Professor Ali Riaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, called on citizens to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming national referendum, saying that every voter is a candidate for 'Yes'. Speaking as chief guest at a meeting in Khulna Divisional Auditorium on Thursday, he said a 'Yes' vote would open the door to building a new, democratic, and humane Bangladesh reflecting the aspirations of the July uprising.

Riaz explained that the referendum seeks public consent to implement the July Charter, drafted with consensus among all political parties. He said the 'Yes' vote would ensure joint work between the government and opposition in forming a caretaker government and election commission, limit prime ministerial tenure to ten years, and guarantee judicial independence. He emphasized that such reforms would prevent arbitrary constitutional changes and strengthen democracy.

Special Assistant Monir Haider added that a 'Yes' victory would close the path to fascism and fulfill the long-held dream of equality and justice envisioned by the nation’s founders. The event was attended by senior officials from ten districts of the Khulna Division.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has alleged that the Election Commission (EC) is not acting neutrally and is providing special advantages to a particular political party. He made the remarks on Thursday morning while speaking to journalists after visiting the graves of three leaders and Sharif Osman Hadi in the Dhaka University area. The visit marked the beginning of the NCP’s campaign for the upcoming thirteenth parliamentary election.

Nahid Islam said the party chose Dhaka University as the starting point for its campaign because it was the birthplace of the language movement, the liberation war, and the 2024 uprising. He described the current election as a movement against dominance and called on citizens to support the ten-party alliance led by Nasiruddin Patwari, who is contesting against what he termed new mafias. Patwari, the party’s chief coordinator, stated that justice for those injured or killed in the 2024 movement, including martyr Osman Hadi, is a major election agenda.

The NCP formally launched its election campaign by paying tribute at the graves of four leaders, signaling the start of its outreach efforts.

Electricity generation at the first unit of the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant in Parbatipur, Dinajpur resumed at 9:03 p.m. on Wednesday after a three-day shutdown. The plant’s chief engineer, Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique, confirmed that production had been halted on January 18 at 11:15 a.m. due to a boiler tube rupture. Following repairs, firing began at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, and the unit returned to production later that night.

According to plant sources, Barapukuria has three units: the first and second units each have a capacity of 125 megawatts, while the third unit has a capacity of 275 megawatts. The second unit has remained closed since November 2020 due to mechanical issues, and the third unit has been offline since October 16 of last year. The first unit has faced repeated shutdowns in recent months, including four stoppages in the past two months.

The chief engineer stated that the first unit will now produce an average of 50 to 60 megawatts daily, requiring 700 to 800 metric tons of coal per day. Repair work on the 275-megawatt third unit is ongoing and is expected to be completed by mid-March if conditions remain stable.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has ordered the commencement of trial against suspended Awami League General Secretary and former Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader along with six other accused in a case over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. The three-member panel, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, rejected the defendants’ discharge petitions and set February 17 for opening statements and the first witness testimony.

Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi M.H. Tamim argued on January 18 that the accused bore individual responsibility, reading out three charges against Quader and alleging that all seven had incited and directed killings of protesters between July and August. Defense lawyers Lokman Hawlader and Ishrat Jahan denied any involvement of their clients and sought dismissal of the charges for lack of evidence. The tribunal fixed January 22 for its ruling after hearing both sides.

The other accused, including senior Awami League and affiliated organization leaders, remain absconding. The tribunal appointed state defense lawyers for them after they failed to surrender on January 8 despite arrest warrants issued earlier.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is set to begin his election campaign in his Dhaka-15 constituency with a public rally at Mirpur 10’s Adarsha School ground on Thursday afternoon. The event, scheduled to start after 2 p.m., will feature Dr. Rahman as the chief guest. Preparations for the rally, including stage construction, have been completed, and party leaders and activists have started gathering at the venue.

According to the party’s central publicity department, leaders from various parties within the 10-party electoral alliance will attend the Mirpur rally as special guests. The rally marks the beginning of Dr. Rahman’s four-day campaign program, which includes public meetings across northern districts on Friday and Saturday. He is expected to return to Dhaka on January 25 to continue campaign activities in several constituencies.

