Hundreds of candidates across Bangladesh lost their election deposits in the 13th national parliamentary elections held nationwide. Reports from multiple districts, including Sirajganj, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Gazipur, Cumilla, Tangail, and others, confirmed that many contestants failed to secure the minimum required votes to retain their deposits. In Sirajganj alone, 27 out of 39 candidates lost their deposits, while in Cumilla, 57 out of 83 candidates faced the same outcome. According to election officials, candidates who failed to obtain one-eighth of the total valid votes in their constituencies forfeited their deposits. District correspondents reported similar results in Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Pirojpur, Barguna, and other regions. Notably, several prominent figures, including a five-time MP from the Jatiya Party, also lost their deposits. The forfeitures affected candidates from various political parties such as the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and several independent contenders. The widespread loss of deposits highlights the competitive nature of the election and the uneven distribution of voter support across constituencies, as confirmed by returning officers in multiple districts.

More than 50,000 members of the Israeli army possess one or more foreign citizenships in addition to their Israeli nationality, according to figures published by the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. The data was released after the transparency organization Hatzlacha filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act in March 2025, to which the army recently responded. The statistics show that 50,632 soldiers have dual citizenship, with the largest group being 12,135 holding U.S. citizenship, followed by 6,127 with French citizenship and 5,000 with Russian citizenship. Over 3,000 soldiers each hold German and Ukrainian citizenships, while more than 1,000 hold British, Romanian, Polish, Ethiopian, or Canadian citizenships. Additionally, 4,440 soldiers have two foreign citizenships besides Israeli nationality, and 162 hold three foreign citizenships. According to TRT World, the army did not clarify whether these soldiers are active-duty, reservists, or both. Israeli media estimate that the country has about 170,000 active soldiers and between 400,000 and 460,000 registered reservists.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and National Citizens Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam at their residences in Dhaka on Sunday. The visits, set for 7 p.m. in Bashundhara Residential Area and 8 p.m. on Bailey Road respectively, are described as courtesy meetings following the BNP’s victory in the 13th parliamentary election. According to BNP Media Wing member Shamsuddin Didar, the meetings aim to convey a message of positive politics. On Saturday, Tarique Rahman called for unity and cooperation in governing the country during a press conference. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12 across 299 constituencies, where the BNP secured 209 seats. Results for two constituencies, Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4, remain pending due to legal complications. Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats, while the NCP gained six. The meetings are expected to reinforce post-election political cooperation among parties that performed strongly in the recent polls, according to the information provided.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) suffered defeats in two of its long-held strongholds, Rajshahi-1 (Tanore-Godagari) and Rajshahi-4 (Bagmara), while failing to secure expected vote margins in four other constituencies, according to results reported on February 15, 2026. Jamaat-e-Islami candidates Mujibur Rahman and Dr. Abdul Bari Sardar won the two lost seats, receiving 171,786 and 118,248 votes respectively. BNP candidates won in Rajshahi-2, 3, 5, and 6 but with lower-than-anticipated margins, prompting concern among local leaders. Grassroots BNP leaders attributed the poor performance to weak organizational coordination, internal factionalism, and inadequate central guidance during the campaign. Several local leaders admitted that many workers were inactive on election day, reducing voter turnout in BNP’s favor. Political observers described the results as a major setback for the party in a region historically considered its base. Analysts Anwar Hossain and Taufiq Ahmed said the outcome signals that BNP can no longer rely solely on traditional vote banks. They warned that without rapid organizational reform and stronger grassroots engagement, similar results could follow in future elections.

Incidents of violence have erupted across Bangladesh following the national election, with reports of attacks on homes, families, and businesses of Jamaat-e-Islami and 11-party alliance members. Jamaat has alleged that activists of the BNP, the party poised to form the next government after a sweeping victory, are responsible for at least 21 violent incidents on election night. The violence has caused widespread concern among grassroots supporters and voters linked to the alliance. Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman strongly condemned the attacks and urged party members to stand by affected families, collect evidence, and maintain a peaceful stance. He called on law enforcement to conduct impartial investigations and bring perpetrators to justice. The 11-party alliance held a meeting condemning the violence and warning of tougher decisions if attacks continue. A nationwide protest march has been announced for Monday afternoon from Baitul Mukarram North Gate in Dhaka. According to Jamaat’s verified social media posts, incidents occurred in multiple districts including Feni, Dinajpur, Khulna, and Comilla, involving arson, beatings, and vandalism allegedly by BNP activists.

