In the 13th parliamentary election, 20 out of 33 candidates in Sylhet district lost their security deposits across six constituencies. The unofficial results were announced on Thursday night by the district’s returning officer and Deputy Commissioner Sarwar Alam. According to the Election Commission’s circular, any candidate receiving less than one-eighth, or 12.5 percent, of total votes cast forfeits their deposit.

The results show that six candidates in Sylhet-1, three in Sylhet-2, four in Sylhet-3, three in Sylhet-4, one in Sylhet-5, and three in Sylhet-6 lost their deposits. In Sylhet-1, for example, 325,000 votes were cast, and candidates needed at least 40,692 votes to retain their deposits. Similar thresholds were applied in other constituencies, with several candidates from parties such as Ganadhikar Parishad, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Jatiya Party failing to meet the required vote share.

The forfeiture of deposits highlights the limited electoral support for smaller parties and independent candidates in Sylhet’s six constituencies during the 13th national polls.

Seven former presidents of Islami Chhatra Shibir have been elected as members of the National Parliament. They contested the February 12 election under the banner of Jamaat-e-Islami and won by a large margin. The newly elected MPs include Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Abdullah Muhammad Taher (Comilla-11), Central Executive Committee member Saiful Alam Khan Milon (Dhaka-12), Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan (Sirajganj-4), Central Executive Committee member and Dhaka South Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul (Chapainawabganj-3), Central Working Committee member and Dhaka South Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud (Patuakhali-2), Salahuddin Ayyubi (Gazipur-4), and Hafiz Rashedul Islam (Sherpur-1).

According to the report, nine other former Shibir presidents also participated in the election but were defeated. In total, Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 parliamentary seats in this election. The results highlight the continued political presence of former student leaders within the party’s national leadership structure.

The election outcome strengthens Jamaat-e-Islami’s representation in parliament and underscores the influence of its former student wing leaders in shaping the party’s political direction.

Booker Prize–winning Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy has declined an invitation to the Berlin International Film Festival after expressing outrage at comments made by jury members regarding the situation in Gaza. In a statement on Friday, Roy said she was deeply hurt and disturbed by remarks from jury president Wim Wenders and others during a Thursday press conference, where they suggested filmmakers should stay away from politics.

The controversy arose when a journalist asked the jury about the German government's support for Israel and its stance on human rights. Wenders responded that filmmakers should not engage in politics, emphasizing that their work is for the public, not politicians. Roy condemned these comments as “conscience-less,” describing the Gaza situation as genocide by Israel against Palestinians. She argued that artists and filmmakers have a moral duty to speak out against such atrocities.

Roy’s 1989 film “In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones” was scheduled to be screened in the festival’s classics section from February 12 to 22, but she has now withdrawn her participation.

Ahead of the upcoming match against India, Pakistan’s spin attack is being viewed as the team’s strongest weapon. The dry pitch conditions in Colombo are expected to favor spinners, particularly Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub, who both rely heavily on back-spin deliveries. Their carrom balls are likely to skid on the surface, increasing chances of dismissals through bowled and leg-before-wicket.

The analysis highlights that variation will be crucial in T20 bowling, as batsmen tend to play quick shots and struggle to adjust if they misread the carrom ball. Both Abrar and Saim possess strong variations, which could make them effective in the format. Abrar has reportedly refined his use of the carrom ball, while Saim has added side-spin to his repertoire, similar to India’s Varun Chakravarthy. Usman Tariq’s unorthodox bowling action is also mentioned as a potential surprise factor.

With these spin options and the dry surface at the Premadasa Stadium, Pakistan’s bowling lineup could gain a tactical edge in the high-stakes encounter against India.

The London High Court has ruled that the UK government’s decision to ban the pro-Palestinian organization Palestine Action Group as a terrorist group was unlawful. The verdict, delivered on Friday, followed a legal challenge by the group’s co-founder Huda Ammori, who described the ruling as a major victory for the organization. The group had been banned in July of the previous year for taking direct action against Israel-linked defense companies, including blocking entrances and spraying red paint on facilities.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, saying she disagreed with the view that the ban was disproportionate. The British government announced it would appeal the ruling. The court stated that the ban would remain in effect until the appeal process is completed, noting that the prohibition represented a disproportionate interference with freedom of expression and assembly.

London police confirmed that despite the court’s ruling, the ban remains in force, and supporting the group’s activities continues to be a criminal offense. A hearing on whether the government can proceed with its appeal is scheduled for February 20.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has called for immediate elections in all city corporations across Bangladesh. He made the appeal on Saturday afternoon while speaking to journalists after inaugurating the Spring Festival at Shaheed Wasim Smriti Park in Ambagan, Chattogram. Dr. Shahadat stated that following the July Revolution, all city mayors and councillors fled, and the interim government dissolved the corporations, appointing administrators instead. He regained his mayoral position through a court order but said the city’s 41 wards are operating without councillors, leaving residents deprived of adequate services.

