United News of Bangladesh

A total of 55 people, including 22 supporters of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, joined Jamaat-e-Islami in Chuadanga on Thursday, the first day of the campaign for the 13th national parliament election. The joining ceremony was held at the football playground of Gaidghat village in Makhaldanga Union under Chuadanga Sadar Upazila, where the new members were welcomed with flower garlands. NCP officially launches election campaign from Dhaka University According to party sources, the 22 leaders joined Jamaat-e-Islami under the leadership of Shahin Ali, health affairs secretary of Makhaldanga Union Islami Andolan. Besides, 15 people led by Rana Ali and 18 other local residents also joined the party. Amir of Makhaldanga Union Jamaat-e-Islami Mohsin Ali presided over the programme. Jamaat-e-Islami’s nominated MP candidate for Chuadanga-1 constituency and district assistant secretary Masud Parvez Rusel attended the event as the chief guest. Ameer-e-Jamaat launches campaign for Dhaka-15 in Mirpur Former district Jamaat amir Anwarul Haque Malik, Sadar Upazila amir Billal Hossain, assistant secretary Shahenuzzaman, Sajibul Islam Nayan, Asir Uddin Mamun, Mamun Howlader, Dr Ahmed Monir, and other party leaders and activists were present as special guests.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed seven election rallies in just 16 hours on the first day of his campaign. He addressed the final rally of the day at Gausia in Narayanganj’s Rupganj around 4:30 am Friday, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. Reach polling centres before Fajr to safeguard votes: Tarique Later, he returned to his Gulshan residence, completing the first day of electioneering. Tarique began his day at 12:30 pm on Thursday with his first rally at Aliya Madrasa field in Sylhet. He then addressed rallies sequentially at Ainpur playground in Sherpur, Moulvibazar, Shayestaganj Upazila field in Habiganj, Kuttapara playground in Sarail Upazila, Brahmanbaria, Bhairab Stadium in Kishoreganj, and a municipal-adjacent area in Narsingdi No loan defaulter to be allowed to rule Bangladesh: Nahid  Traveling continuously for 16 hours, Tarique drew large crowds at rallies along the route late into the night. On the second day of campaigning, Tarique is scheduled to attend an election rally at BRB Ground, Bhashantek, in the Dhaka-17 constituency at 6pm Friday.

A local BNP leader was injured in a gun attack by miscreants in Keraniganj on Thursday night. The victim was identified as Hasan Mollah, 45, son of Akar Mollah of Jagannathpur village under Keraniganj thana. He is the general secretary of Hazratpur Union BNP under the Dhaka-2 constituency. He was shot by unidentified assailants around 9:00pm, said M Saiful Alam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Keraniganj Model Police Station. He was initially taken to Square Hospital in critical condition and later shifted to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 10:45 pm for further treatment. Rakib Hossain, younger brother of the injured BNP leader, said miscreants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire in front of the house of the Hero Chairman of Ward No. 7 before fleeing. The bullets hit Hasan Mollah on the right side of his abdomen, he added. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp at DMCH, said a man from Keraniganj was brought to the hospital with gunshot wounds and is currently undergoing treatment in the emergency department.  

NCP convener Nahid Islam warned that loan defaulters should not be allowed into power, saying they would plunder the country rather than repay debts if elected to parliament. Speaking at a public gathering organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for Dhaka-15 constituency, Nahid said, “The people of Bangladesh do not want to witness looting. We will not let looters come to power, and the people will not either.” Addressing the city’s low-income and underprivileged residents, he said a political party promised flats to slum dwellers, but they actually seek a safe life, which is possible even in slum areas. He alleged that past attempts to provide flats ended in eviction after elections, and now the slum dwellers recognize these as empty promises. “They will vote not for flats but for justice and the nation’s interest.” Read more: NCP officially launches election campaign from Dhaka University Criticizing BNP’s promised family card scheme, Nahid questioned its feasibility, asking, “Who will actually receive the 2,000-3,000 Taka cards? Will the genuinely needy get them, or will they have to pay a bribe of 1,000 Taka?” He accused a major political party of nominating loan defaulters, saying the party is simultaneously offering family cards while trying to bring debtors to parliament to carry out looting. Nahid also urged the Election Commission to ensure a fair and transparent election, warning against giving undue advantage to any party. “The commission must act impartially. We are still active on the ground and will not tolerate injustice.” Read more: Feb-12 polls must be fair, with no room for bias: Prof Yunus Calling the upcoming election more than just a contest between rivals, he appealed for a ‘Yes’ vote in the national referendum. “We must vote yes to reject discrimination, extortion, injustice, oppression, and authoritarianism. The fight against fascism and exploitation must continue.” Speaking on behalf of the 10-party alliance led by Jamaat, Nahid urged city residents to vote for the coalition’s candidates, adding, “Cast your vote at Dariapalla and Shapla Kali; ensure the victory of our 10-party alliance candidates.”