Five candidates in the Dinajpur-6 constituency, covering Nawabganj, Birampur, Hakimpur, and Ghoraghat, lost their deposits in the 13th National Parliament Election and Referendum 2026. The information was confirmed by the district returning officer’s office. On Thursday night, February 12, after counting votes from 199 centers, Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Rafiqul Islam announced the unofficial results. According to the returning office, the constituency had 410,612 registered voters, of whom 407,277 cast their ballots, with 401,188 valid votes recorded. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain won with 205,118 votes, while his nearest rival, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Anwarul Islam, received 190,703 votes. Under Election Commission rules, five candidates forfeited their deposits for failing to secure one-eighth of the total votes cast. They include independent candidates Md. Abdullah (418 votes, football symbol) and Shahnawaz Firoz Shuvo Shah (152 votes, horse symbol), BASAD’s Abdul Hakim (449 votes, ladder symbol), Jatiya Party’s Rezaul Haque (2,689 votes, plough symbol), and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Nur Alam Siddique (1,659 votes, hand fan symbol).

In the 13th parliamentary election, all candidates of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, led by the Charmonai Pir, lost their deposits in the Chattogram region. The party fielded candidates in 20 of the 23 constituencies but failed to secure the required one-eighth of total votes in any seat, as stipulated by the Election Commission. Most constituencies saw main contests between BNP and Jamaat candidates, while Islami Front and Khilafat Majlis outperformed Islami Andolan in several areas. Vote data show Islami Andolan’s candidates received very low support across northern, southern, and metropolitan Chattogram, as well as in Cox’s Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The highest vote count for the party in the region was 5,145 in Chattogram-3, far below the winning BNP candidate’s 72,579. In Chattogram-10, the party’s city leader Md. Jannatul Islam secured only 3,880 votes out of 492,442 registered voters. Political analysts noted that the results raise questions about the party’s future strategy. Md. Jannatul Islam said people are power-hungry and do not understand Sharia, but expressed hope for future progress.

Khandaker Abu Ashfaq, the BNP candidate from Dhaka-1 (Dohar and Nawabganj), received the highest number of votes among all BNP winners in Dhaka district during the recently concluded 13th National Parliamentary Election. According to the official results, the constituency had 545,145 registered voters, with 299,523 votes cast. Ashfaq secured 172,402 votes, drawing significant attention and prompting local residents to express their desire to see him appointed as a minister in the newly formed government. Local leaders and residents said Dohar and Nawabganj need experienced and visionary leadership for development. They described Ashfaq as a capable and dedicated politician who has long been active in strengthening local organizations and participating in social and development activities. Party members believe that if given a ministerial role, he could play an effective part in improving infrastructure, employment, education, and healthcare in the area. Supporters expect that fulfilling his electoral pledges would accelerate the region’s overall development.

Police in Hatiya, Noakhali, have stated that no incident of rape occurred involving a mother of three in Chanandi Union. Assistant Police Superintendent Nurul Anwar confirmed this on Saturday night, February 14, after visiting the woman’s home and speaking with local residents. The statement followed allegations made the previous night that the woman had been raped and assaulted in her home over a dispute related to voting for the Shapla Koli symbol. According to Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Abu Tayeb Md Arif Hossain, an additional police officer was sent to investigate after the complaint surfaced on social media. He said local inquiries found no evidence of rape, though a physical altercation had occurred in the Ashrayan Project area. The accused individual was reportedly hospitalized two hours before the alleged incident. Police said they would take further action if a written complaint was filed. The local BNP unit formally protested, calling the allegations baseless and politically motivated. Former BNP president Alauddin Roni urged a fair investigation to uncover the truth. The alleged victim could not be reached for comment.

Professor Aslam Chowdhury, contesting under the paddy sheaf symbol, secured a decisive victory in the Chattogram-4 constituency (Sitakunda, Akbarshah, and Pahartali) during the national election held in February 2026. According to the official results, he received 142,674 votes, while his nearest rival, Anwar Siddique of the scales symbol, obtained 89,268 votes. The vote gap of 53,406 marks one of the largest margins in the constituency’s recent political history. Under election law, candidates failing to secure at least one-eighth (12.5 percent) of the total valid votes forfeit their deposits. Seven candidates, including representatives from the Gono Odhikar Parishad, Jonosonghoti Andolon, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Supreme Party, and Bangladesh Islami Front, failed to meet this threshold. Local political analysts noted that Aslam Chowdhury’s strong grassroots organization, coordinated campaign strategy, and effective voter mobilization contributed to his success, while smaller parties’ limited organizational presence and weak voter bases were reflected in their poor results.

