Bangladeshi television actor Tousif Mahbub has called on political leaders to honor their election promises even after the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, scheduled for February 12. Speaking as a concerned citizen, he emphasized that whoever wins should prioritize the people's welfare and ensure that commitments made during campaigns are fulfilled. Tousif stated that in the current national context, citizens have many expectations across different sectors. He clarified that he is not affiliated with any political party but wants elected representatives to act responsibly toward the public. Reflecting on past experiences, he mentioned that people have often felt deceived by unfulfilled promises, leading some to lose faith in the country or move abroad. Reaffirming his patriotism, Tousif expressed unwavering love for Bangladesh and optimism that the nation will achieve a stronger global position through progress in politics and culture.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has called on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to conduct its announced two-day live-fire naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz safely and professionally. In a statement released on Friday, CENTCOM acknowledged Iran’s right to operate in international airspace and waters but warned that any unsafe or unprofessional behavior could have serious consequences. CENTCOM emphasized that unsafe actions near US forces, regional partners, or commercial vessels increase the risk of conflict, tension, and instability. The command stated it remains prepared to ensure the safety of US personnel, ships, and aircraft operating in the Middle East. It also declared that it would not tolerate unsafe maneuvers by the IRGC, including low or armed overflights of US military assets, high-speed approaches toward US ships, or pointing weapons at US forces. According to CENTCOM, the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway vital to regional economic prosperity, with about 100 commercial vessels passing through daily.

Tourist travel to St. Martin’s Island in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar will be suspended for nine months starting Sunday, February 1, under a decision by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The current tourism season will end on Saturday, January 31. Normally, visitors are allowed from October 1 to March 31 each year, but this season has been shortened due to environmental risks. According to Additional District Magistrate Imran Hossain, ships carrying tourists will make their final trip to the island today, and no tourist vessels will be permitted from Sunday onward. The decision has caused concern among local business owners and residents who depend on tourism. M.A. Abdur Rahman, president of the St. Martin Hotel-Motel-Resort Owners Association, said many investors have failed to recover their investments and are facing losses. Union Parishad Chairman Foyezul Islam stated that most islanders rely on tourism and are disheartened by the long closure. Authorities indicated that the government may revise the decision later, depending on future considerations.

Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan said that a 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum would establish true accountability in the state and pave the way for comprehensive reforms. He made the remarks on Saturday at a discussion meeting held at the Syed Nazrul Islam Conference Hall of the university. The event was organized to raise awareness and strengthen campaigns on the referendum across public and private universities. Professor Bhuiyan explained that the July Charter includes crucial provisions for restructuring the state framework, and therefore, supporting it through a 'Yes' vote is essential. He warned that a 'No' vote would block the possibility of implementing these reforms. He called on citizens to make a thoughtful decision in the referendum and expressed hope that on February 12, people would stand for a prosperous and truly independent Bangladesh. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Monir Haidar, special assistant to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, and vice-chancellors from several universities, along with teachers, staff, and student representatives from eight universities.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), warned that any attempt by a neighboring country to interfere in Bangladesh’s democratic or electoral process will be resisted. He made the statement on Saturday, January 31, during an election rally of the 11-party alliance in Chauddagram, Cumilla, where he served as a special guest. Islam said the upcoming election is not an isolated event but part of a broader democratic aspiration that began with the July uprising. He accused a neighboring country of being involved in conspiracies surrounding the election and claimed it had supported fascism for the past 16 years. He emphasized that only the people of Bangladesh have the right to decide who will form the government and that any hegemonic interference will be confronted by the nation’s citizens. He added that if the 11-party alliance forms the next government, it will prioritize completing the unfinished tasks of the July uprising, including ensuring justice for its martyrs and the swift trial of Osman Hadi’s killers.