Separately, Jamaat’s candidate for Dhaka-6, Dr. Abdul Mannan, will conduct an election outreach program on Thursday afternoon at Kaptan Bazar and in front of the Suhrawardy Mosque, joined by local leaders.

A case has been filed naming top criminal Md. Yasin as the prime accused along with 28 others, and 150 to 200 unidentified individuals, in connection with the killing of RAB-7 Deputy Director Abdul Motaleb in Sitakunda’s Jungle Salimpur area of Chattogram. The case was lodged on Thursday morning by a RAB-7 officer at Sitakunda Police Station, confirmed by Officer-in-Charge Mohinul Islam.

According to police sources, the case accuses the suspects of murdering the RAB officer during a raid on Monday afternoon, when Motaleb was killed in an attack by armed criminals. Two other RAB members were injured and remain hospitalized. The filing came on the fourth day after the incident.

Police reported that three individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the deadly assault.

An allegation has surfaced that campaign banners of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Nurul Islam Bulbul were vandalized and set on fire in Chapainawabganj-3 (Sadar) constituency. The incident occurred on Wednesday night in Ward No. 3 of Srirampur village under Baliyadanga Union. It remains unclear who was responsible for the arson. Local sources said miscreants deliberately set fire to festoons placed in different parts of the village, completely burning several of them.

Candidate Nurul Islam Bulbul described the incident as a deliberate and condemnable act aimed at disrupting the democratic environment. He also termed it a threat to the area’s peace and order. In response, Chapainawabganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Maruf Afzal Rajan stated that police had been sent to the scene after receiving a verbal complaint, and law enforcement agencies were investigating the matter.

Five candidates are contesting in the Chapainawabganj-3 constituency, representing BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, JSD, Islami Andolan, and Gano Adhikar Parishad respectively.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has appointed Advocate Md. Tariqul Islam, a member of its executive council and convener of the National Youth Force, as the chief coordinator of its election management committee. The announcement was made on Wednesday night through a statement signed by NCP convener Nahid Islam and member secretary Akter Hossain. The committee will be chaired by Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, with Monira Sharmin serving as secretary.

According to the statement, leaders from NCP, Youth Force, Student Force, and Workers Force at both central and metropolitan levels will work together in the committee. The appointment aims to make the committee’s activities more dynamic, effective, and well-coordinated ahead of upcoming electoral activities.

Following the announcement, the National Youth Force congratulated Tariqul Islam and expressed hope that he would carry out his responsibilities with dedication in coordinating the overall election management process.

Bangladesh’s political parties have intensified their online campaigns ahead of the February 12 national election, with viral songs, short dramas, and emotional voter interviews dominating social media platforms. A song supporting Jamaat-e-Islami, released in November, sparked a wave of digital campaign music from rival parties including the BNP and the National Citizen Party. The online battle began weeks before physical campaigning started on January 22, as parties sought to attract young voters who played a key role in the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Analysts say the surge in digital campaigning reflects Bangladesh’s massive online population, with about 130 million internet users and over 60 million on Facebook alone. Nearly 44 percent of voters are aged 18 to 37, many voting for the first time after years of disputed elections. BNP’s online content focuses on policy promises such as a proposed “family card” program, while Jamaat-linked materials often criticize both BNP and India. The interim government and the NCP are also running online drives supporting a “yes” vote in the upcoming referendum.

Experts note that online campaigning now rivals traditional rallies, shaping offline discussions and voter sentiment nationwide.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has announced a temporary suspension of its Dhaka-Sylhet-Manchester route, effective from March 1, 2026. The airline cited fleet shortages, operational pressure, and economic inefficiency as the main reasons behind the decision. According to a press release issued on Thursday, the Manchester route is currently not profitable, and the long-haul flights occupy aircraft for several days, creating additional strain on fleet management.

The airline explained that during the Hajj season, it must operate extra flights to transport large numbers of passengers within a limited time, requiring adjustments to other routes. Due to high demand on Middle Eastern routes, particularly from expatriate workers and Umrah travelers, Biman decided to allocate its limited wide-body Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft to more viable destinations. Routine maintenance, engine overhauls, and a global crew shortage have further intensified operational challenges.

