Alliance leaders believe youth participation could be a decisive factor. Jamaat and NCP leaders argue that this demographic shift has created momentum in their favor. While analysts caution against directly translating campus results into national outcomes, alliance leaders interpret these trends as signs of organizational strength and youth engagement. Party leaders now say they are aiming for their strongest performance yet. Alliance leaders, however, argue that grassroots engagement and voter enthusiasm observed during rallies and local campaigns are more reliable indicators than polling data.

Begum Rokeya Hossain and her short story, Sultana’s Dream, stands as an early example. Someone like her, remarkably ahead of her time, as effective as she was aspirational, helped make the dream of Bangladesh a reality. But take a quick glance at Sultana’s Dream today; over 100 years after it was written, it still reads as distant fiction. What I do know is, when my mom excitedly references Sultana’s Dream, I see in her eye the sparkle of hope and the stature of pride that, to me, defines Bangladesh. And when I do, I’ll thank her for getting me one step closer to Sultana’s dream.

If the election is free and fair, the BNP will win by a large margin and form the government. We are 100% optimistic about victory.”Senior party leaders have expressed hope that the BNP could secure up to two-thirds of the 300 parliamentary seats, which they say would mark “a new beginning” for the country. Party leaders further claim that many citizens who had been unable to exercise their voting rights in previous elections are determined to participate this time. The BNP says young voters, first-time voters and members of the middle class are showing strong support for the party and could play a decisive role in the outcome. With polling underway on Thursday, the BNP leadership says it remains hopeful that the electorate will translate what it describes as widespread enthusiasm into a clear mandate at the ballot box.

DHAKA, Feb 11, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) today warned that any attempt to obstruct voters' movement to polling centres, interfere with voting, or engage in fraudulent voting will be treated as punishable offences. The warning was issued in a statement signed by EC Secretariat Director (Public Relations) M. Ruhul Amin Mallik. According to the statement, strict legal action will be taken against anyone found involved in such activities. The 13th National Parliamentary Elections and referendum will be held jointly tomorrow in 299 constituencies across the country. Voting will take place from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm using ballot papers and transparent ballot boxes.

MIL, OFK Jabalpur draw global attention at WDS 2026By Ashish RajputJabalpur :Defence ammunition exhibited by OFK Jabalpur includes 30 mm BMP Ammunition, Air Bombs, 84 mm Ammunition, Multimode Hand Grenades, Artillery Fuzes and other critical productsDEFENCE ammunition manufactured at Ordnance Factory Khamaria (OFK), Jabalpur has emerged as a major attraction for global defence manufacturers and representatives from various countries at the World Defence Show (WDS) 2026 held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Under the banner of Munitions India Limited (MIL), OFK Jabalpur showcased its advanced and indigenous defence products at the India Pavilion, which has been set up for the first time at this prestigious international defence exhibition. The defence ammunition exhibited by OFK Jabalpur includes 30 mm BMP Ammunition, Air Bombs, 84 mm Ammunition, Multimode Hand Grenades, Artillery Fuzes and other critical products. Munitions India Limited (MIL) is a Defence Public Sector Enterprise functioning under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The strong response to OFK Jabalpur’s products highlights India’s rising stature as a reliable and competitive player in the global defence sector.

Hindu trader hacked to deathinside his shop in BangladeshDHAKA :A 62-YEAR-OLD Hindu trader was hacked to death by unidentified men inside his shop in Trishal Upazila of Mymensingh in Bangladesh, a local media report said on Tuesday. The incident took place on Monday night at the Bogar Bazar intersection in the Upazila, Trishal Police Station chief Muhammad Firoz Hossain was quoted as saying by news portal bdnews24.Com. Hossain said the attackers hacked Sarkar with a sharp weapon, left him inside the shop, and closed the shutters. Sarkar’s family was searching for him, and when they opened the shutters to the shop, he was found covered in blood. The Hindu population in Bangladesh has been affected by a series of incidents after the killing of radical youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in December.

Presiding officers, accompanied by police and Ansar members, transported the materials to polling stations under strict security. There are 782 polling stations with a total of 2,329,592 registered voters. Security at polling stations has been strengthened, he added, noting that for the first time, presiding officers will have armed bodyguards. Another 109 important centers will have online body-worn cameras, which will function like CCTV systems and can be monitored from a central control room. Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Saiful Islam said voting will take place in all 782 centers across the district.