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday urged his party leaders, activists and voters to go to polling centres before Fajr prayers on the election-day to prevent any vote rigging. “Many people say voters should stand in line after Fajr prayers on the election-day. I say this time you should wake up earlier, offer Tahajjud prayers and then prepare to go to the polling centre,” he said. Addressing his party’s third election rally at Shayestaganj Upazila Parishad ground in Habiganj, the BNP chairman also said, “If needed, go to the polling centre early and offer Fajr prayers there in congregation before casting your votes.” Calling the upcoming election very important, he said only BNP can change the fate of the people, and for that, voters must cast their votes for the party. In an indirect reference to Jamaat-e-Islam, Tarique alleged that a political party is trying to steal the votes of expatriates. “They worked against the Liberation War. Everyone must remain alert and cautious about them.” Tarique said those who claim to establish honest rule do not need to be newly identified, as the people of the country recognised them during the Liberation War. The BNP Chairman also said Bangladesh belongs to its people, not to any individual or group. “This country is owned by the people. It is not anyone’s personal property. The thousands of people sitting in front of me are the real owners of this country. You have to decide how you want the country to be run, and you must give that decision through your vote,” he said. Earlier, the BNP chairman’s motorcade reached Shayestaganj shortly before Maghrib prayers. After arriving at the venue, Tarique Rahman went on stage and offered Maghrib prayers in congregation. Addressing the rally, Tarique alleged that even before the election, a political party has been collecting bKash account numbers and National Identity (NID) card details from men and women in rural areas. “But they claim they want to establish governance by honest people.” Tarique also said there has been no real voting or elections in the country over the last 15 years. “For the past 15 years, elections have been a mockery. People were not able to vote in so-called elections.” The BNP leader said many young people in the country have never been able to vote since reaching voting age. “We want people to be able to vote freely on February 12.” Tarique urged voters to elect candidates whom they can approach and speak to about local problems. Referring to development, the BNP chairman said no real progress was made in the region during the previous government’s tenure. “Just look at the condition of the highway to understand the situation. The condition of village roads must be even worse.” Tarique alleged that the country has been ruined over the last 15 years and that public money has been siphoned off abroad. “To save the country from widespread corruption, people must come forward. The people themselves must decide who will run the country in the coming days.” Outlining BNP’s plans, Tarique said if BNP comes to power, family cards would be introduced for poor rural households. He said BNP will provide technical training and send skilled workers abroad, introduce agriculture cards to help farmers get fertiliser and seeds, and launch crop insurance. The BNP chairman also said government honorariums will be introduced for imams, khatibs and muezzins. Earlier in the day, at around 1:00 pm, he formally began his election campaign at the Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground. After addressing a rally there, he travelled by road to Sherpur in Moulvibazar to speak at another gathering.  

The National Citizen Party (NCP) officially kicked off its election campaign on Thursday afternoon by paying respect at the graves of the Three National Leaders, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Khawaja Nazimuddin, and Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq, located near Doel Chattar of Dhaka University. Following this, party leaders visited the graves of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and Osman Hadi, situated adjacent to the Dhaka University Central Mosque. The event was attended by the NCP Convener Nahid Islam, as well as Nasir Uddin Patwari, a candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency. Speaking at the venue, Nahid Islam noted that Dhaka University was the starting point for the Language Movement, the Liberation War, and the mass uprising of 2024. Consequently, the NCP chose this historic site to begin its electoral journey. Ameer-e-Jamaat launches campaign for Dhaka-15 in Mirpur "We want the election to be held on February 12 at any cost," Nahid Islam stated. "Our sole agenda now is to win that election and represent the people in Parliament." He further alleged that the Election Commission (EC) is failing to maintain neutrality under the current government’s influence. "We have repeatedly pointed out that the Commission is not acting impartially. They are granting special privileges to a particular party. While that party has been campaigning for several days despite it being against the rules, the EC served us a show-cause notice for campaigning in favor of a referendum. We demand true neutrality, yet we are determined to move forward regardless of these obstacles." Nahid Islam emphasized that the NCP remains as steadfast regarding elections and referendums as it has been regarding reforms and justice. "We will do whatever is necessary to ensure a fair election on February 12. We expect the 10-party electoral alliance to win by a landslide and form the government," he added. He asserted that the general public is with them and that there is no alternative to a victory for the 10-party alliance to carry forward the spirit of the July uprising and the momentum of national reform. Urging the nation to support the alliance, he said, "We have 30 candidates across the country. I call upon the people to elect them under the 'Shaplakoli' symbol. In Parliament, the NCP and the 10-party alliance will be the voice of the common people, the mass uprising, national reform, and our country's sovereignty."

The Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, officially inaugurated his campaign for the 13th National Parliamentary Election on Thursday afternoon. The campaign kicked off with a massive public rally held at Adarsha High School in Mirpur-10, part of the Dhaka-15 (Mirpur-Kafrul) constituency. Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, the Jamaat chief signaled the start of a nationwide movement for the party. The atmosphere in Mirpur was electric from the morning, as thousands of supporters arrived in processions, carrying the party’s election symbol, the "Scale" (Daripalla). By midday, the venue and surrounding areas were packed to capacity, decorated extensively with banners and festoons, which are now legal for a limited period. The rally was attended by several prominent leaders of Jamaat and of parties in its alliance, including Nahid Islam, Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Engineer Rashed Pradhan, Vice President and Spokesperson of JAGPA, Advocate Ehsanul Mahboob Zubair, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, and Saiful Alam Khan Milon, Central Executive Council member and candidate for Dhaka-12. Also seen were some of the high profile Jamaat candidates from Dhaka, Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem (Dhaka-14), Colonel (Retd.) Abdul Baten (Dhaka-16), and Dr. SM Khaliduzzaman (Dhaka-17). The event was presided over by Abdur Rahman Musa, the seat coordinator and Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat's Dhaka North City unit, while former Chhatrashibir President Zahidul Islam moderated the session. Dr. Saif Khan, son of the late Abdul Hannan Khan, delivered the opening speech. Local leaders, including Abdul Matin Khan and Anwarul Karim, also addressed the crowd, emphasizing a festive yet determined start to their electoral journey.  

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday accused a political party of trying to mislead people, especially women, by selling ‘tickets-to-heaven’ in exchange for votes. “There is a political party whose role we saw 50 years ago. They are now going to the homes of innocent mothers and sisters and selling ‘tickets to Jannah’. This is not hypocrisy alone as it is outright shirk,” he said in an oblique reference to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He made the remarks while addressing his party’s second election rally at Ainpur playground in Sherpur area of Moulvibazar district on Thursday afternoon. The BNP chairman recalled that the Jamaat leaders killed many people in 1971 during the country’s Liberation War. “Now they are misleading many people again and dragging them towards shirk (in the name of a ticket to Jannah).” “Those who are deceiving people by hurting religious sentiments before the election—just think how they will deceive the people if they come to power,” he warned the voters. Stating that people are the main strength of his party, Tarique called upon the voters to vote for the party’s electoral symbol Sheaf of Paddy to restore democracy and bring change to people’s lives. “If we want to save the country, restore democracy and change people’s destiny through the election scheduled for the 12th of next month, then where should we cast our vote? We must vote for the Sheaf of Paddy,” he said. Referring to past sacrifices, the BNP leader said many people shed their blood and many others became victims of enforced disappearances for the right to vote and democracy. Tarique urges voters to back BNP, warns against vote fraud Calling on all citizens to work together for rebuilding the country, Tarique said BNP is committed to protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty. “We must reintroduce a democratic process and ensure people’s right to speak freely. Which party can guarantee this? Only the Sheaf of Paddy can,” he said. The BNP leader claimed that elections at different levels were held in a largely fair manner when BNP was in power. “People could speak freely, criticise the government and no one was subjected to enforced disappearance or killing,” he added. Tarique alleged that one political party handed over the country’s sovereignty in 1971, while another did the same over the last 16 years. “That is why voting for the Sheaf of Paddy is essential to save the country and change people’s fate.” He also briefly outlined his plans for the country’s future development during the speech. The rally was presided over by Moulvibazar district BNP President Naser Rahman. BNP candidates from different constituencies in the district also spoke at the programme. Earlier in the day, Tarique formally began his election campaign by addressing a rally at Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground. After Moulvibazar, he is scheduled to address rallies in Habiganj’s Shayestaganj, Brahmanbaria’s Sarail, Kishoreganj’s Bhairab, Narsingdi and Narayanganj’s Araihazar and Rupganj areas.