To ease passenger inconvenience, Biman has increased London route frequency to five flights per week and offered ticket refunds or rerouting via London without extra charges. The airline stated that new aircraft procurement and crew recruitment are underway, and the Manchester route may resume once capacity improves.

The central leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) expelled three of its Gopalganj district leaders on Wednesday night for engaging in activities deemed contrary to party discipline. The expelled members include former district BNP president and current convening committee member M H Khan Monju, former president and committee member Sirajul Islam Siraj, and committee member Habibur Rahman Habib. All three were removed from their primary membership and all party positions.

According to the report, the expulsions followed the leaders’ decision to contest the upcoming election as independent candidates despite the party’s directive. Monju and Siraj are contesting from Gopalganj-2 constituency, while Habib is running from Gopalganj-3. The decision was made after they failed to withdraw their nomination papers by the final withdrawal date.

The BNP stated that the expulsions were necessary to uphold party discipline and maintain organizational unity ahead of the election.

BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi is set to file an appeal with the Appellate Division on Thursday, challenging the High Court’s order that upheld the Election Commission’s decision to cancel his nomination for the Cumilla-4 constituency. His lawyer, Advocate Saifullah Al Mamun, confirmed the move, describing it as Munshi’s final legal recourse to regain candidacy.

On Wednesday, a High Court bench comprising Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Md Anwarul Islam dismissed Munshi’s writ petition that sought to overturn the Election Commission’s January 17 decision to reject his nomination. Following the dismissal, lawyers stated that Munshi is now ineligible to contest the election.

After the ruling, Hasnat Abdullah’s lawyer, Mohammad Hossain Lipu, said the court maintained the cancellation due to alleged concealment of loan default information. The upcoming appeal will determine whether Munshi can re-enter the electoral race for Cumilla-4.

An emotional atmosphere marked the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) first election rally in Sylhet, held on Thursday at the Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground, as party members carried banners and festoons bearing images of missing leader M Ilias Ali. Participants from across the Sylhet division joined processions chanting slogans demanding justice for his disappearance and his return. According to party sources, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman was scheduled to address the gathering.

Outside the venue, attention centered on the Sylhet-2 constituency (Bishwanath–Osmaninagar), where Ilias Ali’s wife, Tahsina Rushdir Luna, is contesting the election under the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol. Supporters displayed posters and banners endorsing her candidacy. Several BNP activists described Ilias Ali as a national leader whose popularity had unsettled the ruling government.

Ilias Ali, a former MP and BNP’s then central organizing secretary, went missing with his driver from Dhaka’s Banani area on April 17, 2012. BNP leaders allege that the then Awami League government was responsible. Thirteen years later, his name continues to resonate in Sylhet’s political movements and election campaigns.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has begun its national election campaign ahead of the 13th parliamentary polls with a large rally at the historic Government Alia Madrasa ground in Sylhet city. The event, which started at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, was attended by BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman. Thousands of party leaders and activists from Sylhet, Sunamganj, and nearby districts gathered at the venue, filling the field and surrounding streets. Local BNP leaders addressed the crowd as banners, flags, and posters featuring the party symbol and Rahman’s image filled the area.

The rally marks the formal start of BNP’s nationwide campaign activities. It is Tarique Rahman’s first visit to Sylhet in nearly two decades, generating significant enthusiasm among supporters. Senior party leaders expect him to introduce BNP candidates from Sylhet and Sunamganj constituencies and provide strategic guidance for the upcoming election. Strict security measures were enforced across the city, with police and other law enforcement agencies deployed.

Following the Sylhet rally, Rahman is scheduled to travel by road to Dhaka, holding additional campaign events in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts along the way.

Jagannath University has announced that all undergraduate and postgraduate classes will be conducted online from February 26 to March 9 in observance of the holy month of Ramadan. The decision was confirmed on January 22 by the university’s acting registrar, Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin, following an official notice issued under his signature.

According to the notice, the decision was made based on the resolution of the university’s 76th Academic Council meeting held on January 15. The university administration stated that the move aims to accommodate students’ convenience and align with the Ramadan schedule.

During this period, all regular classes across undergraduate and postgraduate programs will continue online as per the council’s directive.