The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will announce its election manifesto for the 13th National Parliament election on Friday. BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to formally unveil the manifesto at 3:30 p.m. in the ballroom of Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka. The announcement was confirmed by BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan. The event will be presided over by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and conducted by Standing Committee member and Election Steering Committee Chairman Nazrul Islam Khan. According to party sources, the manifesto emphasizes BNP’s previously declared 31-point agenda, the July Charter, and the aspirations of young voters. It will highlight citizen-focused services such as family cards, health cards, and farmer cards. The document is also expected to include commitments to restore democracy, ensure judicial independence, decentralize administration, protect human rights, and strengthen anti-corruption frameworks. Economic and foreign policy directions will also be outlined. The event is expected to be attended by prominent citizens, ambassadors, high commissioners, and representatives from international organizations and diplomatic missions in Dhaka.

Chittagong Port is set to reopen on Friday morning after six days of shutdown due to worker protests against the government’s decision to appoint a foreign operator at the port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain announced the resumption following a series of meetings at the port building on Thursday, warning that strict legal action would be taken against anyone obstructing operations. The adviser said discussions with worker representatives were not fruitful but assured that the terms of the agreement with DP World would be reviewed to include workers’ concerns where possible. He emphasized that the government could not withdraw from its current position on the deal. Hossain also noted that the country was in a sensitive period ahead of elections and Ramadan, making it essential to keep the port operational. Leaders of the Port Protection Struggle Council have suspended their protest programs for Friday and Saturday following the adviser’s assurances. They warned that if the government fails to make a positive decision within two days, they will resume their movement from Sunday.

The European Union Election Observation Mission has called for a level playing field in Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, scheduled for February 12. Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs made the remarks on February 5 after meeting Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka. He emphasized that the mission was not there to give advice but to observe the process, expressing hope for a free, fair, and impartial election. Ijabs said the EU team had already deployed observers across various parts of the country and that more would arrive before election day. Discussions with the Election Commission focused on election challenges and ensuring fairness in the electoral field. The EU mission is currently monitoring the electoral environment in all 300 constituencies. The Chief Observer noted satisfaction with the Election Commission’s activities and reiterated the EU’s commitment to observing the process to help ensure transparency and credibility in the upcoming vote.

Ten individuals have been named as recipients of the 2026 Ekushey Padak, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. The announcement was made on Thursday at a briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium in Dhaka. The honorees include actress Farida Akhtar Bobita for film, Professor Dr. Mohammad Abdus Sattar for fine arts, Marina Tabassum for architecture, Ayub Bachchu for music, the band Warfaze for band music, Islam Uddin Palakar for theatre, Shafik Rehman for journalism, Professor Dr. Mahbubul Alam Majumdar for education, Tejas Halder Jos for sculpture, and Orthi Ahmed for dance. The government had earlier invited nominations for the 2026 Ekushey Padak at the end of July of the previous year, with submissions due by October 30. The Department of Information had requested proposals from cultural institutions under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, all ministries and departments, public universities, district commissioners, and previous recipients of the Ekushey and Independence Awards. The announcement reflects the government’s continued recognition of contributions across diverse fields of culture, education, and the arts in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced that female students will be able to study up to the master’s level at government expense. He said no mother’s child will be left out of education, and the state will take responsibility for children whose families cannot afford schooling. He made these remarks on February 5 at a public rally of the 11-party electoral alliance in Naogaon’s A.Team field ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. Dr. Rahman outlined a vision for an inclusive and equitable Bangladesh, emphasizing education, agricultural development, and regional infrastructure. He proposed establishing a medical college and agricultural research university in Naogaon, developing storage facilities for crops, and promoting fruit processing industries. He also called for preserving archaeological sites like Kusumba Mosque and Paharpur Buddhist Monastery to boost tourism. He criticized past governments for corruption and neglect of citizens, pledging to recover misappropriated public funds and invest them in underdeveloped regions. Rahman urged unity across religious communities and reaffirmed his commitment to justice, women’s dignity, and youth empowerment through education and vocational training.

