BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced that his party would adopt a zero-tolerance policy against corruption if it forms the next government. Speaking at an election rally on Sunday at Lal Math in Pallabi Ward No. 2 of Dhaka-16 constituency, he said that changing the fate of the people requires taking a firm stand against corruption. He criticized the past 16 years of governance, claiming that while many mega projects were undertaken, they failed to improve people’s lives and instead became sources of large-scale corruption.

Rahman described the upcoming election on the 12th as a decisive moment for the country’s future, urging citizens to choose who should lead the nation. He emphasized that BNP’s main goal is to improve people’s lives rather than merely criticizing opponents. He also outlined several pledges, including introducing a “Family Card” for women’s empowerment, a “Krishak Card” for farmers with loan waivers up to 10,000 taka, building a hospital in Dhaka-16, and launching canal excavation programs to address waterlogging.

He added that law and order would be prioritized to ensure public safety and reiterated his call to rebuild the country above all else.

Public Private Partnership Authority CEO and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury said there is no possibility of signing the lease agreement for Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) with UAE-based DP World during the tenure of the current interim government. He made the statement at a press conference held on Sunday at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, where the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present.

Chowdhury stated that a letter from DP World arrived at the Chief Adviser’s Office on Sunday morning, in which the company appreciated the progress of ongoing negotiations and expressed satisfaction. DP World confirmed that it had reviewed the draft concession agreement but requested additional time for further evaluation. With only two working days left in the interim government’s term, Chowdhury noted that completing the approval and signing process within this period would be difficult.

Work on leasing the terminal began in 2019, and final-stage negotiations started last month. Meanwhile, the Chattogram Port Protection Struggle Council has launched an indefinite work stoppage demanding that the terminal not be leased, halting container delivery operations at the port.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on citizens to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming referendum. He made the appeal on Sunday afternoon during a roadside rally at Golimbabur Hat in Jagannathpur Union of Thakurgaon Sadar upazila. Fakhrul said the referendum’s central question is who supports reform and who does not. He argued that the country needs reform to correct past mismanagement and urged everyone who wants change to vote 'Yes'.

Addressing the Hindu community, Fakhrul assured them of his continued support and said no one would be able to harm them. He added that the decision on whether the country will continue as before or move in a new direction will be made in three days. Fakhrul described BNP leader Tarique Rahman as young, energetic, and modern-minded, saying the party supports new leadership over old politics.

He concluded by expressing hope that the next prime minister would be a young leader capable of advancing the nation with fresh ideas, calling on all to stand for change.

The interim government of Bangladesh has recommended the withdrawal of 23,865 politically motivated cases filed against leaders and activists of several political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, and Gano Adhikar Parishad. The announcement was made on Sunday through a press release signed by Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. According to the statement, the decision could relieve nearly half a million people from such cases filed during the previous Awami government.

The press release stated that to review and recommend the withdrawal of these cases, the interim government formed two committees on September 22, 2024: a district-level committee led by the Deputy Commissioner and an inter-ministerial committee headed by Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Law. The committees invited applications from political parties seeking withdrawal of harassment cases filed between January 6, 2009, and August 5, 2024.

The inter-ministerial committee held 39 meetings to examine the applications and recommended the withdrawal of 23,865 cases. The process remains ongoing, according to the ministry’s statement.

Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, a member of the BNP Standing Committee and the party’s nominated candidate for Bhola-3, said the interim government formed one and a half years ago has failed to deliver any development and described it as a weak administration. He made the remarks on Sunday, February 8, during his final campaign rally for the 13th National Parliamentary Election at the Tazumuddin Government Degree College field in Bhola.

Hafiz Uddin criticized the Awami League, accusing it of promoting a culture of criminal politics and alleging that the party sent a miscreant to campaign against him. He also criticized an Islamic political party for misleading voters by linking religious promises to voting symbols, saying that Jamaat-e-Islami has a long-standing habit of exploiting religion for political gain.

The rally was organized by the Tazumuddin Upazila BNP, chaired by Upazila BNP President Golam Mostafa Mintu and conducted by General Secretary Omar Asad Rintu. Several district and local BNP leaders also addressed the gathering.

