Photo: BSSCHATTOGRAM, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman will address three major public rallies in Chattogram tomorrow as part of his election tour ahead of the 13th national parliamentary elections, party sources said. Dr Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to speak in support of the 'Scales' symbol at rallies at 11:00 am in Padua, Lohagara of South Chattogram, at 2:00 pm in Sitakunda of North Chattogram and at 6:30 pm at the Bandar School and College ground in Chattogram city. According to Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and Chattogram Division Chief Mohammad Shahjahan, an estimated 15 to 20 lakh people are expected to attend the three rallies combined. Ahead of the Chattogram programme, Dr Shafiqur Rahman will also attend public meetings of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance in Maheshkhali and Baharchhara areas of Cox's Bazar. Jamaat Chattogram City Assistant Secretary Mohammad Ullah said all preparations for the city rally at Bandar School and College ground have been completed and leaders and activists of the 11-party alliance will attend the event.

For the first time in 39 years, the National Poetry Festival was held at the Shaheed Minar instead of Dhaka University's Hakim Chattar. Dhaka University is the heart of Bengali culture, a birthplace of secularism and democracy, behind which the Dhaka University Central Students' Union, or Ducsu has played a major role." As a result, for the first time today, we're having to hold at the Shaheed Minar the festival we've been organizing within the Dhaka University area for 40 years." National Poetry Festival 2026After the opening ceremony at National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's tomb, poets took out a colorful procession that wound through TSC before culminating at the Central Shaheed Minar. This year's National Poetry Festival is being held with this challenge in mind."

Following the mass uprising of July 2024, the interim government announced a reform agenda that placed the banking sector at its core. So far, the interim government has issued only two ordinances related to the banking sector: the Bank Resolution Ordinance, and the Deposit Insurance Ordinance. Officials of Bangladesh Bank privately and publicly acknowledge that, without the necessary legislation, central bank independence remains largely nominal. A draft amendment to the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972 was sent to the Ministry of Finance nearly four months ago. Bangladesh Bank argues that without these measures, it will be impossible to curb non-performing loans, internal misappropriation, and the dominance of powerful owners.

Reading time: about 4 minutesCornellians for Israel, a pro-Israel organization, is set to host former Israeli Defense Force soldier Sam Fried on Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. as a guest speaker. Fried served as a lone soldier, the term for an IDF soldier without family in Israel, typically international volunteers, orphans or people from estranged families. Zoe Reisman ’29, Cornell Young Democratic Socialists of America chairperson, takes issue with Cornell’s approach to freedom of speech. However, the investigation closed in December 2025 and Cornell was not found in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Everett Chambala Everett Chambala is a member of the Class of 2027 in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

It’s a passing phase for just a few hours, a little space to reset should be the solution. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A partner could need a counterbalance for a few hours today to get back into a more stable place; you should be able to offer that today. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be an informed consumer of health services as with any other service. This not-quite two-month period represents your window of biggest challenges for 2026, get through this period and 2026 has lots of gifts on tap. 2026 is lining up to be a great year for you after the early hiccups.

File photoDHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has urged all election officials not to respond to fraudulent phone calls. "It has recently been noticed that a fraud group is attempting to collect bKash numbers from officials engaged in election duties by falsely claiming that election-time honorariums will be provided. The fraudsters are making deceptive phone calls using the numbers 01342046232 and 01612677074," said a press release issued by the EC today. It further said that after the completion of voting in the upcoming referendum and national parliamentary elections, election-time honorariums will be paid in accordance with the rules to all officials assigned to respective polling centers through the Presiding Officers. "There is no need to contact any individual or institution for this purpose," the release said, adding, the EC has, therefore, specially requested all officials involved in election duties not to respond to any phone calls from such fraud rings.

Banks to remain closed on 11-12 February for electionPhoto: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - All scheduled banks will remain closed on 11 and 12 February on the occasion of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. Bangladesh Bank(BB) today issued a circular to this end. The circular stated that in line with a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on 25 January, government holidays have been declared on 11 and 12 February in observance of the election and referendum. Accordingly, all scheduled banks operating in Bangladesh will remain closed on those two days, it added. Bangladesh Bank issued this directive under the Bank Company Act.

BAGERHAT, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - An election rally in support of the 'Daripalla' (the Scales) symbol was held by the 11-party alliance this afternoon in the Mandra Badokhali area of Bishnupur Union, Bagerhat Sadar Upazila. The rally was presided over by Bishnupur Union Jamaat-e-Islami President Saidur Rahman. He urged voters to support the "scales" symbol for justice-based politics. Sheikh Mohammad Yunus, Bagerhat District Secretary of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, spoke as a special guest, praising Sheikh Rahat as an honest and capable candidate. Speakers said that the victory of the "scales" symbol in the upcoming election would help secure people's rights and establish justice in the region.

