The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) may announce its manifesto for the 13th parliamentary election on January 6, Friday, according to Mahdi Amin, spokesperson of the party’s election management committee. He made the statement on Tuesday at the BNP election management committee office in Gulshan, Dhaka.

Mahdi Amin said the party’s election manifesto is almost ready, with only one plan remaining to be completed. Once that is finalized, the manifesto could be announced on January 6. The announcement is expected to outline the BNP’s priorities and commitments ahead of the upcoming national election.

The statement indicates that the BNP is in the final stages of preparing its election platform, signaling an intensifying focus on campaign readiness as the election approaches.

A fire broke out early Tuesday around 5:00 a.m. at the election campaign camp of BNP-nominated candidate Chowdhury Nayab Yusuf in the Faridpur-3 constituency. The incident occurred near the Tetultala bus stand in Mrigi area of Kanaipur Union under Faridpur Sadar upazila. The camp had been set up by Farhad, president of the BNP’s Ward No. 4 unit in Kanaipur Union. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

The blaze partially damaged a campaign banner, a table, and decorative cloths. Raja Sheikh, vice-president of the same ward unit, noticed the fire after morning prayers and, with local residents, quickly brought it under control. Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shahidul Islam of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station confirmed the incident, stating that police visited the site and would take legal action upon receiving a formal complaint.

Authorities have not yet identified who was responsible for setting the fire, and an investigation is expected to follow once a complaint is filed.

District police in Lakshmipur have identified 215 of the 496 polling centers across four parliamentary constituencies as highly important or high-risk, and 198 as important. To ensure security during the upcoming election, CCTV cameras have already been installed at 218 centers, including all 215 high-risk ones. The initiative was confirmed by Additional Superintendent of Police Hossain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi.

According to police sources, the centers have been categorized as highly important, important, or general based on law and order considerations. The highest number of high-risk centers is in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila. The district administration stated that installing CCTV cameras is part of a broader effort to ensure full security on election day. Additional Deputy Commissioner Mezbaul Alam Bhuiyan said the remaining centers will receive cameras once funds are available.

Police officials added that extra law enforcement personnel will be deployed at high-risk and important centers, with body-worn cameras and real-time monitoring from the district control room to maintain oversight.

Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has warned that any member of the law enforcement agencies found involved with any individual, party, or political agenda during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election will face departmental and strict legal action. He issued the warning on Tuesday, February 3, during the Bangladesh Coast Guard Medal Award ceremony at the Coast Guard headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The adviser emphasized that the government will show zero tolerance regarding the neutrality of Coast Guard members in performing their duties during the election and referendum. He praised the Coast Guard for its contributions in ensuring coastal and inland waterway security, preventing illegal fishing, arms and drug trafficking, human trafficking, robbery, and piracy. He also commended their role in disaster response, rescue operations, and humanitarian assistance, including efforts during cyclones, floods, and the Rohingya crisis.

According to the adviser, 3,585 Coast Guard members are among nearly 900,000 law enforcement personnel deployed nationwide to ensure a free, fair, peaceful, and neutral election on February 12. Forty Coast Guard members received medals for their exemplary service at the event.

The prosecution has formally filed charges against Bangladesh Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and former Food Minister Kamrul Islam for alleged crimes against humanity linked to killings during the July uprising. The charges were submitted on Tuesday afternoon at the International Crimes Tribunal, confirmed by prosecutor Gazi M.H. Tamim.

According to the prosecution, Menon and Kamrul are accused of involvement in two killings that occurred during the July uprising. Both political figures have been in custody since August 5, 2024, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.

The tribunal’s acceptance of the formal charges marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation into the July uprising incidents, though further details on the next phase of proceedings were not provided in the report.

Formal charges have been submitted against former Detective Branch (DB) chief Harun-or-Rashid and nine others, including former Inspectors General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Islam and Javed Patwary, over the alleged killing of seven youths in Gazipur in 2016. The charges were filed on Tuesday at the office of the registrar of the International Crimes Tribunal, confirmed by prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim.

