Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has announced that party supporters will not hold victory rallies or celebrations if they win the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Instead, he urged them to offer prostration to Allah in gratitude. The announcement was made on Thursday, February 12, through a post on his verified Facebook page, where he emphasized humility and thanksgiving over public displays of triumph. In his message, Dr. Rahman wrote that if Allah grants victory to the oppressed, there should be no rallies, slogans, or exuberance, only collective prostration. He added that the party would express heartfelt thanks to Allah and seek divine assistance to serve the nation sincerely. The statement came as vote counting continued following a largely peaceful election day. According to the report, voting took place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. across 299 constituencies at 42,958 polling centers, with the Sherpur-3 seat postponed due to a candidate’s death. The election and referendum concluded with only minor incidents reported nationwide.

Postal vote counting for 13 constituencies in Dhaka began on Thursday evening at Wills Little Flower School in Kakrail. The process started around 6 p.m., with presiding officers from several constituencies confirming the commencement of counting at slightly different times. The counting is being conducted in the presence of agents representing the candidates. Presiding officers from Dhaka-4, Dhaka-6, and Dhaka-8 constituencies stated that the counting began between 5:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The Dhaka-8 officer mentioned that three candidates’ agents were present during the process. The counting covers all 13 constituencies within the Dhaka metropolitan area. The postal vote counting follows the completion of a peaceful parliamentary election and referendum, as reported by the source. The Election Commission has yet to receive voter turnout data from more than 6,000 polling centers.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that discussions with Iran must continue. He made the remarks on social media after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. According to Arab News, Netanyahu spoke about taking action against Iran during the three-hour meeting. Trump stated that he emphasized the need to keep negotiating with Iran to see if a deal could be reached. He told Netanyahu that achieving such a deal was a priority for his administration, adding that if it was not possible, the outcome would be observed. This was the seventh meeting between Trump and Netanyahu since Trump returned to office as president. Netanyahu’s office said that during the talks, the Israeli leader stressed the importance of Israel’s security. The meeting followed Trump’s earlier indication of possible military action against Iran after the government’s crackdown on protesters, while Washington and Tehran resumed nuclear discussions last week.

Hamas has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s participation in the Gaza Peace Board as a farce. On Wednesday, Osama Hamdan, a leader of the Palestinian resistance movement, said they had not received any draft proposal from mediators regarding the surrender of weapons. He emphasized that Hamas has not made any formal decision to disarm. Hamdan reiterated that as long as Israeli occupation continues, resistance will remain a legitimate right. He further stated that the Palestinian people reject any form of externally imposed guardianship. According to him, Hamas has communicated with Indonesia to clarify that any international force’s role must be limited to the borders of the Gaza Strip. Hamdan added that any international stabilization force should focus on preventing attacks against the Palestinian people.

Voters across Bangladesh turned out on Thursday for parliamentary elections seen as a defining moment for the country’s democracy following months of political turmoil and violence. Polling stations in Dhaka and nationwide filled steadily through the morning, with results expected on Friday. More than 127 million citizens are eligible to vote in the first national election since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed in 2024 after mass youth-led protests. Hasina fled to India and was sentenced to death in absentia for ordering a deadly crackdown, while her party has been barred from participating. Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Tarique Rahman, recently returned from 17 years of exile, is considered a leading contender to form the next government. He faces an 11-party coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami, which has regained prominence since Hasina’s ouster. The interim administration under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has pledged a fair and transparent vote, monitored by about 500 international observers and journalists. The election outcome could reshape Bangladesh’s political landscape, with five million first-time voters expected to play a decisive role in determining the country’s post-Hasina direction.

Interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the nation for the peaceful, orderly, and festive completion of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum on the July National Charter. Following the voting, he praised voters for their spontaneous participation, political parties for their responsible conduct, candidates for their restraint, and all election-related institutions for their professionalism. Yunus extended special thanks to the Election Commission, law enforcement agencies, armed forces, administration, observer teams, media personnel, and all officials involved in the voting process, crediting their dedication for the success of the democratic exercise. He urged political parties and candidates to maintain democratic decency, tolerance, and mutual respect even after the final results are announced, emphasizing unity in national interest despite differences of opinion. He stated that the election demonstrated that the people are the source of all power and marked the beginning of a new journey for Bangladesh toward an accountable, inclusive, and just state. Yunus described the election as the most peaceful and festive in the country’s history and called for continued collective efforts to strengthen democracy.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul announced that the official gazette of the election results will be published by February 14. He stated that arrangements will be made for the swearing-in of the newly elected members of parliament as soon as the gazette notification is issued. Following that, the new government will take oath. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at Siddheswari Girls College center in Dhaka on Thursday, February 12, Asif Nazrul said the new government is expected to be formed between February 17 and 18. He emphasized that the transfer of power to the elected government will take place before the start of Ramadan. The announcement outlines a clear timeline for the completion of post-election formalities and the formation of the next government within a few days after the publication of the results gazette.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has urged his party members and supporters not to leave polling centers until the complete results of the 2026 national election and referendum are officially announced. He made this call on Thursday through a post on his verified Facebook account, addressing party activists across the country. According to the report, voting in the 13th National Parliament Election and Referendum 2026 concluded peacefully across Bangladesh, with only a few isolated incidents reported. The nationwide voting began at 7:30 a.m. and continued uninterrupted until 4:30 p.m. Despite the generally festive atmosphere, four deaths were reported in separate incidents, and some political parties raised complaints regarding the election process. This election marks the first national vote since the fall of the Awami League government following the July uprising, held with the aim of establishing a new elected government after one and a half years of interim rule.