Colonel BM Touhid Hasan, AFWC (PSC), Commander of the Brahmanbaria Sarail Region of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), announced that the force will work actively to maintain peace, law and order, and protect citizens’ voting rights during the upcoming national election and referendum. He made the statement at a press briefing in Madhabpur, Habiganj, on Saturday afternoon. He said BGB has taken extensive preparations nationwide to ensure overall security so that voters can exercise their rights in a safe and uninterrupted environment. Under the Sarail Region, four battalions from Sylhet, Sreemangal, Cumilla, and Mymensingh will deploy 330 platoons, totaling 6,600 personnel, across 92 upazilas in 56 constituencies of 17 districts. In six border upazilas, BGB will operate independently, while elsewhere it will act as a mobile striking force in coordination with the Bangladesh Army and other law enforcement agencies. The press briefing was attended by Lieutenant Colonel Tanzilur Rahman, Commander of BGB Battalion 55, along with journalists from print and electronic media working in Habiganj, Madhabpur, and Chunarughat.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that Bangladesh can never be safe in the hands of those who opposed the 1971 Liberation War. He made the remark on Saturday, January 31, during an election campaign event at Paschim Akcha in Thakurgaon-1 constituency. Addressing voters, he criticized a rival party with the symbol of scales, accusing it of not supporting the war and committing atrocities during that time. Fakhrul urged voters to remain vigilant, warning them not to share mobile payment numbers or believe false promises about religious rewards for voting. He said the country's economy and banking sector had suffered over the past 15–16 years and called for electing honest leaders to recover looted funds and ensure development. Highlighting his own integrity, he said this would be his last election and asked for votes for the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol. He also cited BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s pledges, including waiving agricultural loans up to 10,000 taka, freeing mothers from NGO debt, introducing family and agriculture cards, and creating one million jobs for educated youth within 18 months if the party comes to power.

BNP National Standing Committee member and Cox’s Bazar-1 (Chakaria-Pekua) candidate Salahuddin Ahmed called on voters to support the 'Sheaf of Paddy' symbol to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Saturday during the eighth day of his election campaign while conducting public outreach across several wards of Chakaria municipality. Ahmed began the day by visiting the grave of scholar Maulana Mahmudur Rahman before meeting residents in areas including Bimanbandar Para, Jalia Para, Hindu Para, Amanarchar, and Halkakara. Addressing a street rally in Kazi Para, Ahmed said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) stands for the people of Bangladesh and aims to establish a strong democratic system where citizens’ voting and human rights cannot be taken away. He emphasized that BNP, founded by late President Ziaur Rahman and led by Begum Khaleda Zia, has played a significant role in education, women’s development, and governance. He urged voters to cast their ballots for the 'Sheaf of Paddy' on February 12 to build a peaceful and democratic Bangladesh. Local BNP leaders including Nurul Islam Haydar, Professor Mu Fakhruddin Farazi, and M Abdur Rahim were present during the campaign events.

Israeli forces launched extensive airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Saturday, resulting in at least 19 deaths, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. The attacks began at dawn and targeted multiple areas, including Khan Younis and Gaza City. In the northwest of Khan Younis, an airstrike hit a tent sheltering displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area. In Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, a police headquarters was bombed, killing at least seven people. Earlier reports indicated that five people were killed in central Gaza and seven in the southern Al-Mawasi area. The information was confirmed by medical sources at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, who relayed details to Al Jazeera Arabic. The strikes mark another escalation in violence in the densely populated enclave, where repeated bombardments have caused significant civilian casualties. The report did not include official statements from Israeli authorities or details on the intended targets beyond those described by local sources.

At a meeting with Islamic scholars and clerics in Parshuram, Feni, BNP leaders announced that the party would introduce monthly government allowances for imams, khatibs and muezzins if it forms the next government. The event, held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Parshuram Auditorium, was organized in support of BNP’s Feni-1 candidate Rafiqul Alam Majnu. Abu Taleb, a member of the BNP National Executive Committee and chief coordinator of the local election management committee, attended as the chief guest. Presided over by Maulana Nurul Islam, principal of Parshuram Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, the meeting also featured Abdul Halim Manik, convener of the Upazila BNP, as a special guest. In his speech, Abu Taleb said BNP would never pass any law contrary to the Quran and Sunnah, emphasizing that protecting Islam is a collective duty in a country where 90 percent of the population is Muslim. He added that imams, khatibs and muezzins play a vital role in guiding society through Islamic teachings, and the proposed allowance aims to recognize their contribution.