The Washington Post, a 145-year-old American newspaper, has laid off nearly one-third of its staff across multiple departments. Executive Editor Matt Murray announced the decision during a Zoom meeting with employees, confirming significant newsroom reductions. The move has led to the closure of several foreign bureaus, including the entire Middle East desk, Ukraine coverage, and country-specific desks in Australia and India. According to U.S. media reports, the layoffs are part of a restructuring effort driven by financial challenges rather than individual performance. However, some journalists argue that the decision reflects ideological shifts within the organization. Race and ethnicity reporter Emmanuel Felton described the move as ideological, not financial, while other affected reporters, including Caroline O'Donovan and Claire Parker, expressed shock and disappointment on social media. The cuts are viewed as one of the most severe blows to the newsroom in recent years, expected to significantly reduce coverage in sports, international, local, and cultural reporting, and potentially affect political and national security coverage as well.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has stated that if his party is entrusted with governing Bangladesh, their administration will remain accountable to the people. In a verified Facebook post on Thursday, he said elected representatives and senior government officials would regularly face the public to ensure transparency and responsibility. Dr. Rahman emphasized that past governments in the country had ruled without accountability, making key decisions behind closed doors and concealing corruption. He pledged that under a Jamaat-led government, ministers, members of parliament, and senior officials would be required to publicly disclose their assets and answer directly to citizens for their decisions. He further announced that the government would operate through a transparent and digital record system, allowing citizens to monitor official work, expenditures, and services in real time. According to him, this approach would permanently end the culture of secrecy in governance.

A meeting held in Chattogram on Thursday to resolve the ongoing deadlock at the port ended without any decision. The session, attended by Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain, was convened amid a six-day blockade by port workers protesting the government’s decision to lease the NCT terminal to a foreign company. Despite the adviser’s presence and discussions with port authorities and stakeholders, the protesting workers refused to join the meeting and continued their demonstrations outside. Sakhawat Hossain told reporters that no foreign operator had yet been appointed and that there was no justification for halting operations at the country’s key economic hub ahead of Ramadan and the national election. He expressed hope that the crisis could be resolved if workers agreed to sit for talks. However, the workers, led by the Port Protection Struggle Council coordinator Humayun Kabir, rejected an invitation to a follow-up meeting at the Boat Club, insisting that any discussion must take place at the port building. The standoff remains unresolved, with security forces maintaining a presence around the port premises.

Newly released documents from the US Department of Justice suggest that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein closely monitored Saudi Arabia’s 2017 anti-corruption crackdown led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The documents include an email exchange from November 4, 2017, in which an unidentified person advised Epstein to watch the situation in Saudi Arabia. Epstein asked whether it was a missile attack or an anti-corruption campaign, and was told it was the latter. A newly published photograph also shows Epstein smiling beside the Saudi crown prince. The crackdown, launched in early November 2017, saw numerous wealthy businessmen and royal family members detained at Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. While the crown prince described it as an anti-corruption effort, reports indicated that billions of dollars were extracted from detainees, and some who refused to pay were imprisoned. The Wall Street Journal reported that several detainees were physically mistreated. The documents further indicate that Epstein was closely following Gulf region politics and had possible connections with senior Saudi officials. An earlier email exchange with a New York Times journalist also referenced Epstein’s claimed Saudi contacts, raising new questions about his international network.

Popular Islamic scholar Dr. Mizanur Rahman Azhari has shared his views on the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, scheduled for February 12. In a Facebook post on February 5, he encouraged young voters to cast their first votes in favor of justice and fairness. According to the official election schedule, campaigning by contesting candidates began on January 22 and will continue until 48 hours before polling starts. The Election Commission has announced that voting will take place uninterrupted from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on February 12, using transparent ballot boxes and paper ballots. Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin had earlier announced the election schedule in a national address on December 11. The post by Azhari adds a social and moral dimension to the public discourse ahead of the national vote.

