United News of Bangladesh

Independent candidate Atikul Alam Shawon has won the Cumilla-7 seat in the 13th national election by a wide margin. Shawon, contesting on the “Pitcher” symbol, received 90,819 votes, said Assistant Returning Officer and Chandina Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Ashraful Haque at 11:45pm on Thursday night. His closest rival, BNP-nominated candidate Dr. Redwan Ahmed, representing the “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol, obtained 47,925 votes. Other candidates included Maulana Solaiman Khan of Khelafat Majlish with 24,597 votes on the “Wall Clock” symbol, Maulana Ehteshamul Haq Qasemi of Islami Andolan Bangladesh with 14,080 votes on the “Hand Fan” symbol, and Sajol Kumar Kar of the Cultural Liberation Alliance with 259 votes on the “Stick” symbol. A total of 182,274 votes were cast in the constituency, representing 56.35 percent of the 329,166 registered voters. After 4,594 invalid votes, the number of valid votes stood at 177,680. The District Returning Officer, Mu. Reza Hasan, will announce the unofficial results of the elected MPs, including postal votes, on Friday.

In what is being hailed as the country's most significant democratic exercise in decades, Bangladesh is set to hold its 13th parliamentary election on Thursday. People are going to place their hopes on a fair and competitive election that could restore true democracy, choose the country’s leaders for the next five years and give them a strong public mandate to reform long-criticised systems. The voting will be held from 7:30am to 4:30pm without any break at 42,659 polling stations in 299 out of 300 constituencies across the country amid the presence of nearly one million security personnel and another one million polling staff.  The election to Sherpur-3 constituency was cancelled following the death of a contesting candidate. The voters would choose 299 public representatives out of 2,028 candidates on Thursday from 299 constituencies, including nominees of 50 political parties and independent contenders, in the 13th national election. In a brief televised address to the nation aired on Bangladesh Television (BTV), Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday called upon the nation to extend full cooperation and maintain a spirit of harmony to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election. A total of 127,298,522 voters (in 299 constituencies) are eligible to cast their ballots in Thursday’s elections. Of them, 64,620,077 are male voters, 62,677,232 are female voters and 1,213 are third-gender voters. The country has a total of 127,711,899 voters in 300 constituencies. Two major political parties – BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami— are in the electoral race seeking public mandate to govern the country for the next five years. But Awami League is not in the electoral race this time after 30 years as the party boycotted the 15th February election held in 1996. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to delivering a peaceful, credible and participatory election. “I wish to reaffirm the election commission's unwavering commitment to delivering a peaceful, credible and participatory election,” he said while briefing international election observers and foreign journalists in the city. The briefing was arranged at a city hotel on the eve of the Referendum 2026 and 13th Parliamentary Election to be held on Thursday (Feb 12). The CEC said transparency in the voting and counting process will be ensured. “Voters irrespective of gender, age or background are encouraged to participate freely,” he said. The CEC said ballots are issued only after proper identification and voting is conducted in secrecy in accordance with the prescribed rules. Any electoral dispute will be addressed strictly in accordance with established legal and constitutional procedures, he added. “Transparency remains a cornerstone of our election management,” he said, adding that approximately 330 international observers and more than 160 international journalists are independently covering the elections. Noting that special emphasis was placed on voter registration, he said, “Through a nationwide voter list update, approximately 4.5 million new voters have been enrolled, including 2.7 million women, bringing the total number of registered voters to over 127 million with a high level of data accuracy.” About the postal balloting system, Nasir Uddin said for the first time, the commission has introduced out of country voting through it supported postal ballots for Bangladesh diaspora voters. “Despite a limited preparation and outreach period, the response has been encouraging with approximately 0.8 million expatriate voters completing registration,” he said. At the same time, in-country postal voting has been undertaken for eligible categories of voters, he added. Explaining the polling process, he said the presiding officers assisted by assistant presiding officers and polling officers will manage polling operations and vote-counting at the polling stations in the presence of candidates or their authorized agents as well as accredited observers and journalists. After the close of polling, counting will be conducted at the polling stations under the supervision of the presiding officers, he said. “Results will be announced at the polling stations upon completion of counting and subsequently compiled and publicly declared by the returning officers,” Nasir Uddin said. Candidates A total of 50 political parties out of 59 registered ones are in the electoral race, while 2,028 candidates are contesting from 299 constituencies, including 1,755 nominated by political parties and 273 independent candidates. Of the contestants, only 81 are women, as some 30 