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Feb 11, 2026 (BSS) - A delegation of the Chinese Election Observation Mission today met Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at the party's Bashundhara office in the capital. The meeting, held at 11:00 am, took place in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, said a press release. The four-member delegation was led by Chinese diplomat Chen Wei. During the meeting, the Chinese representatives expressed hope that the government and people of Bangladesh would be able to hold the February 12 national election in a free and orderly manner. Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and Central Publicity and Media Department Chief Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, member of the National Election Steering Committee Barrister Saif Uddin Khaled, and Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Jamaat Ameer Professor Dr. Mahmudul Hasan were present at the meeting.

DHAKA, Feb 11, 2026 (BSS) - About 9,58,000 personnel of law enforcement agencies have been deployed across the country on the occasion of the 13th national parliamentary elections and referendum. Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said 2,098 executive magistrates and 657 judicial magistrates will be on duty in the election field. According to the EC, among the law enforcement agencies, 103,000 troops of the army, 3,500 personnel of the air force and 5,000 members of the navy will be deployed. About 37,453 personnel of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be deployed too. A total of 1,922 members of Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) will remain on the field on the election day.

Russia will take measures, 'including military ones', if Greenland militarised: FMMOSCOW, Feb 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Russia threatened to take military "countermeasures" if the West boosts its own military footprint on Greenland, Moscow's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday. "Of course, in the event of the militarisation of Greenland and the creation of military capabilities aimed at Russia, we will take adequate counter-measures, including military-technical ones," Lavrov said in a speech to Russian lawmakers. Trump last month backed off threats to seize Greenland after saying he had struck a "framework" deal with NATO chief Mark Rutte to ensure greater US influence. He had previously been warning that if the United States did not seize Greenland, Russia or China could. "The US, Denmark and Greenland must sort this out themselves," Lavrov said.

CA to cast vote at Gulshan Model School and College tomorrowChief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. File PhotoDHAKA, Feb 11, 2026 (BSS)- Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will cast his vote at Gulshan Model School and College polling centre in the city at 10:00 am tomorrow. Prof. Yunus will cast vote in the 13th Parliamentary Election and the Referendum on the July National Charter, said Chief Adviser's Press Wing this afternoon.

WASHINGTON, United States, Feb 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The top US aviation agency said Tuesday it is stopping all flights to and from El Paso International Airport in Texas for 10 days over unspecified "security reasons." The flight restrictions are in effect from 11:30 pm on Tuesday (0630 GMT Wednesday) until February 20 for the airspace over El Paso and an area in neighboring New Mexico's south, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). "No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas" covered by the restrictions, the FAA said in a notice, citing "special security reasons" without elaborating. El Paso International Airport in a social media post said all flights, "including commercial, cargo and general aviation," would be impacted by the move. The airport, which is served by major US airlines like Delta, American and United, encouraged travelers to "contact their airlines to get most up-to-date flight status information."

DHAKA, Feb 11, 2026 (BSS) - About 8 lakh officials will be engaged in election duty in the 13th national parliamentary elections and referendum to be held tomorrow. According to the Election Commission (EC), there will be a total of 69 returning officers and 598 assistant returning officers will remain on duty in the polls. Voting will take place at 42,779 polling centres nationwide. Among the officials to be involved in the election, there will be 42,779 presiding officers, 2,47,482 assistant presiding officers and 4,94,964 polling officers. In total, 7,85,225 officials will be engaged in election duty.

TORONTO, Canada, Feb 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney is suspending his planned trip to the Munich Security Conference following Tuesday's mass shooting in a remote western community, his office said. "Following the tragic news out of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, the Prime Minister will be... suspending his planned travel out of the country for the time being," the prime minister's office told AFP. Carney had previously announced plans to be in Munich from Wednesday to Sunday. Nine people were killed in the British Columbia shooting, including seven who were shot at a school.

File PhotoDHAKA, Feb 11, 2026 (BSS) – Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today called upon voters of all classes and professions of the country to exercise their respective voting rights consciously in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Polls and Referendum. “All of you should exercise your respective voting rights consciously . “, he said in a message this afternoon ahead of the ‘13th Jatiya Sangsad Election and Referendum-2026’ slated for tomorrow. “We must especially remember that it is for the first time where huge young voters are getting the opportunity to exercise their constitutional voting rights. Mentioning that a free, fair, impartial and acceptable election is the foundation of a democratic state, he said the present interim government is fully committed to achieving this goal ultimately.