A man named Abdur Rahim Bhuttu Soiyal, aged 45, was hacked to death on Saturday night in Rasulpur Union under Shashibhushan Police Station of Charfassion upazila, Bhola. The attack occurred around 9:30 p.m. near Kolar Hat Road following a dispute linked to a drug-related conflict involving his son. Locals rescued the severely injured victim and took him to Charfassion Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. According to local sources, the incident stemmed from a dispute after Bhuttu Soiyal’s son, Amir Hossain, paid Tk 4,000 to a man named Bellal for drugs but was later beaten when he demanded the money back. Angered by the assault on his son, Bhuttu Soiyal reportedly verbally confronted the accused, leading to his fatal attack the next night. The victim’s daughter demanded capital punishment for those responsible, alleging they had been extorting money from her father since August 5. Shashibhushan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Fakhrul Islam said the killing appeared to have resulted from a drug-related conflict and that legal action would follow pending investigation.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has strongly condemned an alleged incident of rape and assault in Hatiya, Noakhali, reportedly carried out after local elections. In a statement issued on Saturday night, the organization’s central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah denounced the attack, which allegedly occurred on February 13 in Chanandi Union. According to the statement, local BNP activists assaulted a woman and her husband over political differences related to voting symbols, calling the act a grave violation of human rights. The Shibir leaders further alleged that post-election violence has spread across the country, targeting opposition supporters through attacks, arson, and intimidation. They claimed that at least three people have been killed and around 1,500 injured in various districts, including Munshiganj, Bagerhat, and Mymensingh. The statement accused BNP of a history of political violence and sexual assaults during previous elections and criticized the party for failing to take disciplinary action against perpetrators. Shibir urged the government to ensure justice for the victims, provide security and compensation to affected families, and take effective measures to stop ongoing political violence nationwide.

Police in Lalpur upazila of Natore district arrested two alleged drug dealers with 4,800 yaba pills worth about Tk 1 million during a special operation in Mohorkoya village on Saturday, February 14. Acting on a tip-off, officers from Lalpur Police Station conducted the raid from afternoon to evening and detained the suspects, identified as Md. Bellal Sarkar, 55, and his wife, Mosammat Marzina Khatun, 50. The drugs were recovered from their bodies and home during the search. According to police, the couple had been involved in drug trading in the area for a long time. The seized yaba tablets have an estimated market value of around Tk 1 million. A case under the Narcotics Control Act is being processed against the two detainees. Lalpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Mojibur Rahman confirmed the arrests and said the anti-drug operations would continue. He urged residents to remain vigilant to help keep the community free from drugs.

In the recently held 13th National Parliamentary Election of Bangladesh, Islami Andolan Bangladesh failed to achieve the expected success despite extensive campaigning. The party fielded candidates in 253 constituencies but managed to win only one seat. Among the notable defeats were the three brothers of the party’s Amir and Charmonai Pir, Syed Rezaul Karim, who contested from different constituencies but all lost. Senior Nayeb-e-Amir Syed Faizul Karim contested in Barishal-5 and Barishal-6, finishing second and third respectively. In Barishal-5, he received 93,528 votes, while BNP-supported candidate Mojibur Rahman Sarwar won with 131,431 votes. In Barishal-6, BNP’s Abul Hossain Khan secured victory with 81,087 votes, while Faizul Karim got 28,823. Another brother, Syed Ishaq Muhammad Abul Khayer, contested Barishal-4 and received 36,753 votes, losing to BNP’s Rajib Ahsan, who gained 128,322 votes. In Dhaka-4, Maulana Syed Mosaddeq Billah, another brother and a presidium member of Islami Andolan, received only 6,518 votes, resulting in forfeiture of his security deposit. Jamaat’s Syed Zainul Abedin won the seat with 77,367 votes.

South Africa moved closer to securing a place in the T20 World Cup Super Eight after a commanding seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Chasing 176 runs, the Proteas made a blistering start, reaching 62 in just four overs. They sealed the win with 17 balls to spare, marking their third consecutive victory in the tournament. Captain Aiden Markram led from the front with an unbeaten 86 off 44 balls, hitting eight boundaries and four sixes. He reached his half-century in only 19 deliveries. Quinton de Kock contributed 20 runs from 13 balls before being dismissed in the fifth over. Earlier, New Zealand appeared set for a big total after scoring 83 runs in the powerplay but lost momentum following quick wickets. New Zealand’s innings collapsed after reaching 138 in 14 overs, losing three wickets for just seven additional runs. Mark Chapman top-scored with 48 off 26 balls, while South Africa’s Marco Jansen claimed four wickets to restrict the opposition.