political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, did not field a single female candidate in the polls. The highest number of candidates—291—are from BNP, while the party supports its electoral partners’ contenders in eight other constituencies. Jamaat candidates are running in 228 constituencies, while the party supports candidates nominated by its electoral allies in the remaining constituencies. Besides, 253 candidates are from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, 192 from Jatiya Party, 90 from Ganaodhikar Parishad and 32 from the youth-led newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP). Thursday’s elections will be unique with several new features. A referendum—the fourth in the country’s electoral history—is being held simultaneously with a national election for the first time. Besides, an IT-supported hybrid postal balloting system, combining digital registration and postal ballots, has been introduced alongside the manual balloting system for the first time in the country’s electoral history. Besides, the in-person voting period will be nine hours instead of eight hours, army personnel with magistracy power have been deployed on election duty, voter slips with candidate names or symbols can be distributed, and EC officials—three regional election officers—are acting as returning officers for the first time alongside 66 others, including Dhaka and Chattogram divisional commissioners and 64 district deputy commissioners. CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras and drones are also being used at polling stations to monitor the balloting on Thursday. Security Personnel Nearly 958,000 members of law enforcement agencies are on the electoral duty across all 299 constituencies and beyond. In addition, around 2,100 executive magistrates and 657 judicial magistrates are engaged on election duties to ensure the electoral code is maintained. The security personnel include 100,000 Army personnel, 5,000 Navy personnel, 3,730 Air Force members, 37,453 BGB personnel, 3,585 Coast Guard members, 187,603 police members, 9,349 RAB members and 570,000 Ansar and VDP members. The armed forces, BGB, Coast Guard, RAB, police, Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and Ansar Battalions work as mobile and striking forces to maintain peace and order in the election areas, while BGB, RAB, APBn and Ansar battalions operate on district, upazila and thana levels as well as the Coast Guard are in coastal areas. Outside the metropolitan areas, a team of 16–17 police and Ansar members are deployed at each normal polling station, while 17–18 personnel are at every vulnerable polling station. In metropolitan areas, 16 security personnel –police and ansar members-- are at a normal polling station and 17 personnel at each vulnerable polling station. In remote areas of 25 districts, a team of 16–18 police and Ansar members are at each polling station. Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Tuesday shared a statistics with journalists that from December 13 to date, law enforcement agencies have recovered around 850 weapons across the country. “The prima facie of bringing these arms, we believe, to be misused during the elections. He said, vested quarters want to carry out violence and they have not stopped their activities. But we’re aware of it.... here we can appreciate our law enforcement agencies for what they have done till now.” Sanaullah, however, said the EC is satisfied with the overall law and order situation so far, describing it as better than at any previous time, despite a few isolated incidents. “The Election Commission is satisfied with the law and order situation we have so far. It would have been better if the isolated incidents that have occurred had not happened. We are in a better situation than at any time in the past,” he said. Vehicle Movement The movement of five types of vehicles — motorcycles, trucks, microbuses, taxi-cab and motorcycles — will remain suspended on Election Day. Of these, movement of motorcycles would be restricted for midnight on February 10 until midnight on February 13,  Postal Voting, Observers, Journalists More than one million people, including half a million expatriates from more than 120 countries across the world, have already cast their votes through postal ballots. Regarding postal voting, as of Wednesday afternoon (3:40pm), 1138,192 voters cast votes including 526,376 expatriates through the postal ballots. Of them, 963,318 postal ballots have already reached the returning officers. The remaining ballots are currently in transit. If any postal ballot would not be reached by 4:30pm Thursday, the ballot won’t be counted. The people who already voted through the postal ballots also include 611,816 government employees working outside their constituencies, polling officials and prisoners. Polling Staff A total of 69 returning officers, 958 assistant returning officers, 43,078 presiding officers, 247,862 assistant presiding officers and more than half a million polling officers are engaged in election duties. In-person voting will be conducted at 42,659 polling stations, while counting of postal ballots will take place at 299 other stations. Altogether, there are 42,958 polling stations in 299 constituencies. Of the in-person polling stations, around 50 percent are treated as general centres, while the remaining 50 percent are being marked as vulnerable centres. The progress reports on polling will be shared at regular intervals, with results expected to be announced in phases. Counting of votes for both the parliamentary election and the referendum will begin simultaneously at the polling stations to avoid confusion or unrest. The EC expects most results are likely to be available by midnight, except for a few distant polling stations.    