Mirza Fakhrul stated that the ongoing election in Bangladesh has become unexpectedly joyful and festive. He said that many people did not anticipate such a celebratory atmosphere during voting. After visiting more than a hundred polling centers throughout the day, he observed the enthusiasm and excitement among voters and expressed optimism for a fair election and positive results. He added that this beautiful election is the result of a 15-year-long struggle. According to him, through this election, the people of Bangladesh will finally have an elected government. His remarks highlighted both the emotional and political significance of the event, emphasizing the public’s participation and hope for democratic outcomes.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has not yet received voter turnout data from 6,620 out of 42,651 polling centers across the country. As of 2 p.m. on February 12, 2026, data from 36,031 centers showed an average turnout of 47.91 percent. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed of the EC Secretariat shared the figures during a briefing held at the commission’s headquarters at around 4:15 p.m. Akhtar Ahmed explained that the statistics were based on information collected between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., and that data from the remaining centers were still being gathered. Responding to claims by Jamaat-e-Islami that voting had been halted in over a hundred centers across three constituencies, he said any allegations would be verified and, if proven, appropriate legal action would be taken by the respective returning officers. He cautioned that premature comments could mislead the public. The EC official added that no major problems had been reported so far and that voter turnout, initially low at midday, was increasing in the afternoon. Updated figures on the overall voting progress will be released later, according to EC sources.

Bangladesh’s much-anticipated 13th National Parliamentary Election and a concurrent national referendum concluded peacefully on Thursday, February 12, 2026, with vote counting now underway. Polling took place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. across 42,958 centers in 299 constituencies, while voting in Sherpur-3 was postponed due to a candidate’s death. The election marks the country’s first major participatory vote in 15 years, with citizens choosing their leaders for the next five years and deciding on constitutional reforms through the referendum. A total of 51 out of 59 registered political parties participated, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami as the main contenders. The Awami League was barred from contesting. The Election Commission deployed 100,000 military personnel and 900,000 law enforcement officers to ensure order. Voter enthusiasm was high, with nearly 40 million young voters casting ballots, many for the first time. Digital campaigning through Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok defined this election’s outreach. The simultaneous referendum on the “July Charter” constitutional reform was conducted using separate pink ballots. The results are expected to shape Bangladesh’s democratic transition and governance structure in the coming years.

On February 12, 2026, voters across Bangladesh expressed excitement and relief as they cast ballots in what many described as a historic and peaceful election day. From early morning, long lines formed at polling centers such as Halim Foundation School in Dhaka-15, where citizens reported a calm atmosphere free from fear or intimidation. Many voters said they had not been able to vote freely in previous elections and viewed this day as a return of their democratic rights. The report recalls that after the fall of military ruler Ershad in 1991, Bangladesh began its democratic journey, but under Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year rule, citizens’ voting rights were allegedly suppressed. A student-led uprising in July 2024 ended that period, costing 1,400 lives and paving the way for what some call the nation’s “second independence.” Voters interviewed described the current election as a moment of regained freedom and unity, with supporters of rival parties seen chatting amicably outside polling centers. Participants emphasized the importance of maintaining this peaceful environment, expressing hope that the spirit of free and fair voting would continue in future elections.

An eleven-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has demanded that the Election Commission suspend voting in several centers of Comilla-8, Shariatpur-2, and Patuakhali-1 constituencies, citing disorder during the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. The delegation made the demand on Thursday afternoon during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Building in Agargaon. Voting began at 7:30 a.m. on the same day. According to the Emergency Coordination Cell of the Ministry of Home Affairs, by 2:00 p.m. incidents of disorder had occurred in 486 centers across the country. Reports confirmed 59 cases of fake voting and three incidents of ballot box snatching. The alliance alleged that the irregularities in the three constituencies disrupted the electoral process and warranted immediate suspension of voting in the affected centers. The Election Commission has not yet announced any decision regarding the alliance’s demand, and further updates are awaited.

Vote counting is underway in Bangladesh following the country’s first national election since student-led protests ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. More than 2,000 candidates contested parliamentary seats, but none represented Hasina’s now-banned Awami League. The election featured a contest between the centre-right Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a coalition led by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, which allied with a party formed from the student uprising. Results are expected on Friday. Alongside the parliamentary vote, citizens participated in a referendum on constitutional reforms proposed by the interim government, which described the existing political system as completely broken. Nearly one million police and soldiers were deployed nationwide to ensure security during the polls. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who cast his vote in Dhaka, said the country had ended a nightmare and begun a new dream. BNP’s Tarique Rahman and Jamaat’s Shafiqur Rahman also voted in the capital, marking a symbolic moment in Bangladesh’s post-uprising political transition.

Bangladesh’s long-awaited 13th National Parliamentary Election and a national referendum concluded on Thursday, February 12, 2026, with voting held from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. across 42,958 polling centers in 299 constituencies. Except for a few isolated incidents, the process was largely peaceful. Vote counting was set to begin shortly after polls closed. The Sherpur-3 constituency’s election was postponed due to the death of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate. The election is expected to establish a new elected government, marking what officials described as a key step in the country’s democratic transition. A total of 51 out of 59 registered political parties participated, with the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami emerging as the main contenders. The Awami League was barred from participation due to a government ban. The day also featured a referendum on constitutional reforms, where voters cast separate ballots for parliamentary and referendum votes. The Election Commission deployed 100,000 army personnel and 900,000 law enforcement officers to maintain order. Authorities reported a festive mood nationwide, with many citizens traveling home to vote. Nearly 40 million young voters participated, and digital campaigning through social media platforms marked a new phase in Bangladesh’s electoral process.