Election Commission Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed spoke today at the inauguration of the ‘Media Centre’ for foreign journalists at the Intercontinental Hotel in the capital. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS) - Election Commission Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed today said the Election Commission has completed all preparations for the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election and Referendum with the reach of ballot papers in 299 constituencies across the country. He said this at the inauguration of the ‘Media Centre’ for foreign journalists at the Intercontinental Hotel here. The EC Secretary said, except for Sherpur-3, all the ballot papers and election materials of the 299 constituencies of the country have been sent. The ballot papers are being sent from the office of the Returning Officer to the Assistant Returning Officer and officers to the designated places.

A widely debated reform is underway based on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform), which will be implemented if the upcoming referendum is passed. According to a recent survey, 77.2 percent of respondents do not know what is included in the July Charter, while only 37.2 percent are aware of its contents. A press conference was held on Tuesday at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon in the capital Tribune to present the results of the survey. A recent national survey reveals that just 37.2% of respondents say they know the contents of the July Charter, highlighting widespread uncertainty. A recent survey has revealed a weak understanding of key reform issues among the public.

DHAKA, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS)—The International Cricket Council reaffirmed Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) position as a valued full member after a dialogue on Monday. “The discussions covered several issues, including -- but not limited to -- the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the broader outlook for cricket in South Asia,” the ICC said in a press release. Bangladesh skipped the ongoing T20 World Cup due to security concerns in India. “It is agreed that no financial, sporting or administrative penalty will be imposed on Bangladesh Cricket Board in relation to the current matter. The ICC also gave Bangladesh a right to host an ICC event prior to the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2031.

“The present food grain stock has exceeded the target of country’s safe food grain stock and it is a unique success in the food security of the country,” he said while speaking at a press briefing at the food ministry here. Majumder said, “Our safe food stock target is 13.5 lakh tonnes while country’s government food warehouses currently hold more than 22.1 lakh tonnes of food grains. According to the report, country’s rice stock till February 10 was over 18.76 lakh tonnes, over 3.22 lakh tonnes wheat and over 1.07 lakh tonnes paddy. Country’s food grain stock in 2021 was only 6.69 lakh tonnes, over 20.09 lakh tonnes were in 2022 while 20.26 lakh tonnes in 2023. But the food grain stock declined to 16.84 lakh tonnes and 13.76 lakh tonnes in 2024 and 2025.

Hindu trader hacked to death inside his shop in Bangladesh days before elections 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. Dhaka:Just three days before the elections, a 62-year-old Hindu trader was hacked to death by unidentified assailants inside his shop in Trishal upazila of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh, according to local media reports on Tuesday. Family found him lying in a pool of bloodHossain said Sarkar was attacked with a sharp weapon inside his shop. Atrocities against minorities in BangladeshThe killing is the latest in a series of violent incidents affecting Bangladesh's minority Hindu community. Last month, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council claimed that communal violence had increased sharply as the country heads toward parliamentary elections.

What are recent patterns in violence against Hindus in Bangladesh? – There has been a notable surge in violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, especially following the July uprising of 2024. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documented 51 incidents of communal violence in December alone, reflecting a critical situation for minority communities. How has the political situation affected minority safety? + The political turmoil in Bangladesh, especially following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024, has exacerbated violence against minorities, particularly Hindus.

A magnitude-4 earthquake was felt in Sylhet on Tuesday (February 10) at around 5:32pm. No damage or casualties were reported immediately. The information was confirmed in a press release issued by the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. According to the release, signed by Assistant Meteorologist Farzana Sultana, the earthquake occurred at 5:32:32pm. Its epicentre was in Gowainghat of Sylhet.

