BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s adviser Mahdi Amin has said that the party is committed to ensuring freedom of speech, human rights, and the rule of law for all in future Bangladesh. Speaking at a meeting with the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy in Gulshan, Dhaka, he called on journalists to work together against electoral irregularities, manipulation, and engineering. He stated that if BNP assumes state responsibility, it will guarantee maximum press freedom and full protection and rights for journalists, as in previous BNP governments. Mahdi Amin described the upcoming February 12 election as crucial, linking it to a 16-year struggle against what he termed a “passive arm” system. He criticized the 2014, 2018, and 2024 elections as processes that deprived citizens of voting rights and extended partisan control over state institutions. He praised journalists for exposing electoral irregularities despite restrictions on the media. He expressed hope that journalists would maintain neutrality in the coming election and reaffirmed that a future BNP government would ensure press freedom and freedom of expression for all citizens.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman declared that the future of Bangladesh will be determined by the people’s votes, warning that any party that disregards the public will make life unbearable. He made these remarks on Wednesday afternoon at an election rally held at Bell’s Park in Barishal, marking his first visit to the city in two decades. During his speech, Rahman alleged that a certain party was printing fake ballot papers and collecting mobile payment numbers from innocent women. He described the emergence of new oppressors linked to secret organizations and urged BNP leaders to stay close to the people over the next five years. Rahman also recalled initiatives taken during former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s tenure to promote women’s education, noting that BNP had made education free for girls up to the intermediate level. He pledged that if BNP returns to power, women’s employment and dignity will receive top priority. Rahman arrived in Barishal by helicopter from Dhaka before addressing the large gathering at the historic Bell’s Park field.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has expressed hope that justice will be ensured for the hacking of his verified X (Twitter) account. In a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon, he confirmed that the person involved in the hacking had been detained by law enforcement authorities. He thanked the police for their prompt action and said ensuring punishment would deter others from committing similar cybercrimes. Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch arrested Mohammad Saroware Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, in connection with the hacking. The arrest took place after midnight on Tuesday during a raid at a government quarter near the east side of the Rajarbagh Police Lines auditorium. DMP’s Detective Branch chief Additional Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrest and said the suspect’s mobile phone and laptop had been seized for examination. Dr. Rahman emphasized that legal measures against cybercrime are essential for maintaining control over digital offenses and ensuring a fair upcoming election.

Joint forces in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram conducted two separate operations early Wednesday, arresting a top criminal and another suspect’s father. The raids took place in the Barahatia area at around 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Acting on intelligence, the team led by Lt. Colonel Mohammad Bhumedin detained Kala Babul, 35, from his home in Ward 7 of Barahatia Union, recovering one LG gun, two cartridges, seven machetes, and four mobile phones. Kala Babul, son of Md. Yunus of Chakphirani area, was identified as a top criminal in the region. In a separate operation, the forces raided the home of the leader of the local criminal group “Tawhid Bahini” and arrested his father, Abu Taher, 65, son of the late Anu Mia. Both detainees were handed over to Lohagara Police Station following the operations. According to the army official in charge, the operations were based on secret intelligence and aimed at curbing criminal activity in Barahatia Union.

