. Ifaz praised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for prioritizing national interest and resisting what he described as unfair pressure from the ICC to play in India despite security concerns.

The commentary links the current dispute to India’s initial security objections involving Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman, which later reversed when Bangladesh raised similar concerns. Ifaz cited past incidents, including umpiring controversies and hostile fan behavior, as evidence of bias favoring India. He warned that India’s approach risks damaging long-standing Bangladesh–India relations and called for mutual respect between the two nations.

Ifaz suggested that Bangladesh’s recent political changes have led it to assert its sovereignty more strongly, urging India to adapt to this new reality.