Bangladesh violence news: The incident took place on Monday night at the Bogar Bazar intersection in the Upazila. (AI-generated image)Bangladesh minority violence: Susen Chandra Sarkar, a 62-year-old Hindu trader, was reportedly hacked to death by unidentified men inside his shop in Trishal upazila of Mymensingh in Bangladesh. Trishal Police Station chief Muhammad Firoz Hossain said the incident took place on Monday night at the Bogar Bazar intersection in the Upazila, news portal bdnews24.com reported. 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 results of the 50th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) preliminary test were published on Tuesday. Some 12,385 candidates have qualified to participate in the written examination, according to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC). According to PSC sources, a total of 290,951 candidates applied for the 50th BCS examination. Through the recruitment process, 2,150 candidates will be appointed to cadre and non-cadre posts. Of the 1,755 cadre posts, up to 650 are allocated for the health cadre, 200 for the administration cadre and 117 for the police cadre.

Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS) - During the nationwide vote awareness campaign for the upcoming polls and the referendum, ordinary citizens from across the country have directly shared their thoughts, hopes, criticisms, and emotions with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus through a unique initiative titled the "Public Opinion Box". A total of 40,206 people submitted written comments on small pieces of paper, expressing a wide range of personal, social, and national concerns. Some citizens shared personal grief and hardship, while others demanded harassment-free public services, reform of state institutions, justice for the July killings, gender equality, child safety, improved education, and a corruption-free, dominance-free Bangladesh. Alongside praise and constructive suggestions, some messages also included criticism of the government and expressions of anger or personal attacks. The vote campaign vehicles titled "Vote'r Gari" conducted outreach activities at approximately 2,169 locations, covering union, upazila, and district headquarters as well as remote and hard-to-reach areas across the country.

Netanyahu says will discuss 'first and foremost' Iran with Trump on US visitIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: CollectedJERUSALEM, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuon Tuesday said he would prioritise discussions on negotiations with Iranwhen he meets with US President Donald Trump in Washington this week. "On this trip we will discuss a range of issues: Gaza, the region, but ofcourse first and foremost the negotiations with Iran. I will present to thePresident our views regarding the principles for the negotiations," Netanyahusaid before heading to the United States, where he will meet Trump onWednesday. Their meeting comes days after arch-foes Iran and the United States heldtalks in Oman last week, after which Trump said another round of negotiationswould follow.

UN force to withdraw most troops from Lebanon by mid 2027BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The United Nations Interim Force inLebanon plans to withdraw most of its troops by mid 2027, its spokespersontold AFP on Tuesday, after the peacekeepers' mandate expires this year. After UNIFIL operations cease on December 31 this year, she said, "we beginthe process of sending UNIFIL personnel and equipment home and transferringour UN positions to the Lebanese authorities". During the withdrawal, the force will only be authorised to perform limitedtasks such as protecting UN personnel and bases and overseeing a safedeparture. Ardiel said UNIFIL had reduced the number of peacekeepers in south Lebanon byalmost 2,000 in recent months, "with a couple hundred more set to leave byMay". French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in Beirut this month thatLebanon's army should replace the force when the peacekeepers withdraw.

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EC data showed that of the total voters, 6,48,25,154 are male and 6,28,85,525 female, while 1,220 belong to the third gender. Among the constituencies, the lowest number of voters is in Jhalakathi-1 with 228,431 voters, while Gazipur-2 has the highest with 804,333 voters. The total number of candidates is 2,034, including 275 independent contestants. EC sources said the BNP has fielded the highest number of candidates with 291 contestants contesting under the Sheaf of Paddy symbol. Besides, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has fielded 229 candidates under the Daripalla (Scale) symbol, Jatiya Party 198 under the Plough symbol and Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) 32 under the Water Lily Bud symbol.

A state law that took effect just after the presidential election in November 2024 requires new registrants in the state to provide hard-copy proof of their citizenship with no exceptions. On Monday, Zink took the stand as the plaintiffs’ first witness as they seek to prove the law unlawfully burdens the right to vote for people without easy access to citizenship documents. If it stays law, HB 1569 will face its biggest tests during New Hampshire’s primary elections in September and general midterm elections in November. Denney also argued that most New Hampshire residents already have easy access to the required citizenship documents. The plaintiffs argue the attempted workarounds will not stop a basic reality: Some voters do not possess citizenship documents and will not be able to obtain those documents in time to vote.