A protest march was held on Wednesday in Santoshpur Union of Sandwip upazila, Chattogram, following an attack on the local Islami Chhatra Shibir president allegedly by a BNP leader. The demonstration began at 11 a.m. and moved through the main roads of Sandwip, with several hundred Shibir activists participating. The rally concluded with a gathering attended by Alaudin Sikdar, the 11-party alliance candidate for Chattogram-3 (Sandwip) and the Jamaat-e-Islami North District chief. During his address, Alaudin Sikdar condemned attempts to establish political dominance in the area and the violent attacks on opposition activists. He urged that all those involved in the assault be brought under the law immediately. The incident occurred on Tuesday night, February 3, when Union BNP president Shahadat Hossain and his group allegedly attacked Shibir president Ikramul Haider Nabil and his companions after prayers. Three people were injured and later rescued by the Coast Guard and police. They are now receiving treatment at Sandwip Upazila Health Complex, and a case has been filed with Sandwip Police Station.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman arrived at Barishal’s Bell’s Park field at 12:26 p.m. on Wednesday to address a large public rally organized by the party’s city unit. Supporters greeted him with continuous applause as he waved in response before beginning his speech. His visit marked his first appearance in Barishal in about twenty years, drawing significant enthusiasm among party leaders, activists, and supporters. Crowds began gathering from 10 a.m., with participants arriving from Barishal and nearby districts. By 11:30 a.m., the field was filled to capacity. The rally featured placards of local candidates and the BNP’s election symbol, the paddy sheaf, as slogans echoed across the venue. Candidates from 19 constituencies across Barishal, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Barguna, and Bhola attended the event. According to the report, Tarique Rahman last visited Barishal in May 2005 to attend a union-level representative conference of the party.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is set to officially announce its election manifesto this evening ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Hotel Sheraton in Banani, Dhaka. The announcement was confirmed by Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, the party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its Central Publicity and Media Department. According to the organizers, ambassadors from various countries, senior leaders of political parties, business figures, professionals, and senior media representatives are expected to attend the manifesto unveiling ceremony. The event marks a key step in Jamaat-e-Islami’s preparations for the national election. The manifesto release is expected to outline the party’s political priorities and campaign commitments as it seeks to engage voters ahead of the national polls.

Police in Mirzaganj, Patuakhali arrested Anwar Hossain Babul Mallik, a local Awami League leader, on Tuesday. The arrest took place at Subidkhali Bazar as part of the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2. Mallik, aged 60, serves as the joint general secretary of the Mirzaganj Upazila Awami League and is a resident of Chhailabunia village under Amragachia Union. According to Mirzaganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Abdus Salam, the arrested leader was sent to Patuakhali district jail through the court. The police official stated that the operation would continue. The report described the Awami League as a banned organization in the area, and the arrest was carried out under that context. Authorities have not provided further details about the specific allegations or the broader scope of the operation beyond confirming that it remains active.

At a public discussion titled 'Tarunyer Vabnay Agamir Bangladesh' held on February 3 at Comilla Town Hall, Dhaka University Chhatra Dal Joint General Secretary Abidul Islam Khan declared that Jamaat-Shibir has no opportunity to conduct politics openly in Bangladesh. He accused Shibir activists of initiating offensive slogans against Tarique Rahman at Dhaka University after July and criticized them for engaging in what he called 'obscene politics' against the late President Ziaur Rahman. Khan further alleged that Jamaat-Shibir members committed atrocities during the Liberation War, including violence against women and collaboration in killings of Bangladeshis. He described them as internationally recognized collaborators and warned that their continuation of 'dirty politics' would bring consequences. The event also featured speeches by Dhaka University Treasurer Professor M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Professor Dr. Chowdhury Saima Ferdous as the chief discussant. The remarks reflect ongoing political tensions between student groups aligned with major national parties and highlight the enduring sensitivity surrounding wartime history and political legitimacy in Bangladesh.

Workers and employees at Chattogram Port began an indefinite strike on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, demanding cancellation of the lease of the NCT terminal to foreign company DP World and withdrawal of mass transfer orders. The strike was announced a day earlier by the Port Protection Struggle Council, coordinated by Md. Ibrahim Khokon. Council coordinator Md. Humayun Kabir said the protest would continue until the government withdraws from the lease process. Since morning, no trucks or lorries have entered the port, and workers have refrained from duty. The strike follows three consecutive days of eight-hour blockades organized by labor groups including the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad and Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal. Port activities such as container handling, cargo delivery, and vehicle movement have come to a standstill, though unloading from large to small vessels at outer anchorage continues. Over a hundred ships are reportedly waiting offshore, many carrying Ramadan consumer goods. Labor leaders and importers blame the government and port authority for the deadlock, while a shipping adviser stated the timing of the protest before Ramadan would be investigated for possible intent to raise prices.

