ATM Azharul Islam, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, has been elected as a Member of Parliament from Rangpur-2 in the 13th national election held last Thursday. He secured 135,556 votes, defeating BNP candidate Mohammad Ali Sarkar by a margin of over 55,000 votes. His victory follows his release from prison nine months earlier, after spending more than a decade under a death sentence in a condemned cell.

Azharul Islam was arrested in August 2012 on charges of alleged war crimes and sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal in December 2014. The verdict was upheld in 2019, but following the fall of the previous government, the Supreme Court acquitted him on May 27 of the previous year. He was released the next day after nearly 13 years in custody.

Following his election win, local supporters and party activists gathered at his residence to congratulate him. Azharul Islam expressed gratitude to voters and pledged to work for the development of Badarganj and Taraganj, emphasizing unity and service to all constituents regardless of political affiliation.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has claimed victory in more than two-thirds of the constituencies in the country’s 13th parliamentary election, held last Thursday. BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan announced the claim at a press briefing at the Election Commission office on Friday, saying unofficial results confirmed the party’s lead. He stated that the people had entrusted BNP and its chairman Tarique Rahman with governing the country for the next five years. Khan also noted that while complete satisfaction with the election process was impossible, the level of violence was lower than in previous polls.

BNP’s central election spokesperson Mahdi Amin described the result as a “victory for democracy,” asserting that the party’s success reflected the people’s trust in Tarique Rahman’s leadership. According to unofficial results, BNP won 209 of 299 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68. Smaller allies in the BNP-led coalition, including Bangladesh National Party, Ganosamhati Andolon, and Gana Odhikar Parishad, each won one seat. Independent candidates won seven seats.

Amin said the new BNP government would aim to establish a transparent, accountable, and people-oriented administration.

Newly elected Member of Parliament for Rangpur-4, Akhtar Hossain, alleged that the defeated opposition behaved irrationally after losing the election. Speaking to journalists at his home in Pirgacha on February 13, he claimed that during voting and counting, his party agents were barred from several centers in Haragachh, and supporters were assaulted outside. He also accused BNP activists of attacking his workers and vandalizing campaign setups at multiple locations.

Hossain dismissed BNP candidate Emdadul Haque Bhorsa’s allegations of vote rigging as baseless and challenged him to provide proof. He further claimed that BNP activists themselves damaged Bhorsa’s car to frame his party. Hossain alleged that post-election violence continued, with attacks on NCP activists in Haragachh leaving four injured and several motorcycles destroyed. He urged authorities to arrest those responsible and called for legal action against rival candidates accused of vandalism.

According to election sources cited in the report, Hossain received 147,947 votes, while his closest rival Bhorsa secured 139,616 votes across 163 polling centers.

At least 7,005 people have been killed in Iran during security forces’ operations to suppress anti-government protests, according to a report released Thursday by the US-based human rights organization HRANA. The group said the dead include 214 members of government forces. HRANA stated that it verifies information through a network of activists inside Iran and that limited communication has slowed data collection and verification, leading to gradual updates of the death toll.

In contrast, the Iranian government’s only official figure, released on January 21, reported 3,117 deaths related to the protests. Tehran has previously faced accusations of underreporting or withholding casualty figures during unrest, though the Associated Press could not obtain further details on the current figures.

The report emerged amid heightened tensions surrounding ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly urged US President Donald Trump to take a tougher stance on Iran. Trump said he prioritizes resolving the issue through negotiations but warned that failure to reach an agreement could bring harsher consequences for Iran.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has strongly condemned and protested against alleged attacks and arson carried out by BNP activists on opposition supporters, their homes, and businesses in various parts of the country following the national election. In a joint statement issued on Friday night, Shibir’s central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah expressed deep concern over the incidents.

The statement claimed that the 13th National Parliament election was completed through manipulation and vote engineering, leading to a tense and fearful atmosphere nationwide. It alleged that BNP and its affiliated organizations were attacking dissenters, including Shibir activists, in districts such as Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Bagerhat, Rangpur, Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Feni, and Chattogram. The group said around a hundred activists had been injured, and that homes, shops, and educational institutions were being targeted.

Shibir leaders urged newly elected representatives and political leaders to act responsibly, ensure citizens’ safety, and stop political violence. They warned that if the attacks continued, Shibir would organize mass resistance, and called on the interim government and law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

BNP candidates have secured sweeping victories in all six parliamentary constituencies of Barishal, according to unofficial results announced by Returning Officer and District Commissioner Khairul Alam Suman at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday. The results show BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol candidates winning decisively across Barishal-1 through Barishal-6, with vote margins ranging from over 18,000 to more than 67,000. The announcement was made in the presence of the winning candidates, and party activists celebrated the outcome.