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a circular fixing office hours from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. The directive, released on Sunday by the ministry’s Regulation-6 branch, applies to all government, semi-government, autonomous, and semi-autonomous institutions across the country.

According to the circular, the schedule was set considering the times for Sehri and Iftar. It also states that banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, postal services, railways, hospitals, state-owned industries, factories, and other essential service providers may determine and follow their own office hours according to their respective laws and regulations. The Supreme Court will set working hours for itself and all subordinate courts.

The interim government’s advisory council had approved the proposal for Ramadan office hours on February 5. Depending on the sighting of the moon, the month of Ramadan is expected to begin on February 18 or 19.

South Africa has decided to withdraw its troops deployed under the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a statement issued on Saturday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the South African contingent stationed in Congo will be brought back. He informed UN Secretary-General António Guterres of the decision, citing the need to reorganize the country’s armed forces as the main reason for the withdrawal.

According to TRT World, South Africa has participated in the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo for the past 27 years and currently has more than 700 soldiers deployed there. When the mission’s mandate was extended in December last year, around 11,000 troops and police officers were serving under the UN mission. The mission’s primary role is to combat various rebel groups in Congo, where decades of conflict have intensified in recent times.

The statement added that South Africa will coordinate with the UN to finalize the withdrawal timeline and process, aiming to complete it before the end of 2026. Ramaphosa’s office said the country will continue close bilateral relations with Congo and support international efforts for lasting peace.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh announced that expatriate voters registered through the 'Postal Vote BD' app must cast their votes by Tuesday midnight, Bangladesh time. Votes not submitted by 11:59 p.m. on that day will be considered invalid. The commission issued the directive on Sunday, urging registered voters who have not yet scanned the QR code printed on their ballot envelopes to do so before the deadline.

According to election official Salim Ahmad Khan, a total of 503,441 expatriate Bangladeshis have already voted in the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum, with 428,828 postal ballots having reached Bangladesh by mail. In addition to expatriates, election officials, government employees working outside their home constituencies, and voters in legal custody are also eligible to vote by postal ballot.

The commission stated that ballots submitted to post offices by Tuesday will reach returning offices on time. Only ballots arriving by 4:30 p.m. on February 12, the day of the election, will be counted; others will be invalidated.

The Bangladesh interim government has published a book titled 'Reform Book' summarizing major reform initiatives undertaken since August 2024. According to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing issued on Saturday morning, the publication outlines sector-wise reforms implemented after the interim administration, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, assumed office during a period of severe economic and institutional crisis following the July uprising.

The press release stated that the government enacted around 130 new or amended laws and took over 600 executive decisions within 18 months, with about 84 percent of reforms already implemented. Key measures include strengthening banking oversight, restoring judicial independence, and ensuring media freedom. The government also reported progress in foreign relations, including tariff reductions with the United States, duty-free access for over 7,400 products to Japan, and renewed cooperation with China and India.

The statement described these reforms as the first step toward a new governance system, acknowledging that reversing 16 years of authoritarian damage cannot be achieved in 18 months but asserting that Bangladesh has moved decisively away from authoritarian rule.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul arrived in Lahore on February 8, 2026, to attend an emergency meeting with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) under the initiative of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The meeting aims to address Bangladesh’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup after refusing to play in India, Pakistan’s subsequent boycott stance, and possible solutions to the escalating crisis.

The dispute began when Bangladesh declined to play in India citing security concerns, following the exclusion of player Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. The ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, prompting Pakistan to call the decision “political” and “unfair” and to support Bangladesh. Pakistan’s government later declared it would not play against India if Bangladesh remained excluded, raising fears of a major commercial and diplomatic fallout for the ICC.

The Lahore meeting is expected to explore new proposals that could satisfy both Bangladesh and Pakistan. Observers see it as a decisive moment that may determine whether the 2026 T20 World Cup proceeds smoothly or faces deeper turmoil.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh has announced a 34-point election manifesto ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The declaration was made on Sunday afternoon at the party’s central office in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, by senior vice president and election monitoring cell convener Maulana Abdur Rob Yousufi. The event was presided over by vice president Maulana Najmul Hasan Kasemi and attended by several senior party leaders.