Among the accused are also former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia and former Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) chief Monirul Islam. The case alleges that the accused staged a militant operation in Gazipur in 2016, during which seven young men were killed.

The filing of formal charges marks a significant step in the legal process, with the tribunal expected to review the submission before proceeding to the next stage of hearings.

The government of Bangladesh will sell milk, eggs, beef, and dressed broiler chicken at subsidized prices throughout the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. The initiative, jointly organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Department of Livestock Services, aims to ensure affordable access to animal protein for the general public. According to a ministry press release issued on Tuesday, the program will run for 26 days—from the day before Ramadan until the 25th of Ramadan—through mobile sales centers.

Under the plan, dressed broiler chicken will be sold at Tk 245 per kilogram, pasteurized milk at Tk 80 per liter, eggs at Tk 8 each, and beef at Tk 650 per kilogram. The ministry held a meeting on February 1, chaired by adviser Farida Akhter, to finalize measures for maintaining steady supply and stable prices of meat, milk, and eggs during Ramadan.

Initially, 25 key locations in Dhaka and city corporation areas have been selected for the mobile sales operation, including Secretariat, Farmgate, Mirpur, Azimpur, Uttara, and others. The number of outlets will gradually increase in coordination with local authorities and entrepreneurs.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has alleged that a political party continues to exploit the issue of an ID hack even after the matter has been clarified. He made the remarks on Tuesday around 11:15 a.m. during a public rally in Kishoreganj. Rahman said the youth of 2024 seek change and will not allow anyone to divide the nation. He also claimed that some groups are using women’s issues to target Jamaat and vowed that no future election would be allowed through unfair means.

Rahman emphasized that Jamaat does not want to see dirty politics anymore and aspires for Bangladesh to be established as a humane and dignified nation. He expressed hope that the country would stand proudly and independently on the global stage. Paying tribute to the youth, he said they had resisted all forms of fascism in July and sacrificed their blood for freedom and independence.

The speech reflected Jamaat’s stance against political exploitation and its call for unity and integrity in national politics.

Former ICC Head of Communications Sami-ul-Hasan Burney has blamed India for the ongoing unrest surrounding the T20 World Cup. He sharply criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for publicly announcing the termination of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s contract with Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Burney argued that if the BCCI had handled the matter privately, Bangladesh and Pakistan’s threats to boycott the tournament could have been avoided.

Burney, who also served as media director for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said the ICC’s stance on Bangladesh-related issues has disappointed PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who views it as a “moving the goalposts” policy. Burney warned that Pakistan could face punitive measures, including fines and loss of broadcast revenue, if the ICC enforces disciplinary action. He estimated potential losses of around 250 million US dollars for missing a match, compared to Pakistan’s annual revenue of 35.5 million dollars.

He concluded that India’s public handling of the Mustafizur issue and its perceived double standards are the main causes of the current instability, leaving the cricket world focused on how the ICC’s next steps will affect Pakistan’s future.

French authorities have issued warrants against two Franco-Israeli citizens suspected of involvement in genocide for allegedly obstructing humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. The warrants, issued in July last year, target Nili Kupfer-Naouri of the group Israel Is Forever and Rachel Touitou of the group Tsav 9. They are accused of attempting to block aid trucks at the Nitzana and Kerem Shalom border crossings between January and November 2024. The suspects have been asked to appear before an investigating magistrate but have not been ordered arrested.

An NGO lawyer involved in the case described the move as unprecedented, marking the first time a country has launched an investigation into potential complicity in genocide through obstruction of humanitarian aid. Kupfer-Naouri’s lawyer said their actions were peaceful protests against aid being diverted by Hamas and other groups. Touitou defended her actions on social media, while Kupfer-Naouri called the French probe “anti-Semitic hysteria.”

The complaint was filed by Palestinian human rights groups, including Al-Haq and Al-Mezan. Sources indicated that up to ten more individuals could face similar warrants, while separate war crimes cases involving Franco-Israeli soldiers remain ongoing in France.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Naogaon on Thursday, February 5, as part of his nationwide election campaign and political tour. He will attend an election rally at the Etim Maidan in Naogaon city at 11 a.m. as the chief guest and deliver a speech outlining the party’s vision for the future.

