BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday accused Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami of deceiving voters through what he called unethical and dangerous practices, warning that those willing to manipulate people before an election could “sell the country” if handed power. Sounding the alarm at an election rally in Tangail, Tarique said shadowy efforts were underway to undermine the democratic process even before polling day. “I want to warn everyone that some quarters are still trying to obstruct the election in different ways,” he said. “Their people are going door to door—especially targeting mothers and sisters—collecting National ID and bKash numbers to confuse and mislead them.” The BNP leader urged voters to remain vigilant and to alert family members, neighbours and community elders if they encounter such activities. “Anyone who resorts to these unethical acts before an election must be stopped,” he said. “Those who can deceive people before voting will not hesitate to sell the country if they get the chance to rule.” Calling the days ahead decisive for the nation’s future, Tarique said the coming election represents a turning point for rebuilding the country and restoring people’s rights. “The next days are about nation-building, about changing lives, about a new beginning,” he said. “If we stay united and alert, no one will be able to snatch away our rights—Inshallah.” He also urged voters to prepare in advance for election day, warning against attempts at impersonation and fraudulent voting. “Go to the polling centres early so no one can cast a vote in your name,” he said, calling on party supporters to closely monitor polling stations to ensure that only genuine voters are able to cast their ballots. Tarique stressed that vigilance at polling centres would be crucial to prevent voters from outside constituencies using false identities. During the rally, he introduced BNP candidates from Tangail, including Swapan Fakir, Abdus Salam Pintu, Obaidur Haque Nasir, Lutfur Rahman Motin, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Rabiul Alam Lablu, Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui and Ahmed Azam Khan, urging voters to ensure their victory. Turning to development, Tarique said Tangail holds immense economic and cultural potential if governed with proper planning. He highlighted the global appeal of Tangail sarees, prayer caps and agricultural products. “With the right planning, Tangail sarees can be exported worldwide just like garments,” he said, noting that prayer caps made in the district are already shipped to many countries. He said targeted investment could create large-scale employment, transform Tangail into an industrial hub, revive jute mills, establish fruit-processing factories and build a barrage on the Jamuna River. “If we work together with vision and planning, we can change not only Tangail but the entire country,” Tarique said. “But for that, the true owners of the country—the people—must stand with BNP. If you move BNP forward, then, Inshallah, we will gradually change the fate of this nation.” The rally was chaired by district BNP president Hasanuzzaman Shahin and conducted by former acting general secretary Mahmudul Haque Sabu. Several central BNP leaders also spoke at the event. As part of his election campaign in the northern region, Tarique addressed election rallies in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Bogura, Rangpur and Sirajganj and Tangail over just two days. With the rally in Tangail, the BNP chairman concluded his electioneering in the northern region and left for Dhaka around 6:30pm.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday said the party will show a ‘red card’ against corruption, extortion, terrorism, dynastic politics, and bank robbers in the upcoming elections. “Irregularities and injustices will no longer be accepted in politics,” he said while addressing an election rally organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka District at Shakta Government High School ground in Keraniganj. Shafiqur Rahman sharply criticized past rulers, claiming they exploited the people and did not love the country. He said the nation had been turned into a “crematorium” through disappearances, murders, and a culture of impunity. “Now is the time to take a decision. We must build a safe and just Bangladesh through the implementation of the July Charter,” he added. He pledged that if Jamaat-e-Islami comes to power, Keraniganj will be transformed into a model township, upgraded to a first-class municipality, and brought under planned, modern urbanization. He also promised special attention to improving education, health, communication, and citizen services. Regarding the upcoming referendum, Shafiqur Rahman urged citizens to vote ‘yes’ on February 12 to further consolidate the country’s independence and sovereignty. NCP Convener Md Naid Islam attended the event as a special guest.

At least 92 militants were killed on Saturday battling Pakistan's security forces in multiple cities across the southwestern province of Balochistan, four security officials told Reuters. Pakistan's military said in a statement sent by text message that 15 security personnel were also killed during clearance operations, while militants targeted civilians in several areas, killing at least 18 people, including women and children. The attacks were carried out a day after Pakistan's military said it killed 41 militants in separate raids in Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and has faced a decades-long separatist insurgency. The banned separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for Saturday's attacks, saying it had launched them simultaneously across the province. The BLA said it had killed 84 Pakistani security personnel, and that the ongoing operation had continued for 15 hours. The military's media wing, ISPR, said the attacks were carried out by Indian-sponsored militants and that security forces had thwarted attempts to seize control of any city or strategic installation. "Intelligence reports have unequivocally confirmed that the attacks were orchestrated and directed by terrorist ringleaders operating from outside Pakistan, who were in direct communication with the terrorists throughout the incident," the statement said. It said the attacks were launched across Quetta, Mastung, Noshki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni. Pakistan's interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned the attacks and praised security forces for repelling them, saying in a statement that they had killed dozens of militants. Security officials said armed men launched attacks in several urban areas, including the provincial capital Quetta and the port city of Gwadar, prompting operations by the army, police and counterterrorism units. Hospitals were placed on emergency footing in some districts, officials said. MIGRANT WORKERS TARGETED IN GWADAR In Gwadar, militants attacked a camp accommodating migrant workers, killing 11 people, Atta-ur-Rehman, a senior police officer said. Those killed included five men, three women and three children. Security forces killed six militants in Gwadar after responding to the attack, he said. Officials said the situation was critical in Noshki, a district of Balochistan, after militants abducted the area's top civil administrator. He said in a social media video that he was in the custody of the militants. Reuters could not independently verify the video. Armed men briefly blocked roads in parts of Quetta and a blast was heard near a high-security area, authorities said, though they later said the situation had been brought under control. Security officials said in text messages that forces had responded effectively to the attacks and that clearance operations were still underway. Balochistan is Pakistan's largest but poorest province and has faced a decades-long insurgency by ethnic Baloch militant groups. Pakistan says the violence is backed by foreign actors, a charge denied by India.