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday called upon the nation to extend full cooperation and maintain a spirit of harmony to ensure a free, fair and peaceful 13th national election. In a brief televised address to the nation aired on Bangladesh Television (BTV) in the evening, the CEC described the upcoming polls as a ‘significant election in the history of Bangladesh’. “Casting a vote in this election is not only a civic right but also a responsibility,” he said, urging voters to exercise their franchise consciously and responsibly. Nasir called upon political parties, candidates and voters to act with restraint and uphold peace and mutual respect on polling day. No reason for voter turnout to dip below 60pc: Mahbub Ullah Terming the national election a democratic platform for the expression of differing views, he urged all to vote in a festive atmosphere and accept the results — victory or defeat — as the natural outcome of a democratic process. Appealing to voters, candidates, election officials, members of law enforcement agencies, journalists, election observers, service providers and all individuals involved, the CEC said, “Let us endure personal inconveniences and work together to make this great national undertaking a success. We want to hold a peaceful election.” He also urged voters to assist election officials, executive and judicial magistrates deployed in the field, and law enforcement agencies in addressing any untoward incidents. “With our collective efforts, we will be able to witness a beautiful, fair and peaceful election,” the CEC expressed hope. Polling centres receiving election materials as Bangladesh set for landmark election In his address, Nasir paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and the July 2024 martyrs, and wished speedy recovery to those injured in July 2024.

Two activists of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami died on Monday after reportedly suffering heart attacks while participating in separate political rallies in Lakshmipur on the final day of election campaigning. The incidents occurred during mass processions organised by BNP and Jamaat in support of their respective candidates contesting the Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) constituency. According to hospital and eyewitness sources, Abdus Sahid, a Jamaat activist, fell ill while heading to a Jamaat rally in the South Temuhani area of the town in the afternoon. He was rushed to Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Later in the evening, Obaidul Haque, a BNP activist, reportedly became ill while taking part in a BNP procession in the town. He was also taken to the same hospital and was declared dead by the attending physicians. Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital Residential Medical Officer Dr Arup Pal confirmed the deaths, saying both victims were brought to the hospital in critical condition after suffering heart attacks. Sahid was a resident of North Banchanagar area under Ward No 2 of Lakshmipur municipality. Obaidul Haque was the son of Abdul Munnaf and hailed from the same area. Earlier in the day, Jamaat leaders and activists brought out a procession seeking votes for the party-backed candidate Dr Muhammad Rezaul Karim, a member of Jamaat’s central working committee and the scale symbol candidate of the 11-party alliance in Lakshmipur-3. In the evening, BNP held a separate mass procession from the Adarsha Samad High School area, seeking votes for paddy sheaf candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Aney, joint secretary general of the party and BNP nominee in the constituency. Both rallies marched through the main roads of the town and concluded in the Jhumur area amid slogans in favour of their respective candidates.