A total of 330 international observers have been confirmed to monitor Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election and the referendum on the July national charter, scheduled for February 12. The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing announced the figure on Saturday, noting that six international organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), will send at least 63 observers. Additionally, the European Union, 16 countries, and 32 individual observers affiliated with various international organizations will participate. The number of international observers this year is more than double that of the disputed January 7, 2024 election, which saw significantly fewer monitors. Previous elections hosted 158, 125, and only four international observers in the 12th, 11th, and 10th elections respectively. The OIC delegation will be led by Shakir Mahmud Bandar, head of the organization’s election observation unit. Other groups include ANFREL with 28 observers, the Commonwealth Secretariat with 25, IRI with seven, and NDI with one. Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamia Morshed said the number may rise as several invited countries, including India, Nepal, Australia, and France, have yet to confirm their delegates.

Prominent Qawmi scholar Mufti Abdur Rahman Rahmani has joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The joining took place on Saturday afternoon at the party’s Dhaka Metropolitan South office, where he filled out the associate membership form. He was welcomed by Abdus Sabur Fakir, a member of Jamaat’s central Majlish-e-Shura and Naib-e-Ameer of Dhaka Metropolitan South. Other senior leaders, including Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin, Maulana Mosharraf Hossain, and Mufti Nuruzzaman Nomani, were also present. Rahmani stated that he had not previously been affiliated with any organization but had long been seeking one dedicated to establishing Islamic principles. He said he found Jamaat-e-Islami to embody the spirit of mutual care described in Hadith, unlike many Qawmi-based groups he viewed as lacking structure. He emphasized that Jamaat offered broader opportunities for social and religious work and urged his students and well-wishers to join for the sake of divine satisfaction. Jamaat leaders described the party as a humanitarian organization committed to social reform and service, rejecting what they called false propaganda against it.

Jaima Rahman, daughter of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, has recently drawn notable attention within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party after returning to the country with her family. Although she holds no official party position, her participation in select events since December 2025 has sparked curiosity among party members and observers. Political analysts suggest that BNP is gradually introducing her to the public eye, possibly signaling a message of leadership continuity within the party. Some observers believe Jaima’s emergence is part of a broader strategy to attract young and female voters ahead of the next parliamentary election. Her recent public appearances include a policy discussion on women’s role in nation-building, a youth-focused creative competition, and cultural events in Dhaka. Despite her growing visibility, she has yet to appear on the main election campaign stage. Jaima, a barrister trained in the United Kingdom, has described herself as a communications strategist and corporate lawyer. Her increasing engagement in public and party-related activities has been widely covered by national media and BNP’s official social media channels.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his government is prepared to listen to the problems of the Iranian people. He made the remarks in a televised speech on Saturday, during which he accused former U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and European countries of inciting recent protests in Iran. Pezeshkian claimed these foreign actors sought to divide the nation and spread hatred among its people. He stated that normal protests do not involve violence, killings of military personnel, or attacks on ambulances and markets. According to him, the government should sit with demonstrators, hear their concerns, and find solutions. Pezeshkian added that foreign powers exploited Iran’s internal issues to provoke unrest and divide society. Iranian authorities have acknowledged that more than 3,000 people were killed in the recent protests, saying most victims were security forces or bystanders killed by “rioters.” However, rights groups have claimed the actual death toll is likely much higher.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan said there is no alternative to the scale symbol to free the country from corruption and extortion. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at the 'March for Scale' election rally held at Rahim Uddin Degree College field in Adamdighi upazila of Bogura. Bhuiyan urged voters to support the scale symbol and recalled that during a previous authoritarian period, some districts faced regional discrimination based solely on identity. He stated that as an interim government adviser on youth and sports, he decided that no district should face such discrimination for political reasons. Bhuiyan also outlined development plans for the region, including construction of an underpass in Santahar municipality to ease railway congestion and a flyover in Dupchanchia to reduce traffic. He mentioned plans to establish factories to increase employment and economic stability in the area. The rally was presided over by upazila Jamaat Amir Hafez Atowar Hossain, where Bhuiyan introduced Nur Muhammad Abu Taher as the NCP candidate for Bogura-3 constituency. Several local and district-level leaders from NCP and Jamaat addressed the event as special guests, expressing support for the scale symbol and the party’s development agenda.