The election was conducted peacefully, with the returning officer expressing regret for the delay in result publication, citing the time needed to compile data from all six constituencies. BNP leaders described the outcome as a victory for democracy and the people, reaffirming Barishal as a BNP stronghold. Key winners include Zahid Uddin Swapan in Barishal-1, Sardar Sarfuddin Ahmed Santu in Barishal-2, and Mujibur Rahman Sarwar in Barishal-5.

BNP’s central organizing secretary Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin said the results demonstrated the people’s renewed confidence in the party’s regional leadership and democratic process.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Friday that his Bhumjaithai Party will form a coalition government with the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai Party, which finished third in the February 8 general election. According to the Election Commission, Bhumjaithai won 193 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives, followed by the reformist People’s Party with 118 seats and Pheu Thai with 74 seats.

The alliance would give Anutin’s party a parliamentary majority, paving the way for a stable coalition after a period of political turbulence. Anutin said after discussions with Pheu Thai leaders that they would work together to govern the country effectively. Pheu Thai, once Thailand’s most successful party, suffered its worst electoral performance this time, raising concerns about its future.

Bhumjaithai previously belonged to a Pheu Thai-led coalition formed after the 2023 election but withdrew in June following a leaked phone call between then-Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Paetongtarn was later dismissed by court order, and Anutin replaced her before dissolving parliament in December, triggering the snap election.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a sweeping victory in Chattogram during the 13th parliamentary election, winning 14 out of 16 constituencies. Despite generating enthusiasm among voters, Jamaat-e-Islami managed to win only two seats. Analysts in the city have begun assessing why BNP’s grassroots-oriented approach succeeded while Jamaat, though active in both offline and online campaigns, failed to convert its momentum into votes.

Jamaat-aligned professional leader Engineer Manjeri Khorshed Alam attributed the party’s poor performance to several factors, including backlash over job dismissals following the recovery of five banks previously under S. Alam Group’s control. He noted that Jamaat’s candidates, though educated and clean in image, lacked mass appeal and electoral experience. BNP, on the other hand, benefited from its populist politics, long-standing opposition to Awami League repression, and the renewed leadership image of Tarique Rahman.

Civic leader Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury observed that BNP’s superior coalition management and moderate image helped attract floating voters who were reluctant to support Jamaat. Analysts suggested that BNP must now carefully manage public expectations to sustain its winning momentum.

The United States has withdrawn its remaining military units from the strategically important Al-Tanf base in Syria, located near the Iraq and Jordan borders. Following the withdrawal, the Syrian Arab Army took control of the base in coordination with the American side, according to a statement from Syria’s defense ministry. The ministry said the area has been secured and that military units have begun deployment along the Syria-Iraq-Jordan border, with border guards to follow.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the withdrawal, describing it as orderly and part of agreed conditions. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that US forces remain ready to respond to any emerging ISIL threats while supporting partner-led efforts to prevent the resurgence of terrorist networks. The Pentagon had announced in April 2025 that troops deployed in Syria since 2019 would be withdrawn, fulfilling that plan now.

The Al-Tanf base was established in 2014 as a key hub for the global coalition against ISIL during Syria’s civil war. The withdrawal comes months after Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, formerly a rebel leader, joined the anti-ISIL coalition, with the Trump administration expressing support for his government.

In the 13th parliamentary election, the lone National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate in Chattogram, Zobairul Hasan Arif, lost his deposit after securing only 2,906 votes, equivalent to 0.52 percent of total voters in the Chattogram-8 constituency, which includes Boalkhali, Chandgaon, and Panchlaish. According to the returning officer’s office, the constituency had 554,729 registered voters, with 256,134 votes cast. BNP candidate Ershad Ullah received 150,737 votes and was unofficially declared elected, while Jamaat-e-Islami’s Abu Naser came second with 52,033 votes.

Under the Election Commission’s circular, a candidate forfeits their deposit if they fail to secure one-eighth of the total votes cast in the constituency. As Arif did not meet this threshold, his deposit was forfeited. Two other candidates in the same constituency also lost their deposits: Nurul Alam of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, who received 1,188 votes, and Emdadul Haque of Insoniyat Biplob Bangladesh, who received 870 votes.

Across Chattogram’s 16 constituencies, BNP candidates won 14 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami secured the remaining two.

Anwarul Islam Raju, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami–nominated candidate supported by an 11-party alliance, has alleged widespread irregularities in vote counting for the Lalmonirhat-1 (Hatibandha-Patgram) constituency during the 13th National Parliamentary Election. At a press conference held at his residence on Friday, February 13, he claimed that serious discrepancies occurred in several centers across Jagatber, Jongra, Sreerampur unions, and Patgram municipality, particularly after 5:30 p.m. on February 12. He alleged manipulation and delays in result announcements and inconsistencies between the declared results and presiding officers’ count sheets.