District Jamaat secretary and Naogaon-5 candidate Advocate A S M Sayem confirmed the visit after inspecting the rally ground on Tuesday morning. He said that Dr. Rahman will be accompanied by top leaders of the 11-party alliance. Sayem added that preparations for the rally are ongoing and that people from all 11 upazilas of the district are expected to attend.

According to Sayem, the event aims to demonstrate growing public support for change and for the party’s electoral symbol. He expressed confidence that the rally would attract between five to six lakh participants and serve as a platform for Dr. Rahman to present Jamaat’s outline for the future of Bangladesh.

A major uncertainty has emerged over the government’s plan to dissolve the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and create two separate divisions named Revenue Policy and Revenue Implementation. Although the Administrative Reorganization Implementation Committee, chaired by the Chief Adviser, approved the proposal on January 20, no gazette notification has been issued to set an effective date. Officials expressed concern that the absence of such a notification has stalled the process, with administrative reluctance reportedly growing amid an election atmosphere and anticipation of a new government.

An NBR official said the necessary administrative cooperation was lacking, pushing the initiative into uncertainty. The interim government’s Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan had earlier stated that the restructuring would be completed by mid-February, but that timeline has not been met. The reform process had already faced strong internal resistance, including strikes and protests by NBR staff, leading to disciplinary actions and investigations.

Officials now doubt whether the incoming government will implement the plan, as policy priorities may differ. Some believe donor pressure, including IMF loan conditions, could influence the eventual decision.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, admitted responsibility for the deaths during the July 2024 student movement. Speaking virtually from abroad at a book launch organized by the BJP-affiliated cultural group ‘Khola Hawa’ in Kolkata on Monday, Joy expressed remorse and acknowledged that innocent students and civilians were killed during the protests. He described the quota reform protesters’ demands as legitimate and called the government’s handling of the issue a failure, though he maintained his stance regarding alleged conspiracies behind the unrest.

Joy claimed that an audio recording of Sheikh Hasina proved that extremists attacked police stations, sparking the violence. He asserted that neither the government nor police initiated the clashes, blaming militant groups for the escalation. Turning to the upcoming February 12 general election, Joy labeled it one-sided, saying the exclusion of the Awami League and suppression of progressive parties made it a contest between the BNP and Jamaat. He warned that such a process was unacceptable and raised concerns about India’s border security if Jamaat gained influence.

Joy urged international intervention to prevent Jamaat from becoming a dominant political force in Bangladesh.

Cuba is maintaining communication with the United States amid heightened tensions over threats to halt oil supplies. A senior Cuban diplomat confirmed that while exchanges between Havana and Washington continue, they have not yet developed into formal talks. The contact intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump increased pressure on Cuba. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío told Reuters that the U.S. government is aware of Cuba’s readiness for a serious and responsible dialogue.

The situation escalated following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a close ally of Cuba, by U.S. forces and his transfer to the United States. The incident, which also involved Maduro’s wife, has further strained relations and placed the Cuban government under additional U.S. pressure. De Cossío stated that although embassies and diplomatic channels remain active, no formal negotiation framework has been established.

In a separate interview with the Associated Press, De Cossío said that if dialogue begins, it could evolve into structured discussions in the future, but emphasized that Cuba’s constitution, economic system, and socialist governance are not open for negotiation.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed a 12-hour ban on fireworks, firecrackers, and lanterns across the city to preserve the sanctity and ensure peaceful observance of Shab-e-Barat. The restriction, announced through a public notice signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali on February 3, 2026, will remain in effect from 6 p.m. on February 3 to 6 a.m. on February 4.

According to the notice, the decision was made under Section 28 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance to maintain law and order during the religious occasion. The ban covers all forms of fireworks, gas balloons, and explosive materials, including their sale, transport, and use. The DMP stated that the measure aims to prevent any disorder and allow citizens to perform religious activities without disturbance.

Authorities have warned that legal action will be taken against anyone violating the directive during the restricted hours.