Independent candidate of Brahmanbaria-2 and expelled BNP leader Rumeen Farhana alleged on Thursday that she was forced to come to Dhaka on the first day of the electioneering, accusing the administration and police of bias. “Today I have come to the Election Commission with my written explanation. I was supposed to be in the field, but I was forced to come to Dhaka because I think the administration and the police are not as neutral as they should be,” she said after meeting three election commissioners at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. The Electoral Enquiry and Adjudication Committee on Monday last issued a show-cause notice to former MP Rumeen Farhana over alleged violations of the electoral code of conduct in Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, which includes Sarail and Ashuganj upazilas and two unions of Bijoynagar upazila. The notice accused her of obstructing judicial duties and allegedly threatening an executive magistrate and showing a thumb gesture at the magistrate during a mobile court operation. In the notice, Rumeen was asked to submit a written explanation by 2:00 pm on January 22. Responding to the allegation, Rumeen said she had already submitted her written reply to the inquiry committee. She further alleged that her supporters had been attacked, beaten and sent to hospitals, with some sustaining head injuries, while houses were vandalised and set on fire. “So far, no cases have been filed. “I have come to inform the Election Commission that as an independent candidate, I am to contest against major political parties (in the election),” she said. ‘Will Tell EU’ Rumeen also said she would brief European Union election observers about the situation later in the day. “I want to say very clearly that no political party should dare to play games or manipulate the election process in Bangladesh. People have struggled for 15 years for a fair election. Regardless of which party we belonged to, we fought from our respective positions. We will not allow another manipulated election in Bangladesh,” she said. Replying to a question, Rumeen said she would definitely remain in the election race and continue campaigning. “I want a fair and credible election. No matter what happens, I will stay in the race till the end,” she added, saying she would keep the media and observers informed regularly. The Election Commission on December 11 announced the schedule to hold the 13th parliament election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next. The election campaign began officially on Thursday after the Commission allocated electoral symbols on Wednesday to as many as 1,972 candidates contesting the upcoming election from 298 constituencies, excluding Pabna-1 and Pabna-2. The number of contesting candidates would rise further once contestants from Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 are added. Currently, there are nine valid candidates in the two constituencies. Altogether, the total number of candidates across the 300 constituencies stands at 1,981—comprising 1,732 candidates from 51 registered political parties and 249 independent candidates.

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday warned that collecting voters’ personal information and national identity card (NID) details in the name of electioneering is a punishable offence. “It has come to the Bangladesh Election Commission’s notice that some people are collecting voters’ personal data and National Identity (NID) under the guise of election campaigning. According to the National Identity Card Registration Act 2010, one cannot carry or transfer another's National Identity Card (NID)," said EC in a press release. The electioneering officially began on Thursday (January 22) ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum scheduled to be held simultaneously on February 12. Referring to provisions of the Parliamentary Election Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates Rules, 2025, the Commission said no political party, candidate or anyone on their behalf is allowed to offer or promise any donation, contribution or gift to any person, groups or institutions residing in the electoral area. “These activities are punishable offences under these rules. The Election Commission urges all citizens and organisations to refrain from such practices,” the EC said. Earlier, on January 13, a BNP delegation lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that a particular political party has been collecting voters’ NID details and mobile phone numbers across the country. Calling the move ‘suspicious and unprecedented’, BNP Central Election Steering Committee Chairman Nazrul Islam Khan said such activities could be aimed at creating fake voters or influencing voting behavior. Nazrul Islam said the collection of mobile financial service numbers could indicate the possibility of monetary transactions. The election campaign began officially on Thursday after the Commission allocated electoral symbols on Wednesday to as many as 1,972 candidates contesting the upcoming election from 298 constituencies, excluding Pabna-1 and Pabna-2. The number of contesting candidates would rise further once contestants from Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 are added. Currently, there are nine valid candidates in the two constituencies. Altogether, the total number of candidates across the 300 constituencies stands at 1,981—comprising 1,732 candidates from 51 registered political parties and 249 independent candidates. The Election Commission on December 11 announced the schedule to hold the 13th parliament election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next.