Photo: BSSCHATTOGRAM, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - Director General of the Department of Mass Communication Md Abdul Jalil today urged citizens to vote spontaneously in national elections to truly realise their ownership of the country, saying the people are the ultimate custodians of the state. Abdul Jalil emphasised that exercising the right to vote is essential to understanding and establishing people's ownership of the country. The Director General assured that this year's election would be held in a festive, peaceful and orderly environment. Among others, Director of the Department of Mass Communication Mir Md Aslam Uddin and Director of the District-Level Modern Information Complex Establishment Project Md Moniruzzaman addressed the meeting. Women voters also took part actively, exchanging views with the Director General on various aspects of voting and electoral conduct.

Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma-File PhotoRANGAMATI, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma today said the main goal of the interim government is to provide socioeconomic development to the CHT residents, ensure quality education and create a beautiful and peaceful environment for all. In his speech, he laid special emphasis on the modernisation of the education system of the CHT. This quality education system will be introduced in 150 more schools in remote areas very soon, Supradip said. Calling for maintaining peace and stability, Supradip said, "The majority of the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts are not in favour of conflict, we are in favour of peace. Government officials and representatives from various levels of Rangamati district were present in the meeting with Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi in the chair.

DHAKA, Feb 1, 2025 (BSS) - The Election Commission has imposed restrictions on the movement of taxi cabs, pickups, microbuses and trucks from 12:00 midnight on 11 February to 12:00 midnight on 12 February, the day when the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum will be held. At the same time, a ban has been imposed on the movement of motorcycles from 12:00 midnight on 10 February to midnight on 13 February, a handout said. In addition, the concerned District Magistrate and Metropolitan Police Commissioner have been empowered to impose or relax restrictions on vehicles other than the aforementioned vehicles on the occasion of the 13th national election and referendum, as per the specified schedule. This information was revealed today through a notification, signed by Al-Amin Md. Nurul Islam, Deputy Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Department.

Monir Haider delivered the keynote address at a discussion meeting at the auditorium of the Faculty of Sociology of Chittagong University on Sunday. Photo: BSSCHATTOGRAM, Feb 1, 2026 (BSS) - Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Monir Haider today said the primary objective of the upcoming referendum on reforms is to eliminate the conditions that allow future coups to take root in the country. Monir Haider said the referendum scheduled for February 12 is not a hasty decision but the outcome of a careful and well-considered process. On presidential powers, Monir Haider questioned the actual role of the president, noting that key functions such as judicial appointments are effectively carried out by the prime minister. Monir Haider stressed the need to reform the Election Commission, saying the existing system grants excessive power to the prime minister in its formation.

India on Friday firmly rejected any insinuation of wrongdoing after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name appeared in a reference contained in newly released files from the United States Department of Justice related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Modi’s 2017 trip was historic, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel since the two countries established full diplomatic relations in 1992, reports NDTV. The disclosures are being made under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed following sustained political and public pressure. The law mandates the release of government records not only on Epstein but also on his longtime associate and former partner Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein was found dead in a New York jail in August 2019, about a month after being charged with federal sex trafficking offences.

The Appellate Division on Sunday rejected a writ petition filed by BNP-nominated candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, upholding the Election Commission’s decision to cancel his candidacy for the Comilla-4 constituency over allegations of loan default. The bench, headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, dismissed Munshi’s leave-to-appeal petition, thereby affirming an earlier High Court verdict that declared his nomination invalid. Munshi later challenged the decision in the High Court, but his writ petition was rejected on January 21, reports UNB. Meanwhile, the Appellate Division agreed to hear a leave-to-appeal petition filed by BNP candidate Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan of Comilla-10 and allowed him to contest the election pending disposal of the appeal. However, a separate appeal filed by BNP candidate Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan was dismissed, barring him from the polls.

The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday urged officials involved in election-related activities not to respond to phone calls from fraudsters. The EC said it has recently been observed that fraudsters are attempting to collect bKash numbers from election officials by promising election-related honorariums. Fraudulent calls are being made using the phone numbers 01342046232 and 01612677074, according to a PID handout. The commission said election-related honorariums will be provided to all officials at their respective centres through presiding officers after the voting in the upcoming referendum and national elections, in line with existing rules. “There is no need to contact any person or organisation for receiving honorariums,” the EC said, urging all officials assigned to the elections to remain vigilant and avoid responding to such calls.