According to city corporation regulations, a mayor serves for five years from the day of oath-taking, meaning Dr. Shahadat could remain in office for nearly four more years. However, he urged the new government to organize elections promptly in the interest of the public. He argued that bureaucrats currently running other city corporations cannot deliver effective services without elected representatives. Dr. Shahadat added that the recent parliamentary election proved that free and fair polls are possible and expressed confidence that upcoming local government elections would be peaceful and representative.

An Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, has pleaded guilty in the Southern District Federal Court of New York to attempting to assassinate US citizen and Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The 54-year-old admitted before Judge Sarah Netburn that he hired a hitman in 2023 to kill Pannun, who resides in New York. Gupta told the court he paid $15,000 to someone he believed was a contract killer, who was actually linked to the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Pannun leads the US-based group Sikhs for Justice, which campaigns for an independent Khalistan state in India’s Punjab region.

According to the US Attorney’s Office, Gupta was arrested in June 2023 at Prague Airport in the Czech Republic and extradited to the United States. He has been convicted of conspiring to murder Pannun, with sentencing scheduled for May 29. Under US law, he faces 20 to 24 years in prison. FBI officials said Pannun was targeted for exercising his freedom of expression. The FBI also alleged Gupta worked with Indian intelligence officer Vikas Yadav, who remains at large.

The case has strained relations between Washington, Ottawa, and New Delhi, as the US and Canada accuse India of targeting their citizens of Indian origin. Indian officials deny the allegations, calling such actions contrary to national policy.

Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Dr. Reza Kibria have been unofficially elected as Members of Parliament in Bangladesh’s 13th National Election held on February 12. Muktadir, the BNP chairman’s adviser and party-nominated candidate, won the Sylhet-1 constituency with 176,936 votes, defeating Jamaat’s Maulana Habibur Rahman, who received 134,983 votes. Dr. Reza Kibria, who recently joined the BNP and contested from Habiganj-1, secured 111,999 votes, while his closest rival, Maulana Md. Sirajul Islam of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, obtained 56,132 votes.

Both Muktadir and Kibria are following in the political footsteps of their fathers. Muktadir is the son of Khandaker Abdul Malik, a BNP MP elected in 1991. Dr. Reza Kibria is the son of former finance minister and diplomat Shah AMS Kibria, who served as UN ESCAP secretary-general before joining the Awami League in 1992. Shah AMS Kibria was elected MP from Habiganj-3 in 2001 and was killed in a grenade attack at a public meeting in Habiganj on January 27, 2005.

In Rajshahi-3 (Paba-Mohonpur) constituency, the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami candidates exchanged greetings following the 13th parliamentary election. The event took place on Saturday at noon at the residence of Jamaat candidate Professor Abul Kalam Azad in Adariapara, Horogram Union, where he congratulated BNP’s winning candidate Advocate Shafiqul Haque Milon with flowers. Both leaders shared sweets and engaged in a brief, cordial discussion, marking a gesture of democratic goodwill after a competitive election.

Local political figures described the exchange as a positive example of political harmony and a reflection of evolving democratic culture in the region. They expressed hope that mutual respect and cooperation would open new avenues for sustainable development in Rajshahi-3. Professor Azad pledged full cooperation for the constituency’s progress, while Milon emphasized working together for public welfare despite political differences.

According to the official results, Milon won with 176,318 votes under the BNP’s symbol, while Azad received 137,927 votes under Jamaat’s symbol. Observers viewed the gesture as a message of unity and constructive politics in post-election Bangladesh.

Nineteen candidates in six parliamentary constituencies of Barishal lost their deposits in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, according to results announced late Thursday night by Barishal District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Khairul Alam Suman. Under Election Commission rules, a candidate must secure at least one-eighth (12.5%) of total votes to retain the deposit; otherwise, the Tk 50,000 deposit is forfeited to the state treasury. The forfeited deposits from these 19 candidates will amount to Tk 950,000.

In Barishal-1, two of five candidates lost deposits; in Barishal-2, six of eight; in Barishal-3, three of six; in Barishal-4, two of five; in Barishal-5, three of six; and in Barishal-6, three of six. The affected candidates represented parties including the Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, JASAD, Ganadhikar Parishad, NPP, Bangladesh Muslim League, and others.

The results highlight the limited electoral performance of several smaller political parties and independent contenders across Barishal’s constituencies, with their combined forfeited deposits contributing to the national treasury.

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.