The Bangladesh government has decided to hire a British law firm to represent it in an international arbitration case filed by S Alam Group founder Saiful Alam and his family. The case is being heard at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) under the World Bank. The firm will be paid an hourly fee of 1,250 US dollars. The decision was approved on Tuesday at a meeting of the government’s advisory committee on public procurement, chaired by Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed. Following the meeting, Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters that the S Alam family had filed a case in London challenging the government’s actions related to alleged money laundering. He said the arbitration notice from ICSID required a formal response from Bangladesh and described the matter as complex. He confirmed that the government would appoint a British firm but did not recall its name. The arbitration case was filed in October last year, alleging that Bangladesh’s seizure and punitive actions over alleged money laundering caused losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the S Alam family. The family claims protection as Singaporean citizens under international investment law and Bangladesh’s 1980 Foreign Private Investment Act.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has warned that postal ballots from expatriate voters for the 13th National Parliamentary Election may be canceled if they do not arrive in the country by tomorrow. According to the EC, nearly 300,000 ballots from overseas voters have already reached Bangladesh. The commission reiterated that ballots must reach returning officers by 4:30 p.m. on election day to be counted. A notice on the EC’s Postal Vote BD app urged voters to promptly mail their ballots, emphasizing that any ballot arriving after February 5 may not reach the returning officer in time. The EC clarified that the voting process is entirely manual and that the mobile app is not connected to ballot submission or declaration forms. Once received, ballots are separated from declaration forms before counting to ensure anonymity. The EC reported that 766,862 postal ballots were sent abroad, of which 524,080 were received by expatriates. A total of 467,707 overseas voters cast their ballots, and 297,350 have so far arrived in Bangladesh. The national election and referendum are scheduled for February 12.

Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (JAGPA) spokesperson Rashed Pradhan called for voters to show a 'red card' against corruption and extortion during an election rally in Garaya, Thakurgaon, on Tuesday afternoon. Speaking at an 11-party alliance Jamaat-e-Islami campaign event, he criticized Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, urging him to speak with restraint. Pradhan also expressed support for the alliance’s candidate Delwar Hossain, who is contesting under the 'scales' symbol, and pledged to gift the Thakurgaon-1 seat to Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, described as the future prime minister. He recalled past incidents in the area following the verdict against Allama Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, noting that both Muslims and Hindus had joined protests at that time. Pradhan urged unity among voters on the upcoming 12th to ensure victory for the alliance’s candidate. The rally was presided over by union Jamaat leader Nurul Huda and attended by district Jamaat secretary Kofil Uddin and Khelafat Majlish president Abu Said.

Malaysia’s immigration authorities have deported 135 foreign detainees from the Pineapple Town Immigration Detention Depot in Johor state after they completed their prison sentences. The deportees include 112 from Myanmar, 11 from Indonesia, nine from Bangladesh, two from Sri Lanka, and one from Cambodia. They were sent back to their respective countries on Tuesday through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA-1 and KLIA-2) and the Pasir Gudang ferry terminal. According to the immigration department, the deported individuals had served sentences under several laws, including the Torture Act (Act 574), the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Act 234), the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155), and the Immigration Regulations 1963. All deportees have been placed on the immigration blacklist and are barred from re-entering Malaysia for a specified period. The Johor Immigration Department stated that the repatriation program is conducted regularly to ensure that no foreign nationals remain in the country after completing their sentences.

In Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila, a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) courtyard meeting for the Madaripur-1 constituency turned into a gathering of several Awami League leaders, despite restrictions on their participation. The event, held on Tuesday afternoon at the residence of former mayor and Awami League leader Awlad Hossain Khan, was organized by Shibchar municipal BNP in support of BNP candidate Nadera Akter. Awami League leaders present said they were acting under the direction of former chief whip Noor-e Alam Chowdhury Liton to support the BNP candidate. The meeting saw participation from union chairmen, municipal councillors, and Awami League activists who publicly urged voters to support the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol. Nadera Akter, addressing the gathering as chief guest, pledged to address citizens’ problems directly if elected and outlined plans for family and agriculture cards and subsidies for disaster-affected farmers. The joint presence of Awami League and BNP figures on the same stage has stirred mixed reactions in local political circles. The unusual cross-party support has generated new discussions and controversy in the region’s political landscape ahead of the national election.