The manifesto prioritizes Islamic values, social justice, good governance, a corruption-free state system, educational and economic reforms, religious freedom, and the protection of national sovereignty. Yousufi described the manifesto as a realistic framework to prevent moral decline, ensure citizens’ rights, and build a welfare state based on justice. Key pledges include improving Islamic education, ensuring justice, controlling commodity prices, creating employment, and strengthening national unity.

The manifesto also emphasizes providing all adult citizens with phased self-defense and basic military training to prepare them to act as guardians of independence during national crises. Party leaders called on citizens to unite behind the manifesto and support the party in the upcoming election.

The government has imposed nationwide restrictions on vehicle movement ahead of the national parliamentary election and referendum. According to a circular issued on February 1 by the Road Transport and Highways Division, taxi cabs, pickups, microbuses, and trucks will be prohibited from operating for 24 hours starting midnight on February 11 until midnight on February 12, the day of voting. Additionally, motorcycle movement will be completely banned for 72 hours from midnight on February 10 to midnight on February 13.

The circular states that exemptions will apply for essential services and election-related activities. Law enforcement, armed forces, administration, and accredited election observers will not be subject to the ban. Vehicles carrying emergency services, medicines, essential goods, and newspapers will be allowed to operate. Special allowances are also provided for outbound and returning air passengers, candidates, election agents, journalists, and telecommunications service vehicles under specific conditions.

Authorities have been instructed to maintain normal traffic flow on national highways, ports, and key inter-district routes to prevent communication breakdowns. District magistrates and metropolitan police commissioners may tighten or relax the restrictions based on local circumstances.

All madrasas across Bangladesh will remain closed for one and a half months starting February 11, 2026. The closure begins with the government-declared general holidays on February 11 and 12 for the upcoming 13th national election. According to the holiday schedule published by the Directorate of Madrasa Education under the Ministry of Education on January 20, the total duration of the break will be 46 days.

The holiday period includes weekends on February 13 and 14, followed by the Ramadan vacation beginning on February 15. Additional holidays cover national and religious observances such as Language Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day on February 21, Shab-e-Qadr on March 17, Jumatul Bidah on March 20, Eid-ul-Fitr on March 21, and Independence and National Day on March 26. The following weekend on March 27–28 extends the break further.

Regular classes at madrasas are scheduled to resume on March 29. The second-longest break of 15 days is planned for Eid-ul-Azha and the summer vacation from May 24 to June 11.

A new documentary titled 'Sobar Age Hasimukh' highlighting the humanitarian and compassionate side of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman was released in Dhaka. The film portrays his quiet acts of kindness toward people and animals, showing how he has supported underprivileged families and neglected creatures without seeking publicity. The premiere show took place on Saturday evening at Star Cineplex in Mohakhali, where party leaders and guests attended.

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan said the documentary reveals Rahman’s long-standing welfare work for humans and animals that he never publicized. Advisory Council member Md. Ismail Jabiullah noted that he initially thought it was a political film but later realized it beautifully depicted a man’s humanity. Director Jubayer Babu emphasized that the film is not political propaganda but a story of a person striving to bring smiles to others.

After the screening, guests praised the documentary’s production and content, calling it a timely and significant record. The film has also been released on social media platforms.

Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud, Director General of the Ansar and Village Defence Force, has warned that no negligence or bias will be tolerated during the upcoming national election. Speaking to Ansar members at the district stadium in Chattogram on Sunday morning, he said that anyone failing to perform duties properly would face strict action, including possible imprisonment for biased behavior.

He instructed all members to carry out their responsibilities with dedication, emphasizing that their duty extends beyond maintaining law and order to ensuring a fair voting environment. The Director General made it clear that any failure to uphold these responsibilities would not be accepted.

Deputy Director General Dr. Saifur Rahman and Chattogram District Commandant Mostak Ahmad were present at the event, which focused on reinforcing discipline and neutrality among Ansar personnel ahead of the election.