Independent candidate for the Dhaka-9 constituency Dr Tasnim Jara has alleged that the Election Commission’s decision to ban mobile phones is effectively creating opportunities for irregularities in the electoral process. In a Facebook post on Monday afternoon, she wrote that the sudden decision to ban mobile phones within 400 yards of polling stations is unreasonable, anti-people and contrary to fair elections. She demanded the immediate withdrawal of the decision. Explaining why the decision is unacceptable, she pointed out several concerns: Public transport will be closed on election day, forcing voters to travel from far and wide on foot or by rickshaw. If voters arrive with mobile phones by mistake, they will be turned back from 400 yards away, making it impossible for them to return to the polling centre after leaving their phones. She described this as a strategy to discourage voter turnout. In the context of Bangladesh, mobile phones serve as a form of protection for ordinary citizens. In cases of irregularities or harassment near polling centres, phones are the only means to record videos or take photos. By banning phones, she alleged, the Commission is effectively creating opportunities for irregularities. She noted that the ban poses particular risks for women voters who come alone, as going out without mobile phones compromises their security. As a result, many women voters may refrain from voting due to safety concerns. Tasnim Jara promises ‘no service, no bill’ gas policy To protect the secrecy of the ballot, she argued, it would have been sufficient to ban the use of phones inside polling booths. A complete ban within a 400-yard radius, she said, is unnecessary. She also alleged that, under the pretext of checking phones, opportunities are being created to harass ordinary voters and polling agents. Taking such a decision without consultation just before the vote, she claimed, is deliberate. In the interest of a free and fair election, Dr Jara strongly demanded the immediate cancellation of the decision. “Give the voters the opportunity to vote without fear and without hindrance,” she said.

A group of women leaders on Sunday demanded that the Election Commission revoke the candidacy of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman for his ‘defamatory, hateful and misogynistic remarks against working women’ made from his verified X (formerly Twitter) account. The demand was raised during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. The delegation also submitted a memorandum from 11 women organisations to the CEC outlining four key demands including the cancellation of the Jamaat chief’s candidacy. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Ganatantrik Biplabi Party President Moshrefa Mishu said the recent comments made by Dr Shafiqur Rahman amounted to a gross insult to women and undermined their dignity, labour and contribution to society. “The recent derogatory, ugly and misogynistic comments made by Shafiqur Rahman about working women from his verified X account are not only an extreme insult to women but also a direct denial of the labour, honour and social role of the country's crores of working, self-respecting and contributing women,” she said. She said though the party concerned explained that the comment is as the result of ‘hacking’, this claim can’t be accepted for such remark published on a verified X account. No official statement, documentary evidence, or results of a transparent investigation have been made public on this matter, she added. EWA warns of rising election violence, code violations ahead of polls Referring to media reports, Moshrefa Mishu said a Bangabhaban staff was initially shown arrested in connection with the alleged hacking, but contradictory statements later emerged from law enforcement agencies. Subsequently, officials informed that no concrete evidence was found linking the detained person to the hacking incident, which intensified doubt on the hacking claim, she said. She said the working women in different sectors including garment industry have been making significant contributions to their families, society and the national economy through their hard works over the past several decades. “Making such statements in public that undermine working women goes directly against constitutionally guaranteed equality, human rights, women’s dignity and social justice,” she said. Mishu said that such remarks fuel hatred, discrimination and violence against women and pose serious threats to the safety, dignity and working environment of women workers. “Such irresponsible comments from someone holding a political leadership position are completely unacceptable,” she said. They in the memorandum placed a total of four demands that include immediate withdrawal of the derogatory remarks; an unconditional apology to working women; a clear commitment to refrain from making any future statements that demean women’s dignity and labour; and appropriate action by the Election Commission in line with its code of conduct and ethical standards including cancellation of the candidacy of the person. Nearly one million security personnel to guard Bangladesh elections Alongside Mishu, 10 other women and woman organisations are Dhaka University professor Samina Luthfa, Garments Sramik Mukti Andolan President Shabnam Hafiz, NPA spokesperson Ferdous Ara Rumi, organiser of the Women’s Political Rights Forum Nafisa Raihana, and women affairs secretary of Rastra Sangskar Andolan Zakiya Shishir, lawyer and rights activist Tabassum Mehenaj Mimi, president of Green Bangla Garments Workers Federation Sultana Begum, Central Member of Janobhashya Shamim Ara Nipa, Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee member Marjia Prova as well as Naripokkha.  