Bangladesh’s legendary band musician Ayub Bachchu and acclaimed actress Farida Akhter Bobita are among ten individuals selected to receive the Ekushey Padak for 2026. The announcement was made by Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday. The honorees include Bobita for film, Professor Dr. Mohammad Abdus Sattar for fine arts, Marina Tabassum for architecture, Ayub Bachchu for music, Warfaze for band music, Islam Uddin Palakar for theatre, Shafik Rehman for journalism, Professor Mahbubul Alam Majumdar for education, Tejas Halder Jos for sculpture, and Orthy Ahmed for dance. Earlier, the government invited nominations for the 2026 Ekushey Padak at the end of July last year, with submissions due by October 30. According to an information department release, nominations were sought from ministries, public universities, district administrators, and previous recipients of national honors. The government reaffirmed its policy to recognize individuals, groups, and institutions—living or deceased—for outstanding contributions in fields such as language movement, arts, journalism, education, science, and social service through the annual Ekushey Padak awards.

The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has begun large-scale layoffs affecting roughly one-third of its staff across all departments, according to a company spokesperson on Wednesday. The move will significantly reduce the size of the organization. Several foreign bureaus, including the entire Middle East desk, Ukraine coverage, and operations in Australia and India, have also been scaled back. Employees were reportedly instructed via email to stay home on Wednesday morning, prompting questions from staff, former editors, and readers about Bezos’s silence and role in the decision. Many current and former employees expressed frustration, suggesting that Bezos is no longer as actively engaged with the newsroom as before. U.S. media reports cited restructuring and financial challenges as the main reasons for the layoffs, rather than performance. Some dismissals were also linked to internal disputes or ideological differences. Former chief fact-checker Glenn Kessler wrote that Bezos appears focused on surviving under Donald Trump’s political climate rather than saving the paper, reflecting broader concerns about editorial and business decisions being influenced by non-journalistic factors.

The Bangladesh government has announced new working hours for all government, semi-government, autonomous, and semi-autonomous institutions during the upcoming Ramadan. Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam disclosed the schedule at a briefing held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. Offices will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a 15-minute break for Zuhr prayers from 1:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. According to the announcement, banks, insurance companies, the Supreme Court, and other autonomous bodies will have the flexibility to set their own schedules based on operational convenience. The decision aims to adjust working hours in line with the fasting period observed by employees during the holy month. The revised hours will apply throughout Ramadan, after which regular office timings are expected to resume as usual.

Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul stated that the interim government will not delay the oath-taking process for newly elected members of parliament. He made the remarks on Thursday at the Secretariat while responding to questions from journalists. According to him, after the election, a person nominated by the President on the advice of the Chief Adviser will administer the oath to the members of parliament. Dr. Nazrul further explained that if the oath cannot be administered within three days, the Chief Election Commissioner will take responsibility for conducting the ceremony. His comments were aimed at clarifying the procedure and ensuring that the transition process following the election remains timely and orderly. The assurance from the Law Adviser indicates the interim government’s commitment to maintaining procedural efficiency and avoiding any administrative delays during the post-election transition period.

A major political shift has occurred in the Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency after the cancellation of Engineer Manjurul Ahsan Munshi’s nomination. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has decided to support Jasim Uddin, a leader of the Gano Adhikar Parishad, as the alliance candidate. The announcement was confirmed on Thursday, February 5, by AFM Tarek Munshi, member secretary of BNP’s Cumilla North district unit. Jasim Uddin will contest under the truck symbol against Hasnat Abdullah, the Shaplakoli symbol candidate from the Jamaat-led alliance. According to Tarek Munshi, BNP has no candidate under the paddy sheaf symbol in Cumilla-4 for the February 12 election, and the central leadership instructed local units to back Jasim Uddin. He said party activists were directed to work for Jasim to strengthen the hand of acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Gano Adhikar Parishad’s central committee member Abu Hanif confirmed BNP’s official endorsement and said their party welcomed the support positively. The BNP’s decision reshapes the local electoral equation, setting up a direct contest between the BNP-backed Jasim Uddin and Jamaat’s Hasnat Abdullah.