Raju further stated that some centers reported no invalid ballots, which he described as unusual and possibly deliberate manipulation. He accused certain presiding officers of biased behavior and said delays in publishing results raised public suspicion. He has submitted a written petition to the Election Commission, attaching photocopies of count sheets from 137 centers as evidence, and formally requested a recount of votes cast in Hatibandha and Patgram upazilas.

According to Raju, a recount would reveal the true outcome of the election. Local journalists, political activists, and supporters attended the press conference.

Advocate Abdus Salam Azad, the BNP-nominated candidate, reclaimed the Munshiganj-2 constituency with more than double the votes of his nearest rival. The results were announced on Thursday night by District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Nurmahal Ashrafi. Following the announcement, BNP leaders and activists celebrated the victory, while the winning candidate expressed gratitude to Allah.

According to the official results, Abdus Salam Azad received 121,154 votes under the paddy sheaf symbol, while his closest competitor, Majedul Islam of the National Citizens Party (NCP), secured 58,573 votes. K.M. Billal of Islami Andolan Bangladesh obtained 13,387 votes, Md. Noman Mia of Jatiya Party received 2,857, and Ashiq Mahmud of Islamic Front Bangladesh got 651 votes. Three candidates—Billal, Noman Mia, and Ashiq Mahmud—lost their deposits for failing to secure the minimum required votes.

The constituency has 372,833 registered voters, including 190,239 men and 182,594 women. Analysts noted that the newly formed NCP performed notably well, though the BNP candidate’s victory margin remained more than double.

Following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) sweeping victory in the 13th national parliamentary election, prayers and thanksgiving gatherings were held across the country on Friday after Jumu’ah prayers. Events took place in mosques and BNP offices in districts including Barishal, Rajbari, Bhola, Mymensingh, and Bogura. In Gournadi, Barishal, local BNP leaders organized a special prayer at the central Eidgah field, while similar gatherings were reported in Rajbari’s Anjumane Qaderia Mosque and Bhola’s Uttar Bazar Markaz Jame Mosque.

In Rajbari, newly elected MP Ali Nawaz Mahmud Shahid sought prayers for late leaders Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, and Arafat Rahman Koko. In Bhola, former MP Hafiz Ibrahim addressed worshippers, stating that no victory rallies would be held and that Tarique Rahman requested prayers for national development. In Mymensingh’s Gauripur, BNP postponed planned celebrations and instead held prayers in accordance with central directives.

The events reflected BNP’s call for gratitude and unity following its nationwide electoral success, with prayers offered for the country’s welfare, the party’s leadership, and the souls of deceased leaders.

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, flower growers in Gadkhali, known as the flower capital of Jashore’s Jhikargacha, reported a sharp fall in flower prices due to the national election. Despite high demand for Valentine’s Day, sales dropped drastically. Last year, flowers worth about Tk 15 crore were sold during the same period, but this year the figure is expected to fall to around Tk 5 crore. Farmers said wholesale buyers could not reach the market because of transport disruptions linked to the election.

Growers described steep price declines across all varieties: roses sold for Tk 7–8 per piece, gladiolus for Tk 6–12, tuberose for Tk 3–5, gerbera for Tk 6–8, marigold for Tk 200–300 per thousand, gypsy for Tk 40–50 per bunch, and chrysanthemum for Tk 150–250 per hundred. Many farmers expressed frustration over losses and limited access to mobile banking services that hindered local deliveries.

Officials from local flower associations confirmed that the election and the upcoming Ramadan season reduced market activity, leaving growers without fair prices for their produce.

In the 13th parliamentary election, Kurigram-4 constituency witnessed a rare contest between two brothers. Azizur Rahman contested with the paddy sheaf symbol, while his younger brother Mostafizur Rahman ran with the scales symbol. The election drew widespread attention among voters due to the family rivalry. Mostafizur Rahman won by a margin of 23,787 votes, securing 108,210 votes against Azizur Rahman’s 84,423. Supporters of the younger brother celebrated the victory after the results were announced.

Local voter Chayon Patowary expressed satisfaction that the election concluded peacefully and hoped both brothers would work together for the area’s development. Mostafizur Rahman said he began his political journey under his elder brother’s guidance and now intends to work with him and all supporters for the progress of Kurigram-4. He added that the people voted for development and principles, and he aims to serve everyone regardless of political affiliation.

The peaceful conclusion of this family contest was seen as a positive example of democratic competition in the region.