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque on Thursday said terrorism and corruption would be eliminated from Bangladesh’s politics through a “ballot revolution” in the February 12 elections. He made the remarks while addressing an election rally at the Azim Uddin High School ground in Kishoreganj town in the afternoon. “Some people who were rehabilitated through the July revolution have now gone mad in an attempt to bring back fascism to Bangladesh,” he said. Leaders, activists and supporters joined the public meeting in groups, bringing out processions from Kishoreganj Sadar and Hossainpur upazilas. Mamunul Haque calls for mass resistance against vote rigging Maulana Hedayatullah Hadi, the candidate nominated by the 11-party alliance and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis for the Kishoreganj-1 constituency, attended the rally as a special guest. The public meeting was held under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Mumin Sherjahan, president of the Kishoreganj Sadar upazila unit of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis.

Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan, a candidate of Gono Odhikar Parishad for Feni-2 constituency, staged a hunger strike on Thursday morning outside the office of the Returning Officer demanding the withdrawal of officials accused of administrative bias. He started the hunger strike at the main gate of the Returning Officer’s office around 8:30am accompanied by a small group of party workers. The protest caused a brief disruption when several Additional Deputy Commissioner vehicles were temporarily blocked at the main gate and had to take an alternate route to enter the office. During the protest, Tariqul alleged harassment and threats by Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Jasim Uddin. BGB seizes Indian smuggled goods worth over Tk 1 crore in Feni He claimed that the electoral code of conduct was being severely violated in the Feni-2 constituency yet no effective action was being taken. He also accused Sadar AC Jasim Uddin of mistreating him and issuing various threats while the Returning Officer allegedly failed to intervene. He further alleged that billboards and colorful campaign activities are being allowed in a one-sided manner in favour of a particular candidate. He warned that if Jasim Uddin is not withdrawn within eight hours he would be compelled to announce more stringent protest measures.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque on Monday called for mass resistance if any attempt is made to steal votes in the national election. “The days of capturing polling centres and snatching ballot papers with goons are over. If anyone tries to change the people’s verdict, strict resistance must be built against them,” he said while addressing an election rally at Eidgaon Maidan in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district. Vote for Jamaat to build a Bangladesh free of corruption, drugs and extortion: Shafiqur Rahman Mamunul Haque said that 11 parties have united not for personal or alliance-based political gains, but to realise the dream of July. He said the people of the country will no longer allow their fate to be sold to a handful of corrupt individuals by becoming hostages to black money holders and terrorists. Noting that the dream of justice and fairness for the people of independent Bangladesh has yet to be fulfilled, he said the nation has witnessed exploitation and betrayal of public trust over the past 54 years in the name of governance. Mamunul Haque, candidate of the 11-party alliance from the Dhaka-13 constituency, urged voters to seal the ‘Yes’ box in the referendum to implement the July Uprising, honour the blood of the martyrs, and pay due respect to the freedom fighters. Bangladeshi expats cast 458,000 postal votes ahead of Feb-12 polls Maulana Md Mizanur Rahman Mollah, a candidate for the Faridpur-4 constituency, along with leaders, activists and supporters from various levels, were present at the election rally, which was chaired by Maulana Amjad Hossain, president of the organisation’s Faridpur district unit.

Jamaat-e-Islami activists allegedly attacked and vandalised a BNP election campaign office in Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur on Saturday evening. The incident took place at the BNP campaign office in Dolardarga area of Putimari Union under Dinajpur-6 constituency, which includes Birampur, Nawabganj, Ghoraghat and Hakimpur. Witnesses said Jamaat supporters broke chairs and tables and tore down banners at the BNP office. Two BNP activists present at the office were also assaulted during the attack. Nure Alam Siddiqui, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Nawabganj Police Station, said earlier in the afternoon, BNP activists loyal to BNP Standing Committee member and MP candidate Dr AZM Zahid Hossain brought out a campaign procession in support of the sheaf of paddy symbol. He said after Maghrib prayers, Jamaat candidate Anwarul Islam’s supporters started a roadside campaign meeting near the BNP office. An argument broke out over the use and volume of microphones during the campaign. At one stage, Jamaat activists allegedly assaulted two BNP workers and vandalised the BNP campaign office, the OC added. Assistant Returning Officer and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Zillur Rahman said members of the army, BGB, police and Ansar were deployed in the area to deal with any further untoward situation.