The 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum-2026 will be held tomorrow, Thursday (February 12). Voting will take place simultaneously in 299 parliamentary constituencies across the country from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm without interruption.The Election Commission (EC) has cancelled the election in Sherpur-3 constituency following the death of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate. As a result, voting will be conducted in the remaining 299 constituencies.Extensive Security Measures in PlaceElection officials have stated that comprehensive security arrangements have been completed to ensure a peaceful voting process nationwide.Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said that around 9 lakh (900,000) members of law enforcement agencies have been deployed across the country. Among them, 103,000 members of the armed forces are on duty. Members of police, BGB, RAB, Ansar and Village Defence Party, Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force are also deployed to maintain law and order.For the first time in a national election, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones, and body-worn cameras are being used for security monitoring, said Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sanaullah.Call for Voter ParticipationElection Commissioners have urged voters to come to polling stations in a festive and peaceful atmosphere to exercise their democratic rights. Special emphasis has been placed on encouraging young voters to actively participate in the election.The EC expressed optimism that the law and order situation remains normal and that voting day will also remain peaceful.Voter and Polling Centre InformationA total of 42,779 polling centres have been set up nationwide, with 247,482 polling booths prepared for voting.The total number of voters in 299 constituencies stands at 127,711,893. Among them: Male voters: 64,825,361 Female voters: 62,885,200 Third gender voters: 1,232 The lowest number of voters is in Jhalokathi-1 constituency (228,431), while the highest number is in Gazipur-2 constituency (804,333).Candidates and Political PartiesA total of 50 political parties are participating in this election. There are 2,028 candidates contesting in total. Party-nominated candidates: 1,755 Independent candidates: 273 Female candidates: 83 (63 party-nominated and 20 independent) Among the political parties, BNP has nominated the highest number of candidates — 291. Ten registered political parties have not nominated any candidates in this election.Dhaka-12 constituency has the highest number of candidates (15), while Pirojpur-1 has the lowest (2 candidates).Election Officials and MagistratesNearly 800,000 election officials will perform duties during the election. These include: 69 Returning Officers 598 Assistant Returning Officers 42,779 Presiding Officers 247,482 Assistant Presiding Officers 495,964 Polling Officers Additionally, 2,098 Executive Magistrates and 657 Judicial Magistrates have been appointed to oversee election-related matters.Observers and International PresenceA total of 55,454 observers from 81 domestic organizations will monitor the election. Internationally, 540 foreign observers and journalists from various countries and organizations have arrived in Bangladesh.Among them are representatives from the European Union (223 observers), Commonwealth (25), International Republican Institute (12), Asian Network for Free Elections, and other international bodies. Representatives from different election commissions and institutions have also been invited.Postal VotingFor postal voting through the BD Mobile App, 1,533,684 voters registered, including both overseas (OCV) and in-country (ICPV) voters.* Overseas registered voters: 772,546* In-country registered voters: 761,138As of this morning, 580,665 domestic voters and 481,185 overseas voters have already cast their postal ballots.Transport RestrictionsTo ensure security, certain vehicle movements have been restricted.From midnight on February 11 to midnight on February 12, taxi cabs, pickup vans, microbuses, and trucks are prohibited from operating. Motorcycle movement has been restricted from midnight on February 10 to midnight on February 13.

Catering to the demands of contemporary readers and the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, three new poetry books by the popular youth poet Salman Habib have been published. Released by the publisher ‘Boi Angan’, these books have already caught the attention of poetry lovers this season.Salman Habib has always preferred telling stories through poetry in simple, fluent language. These three new books are no exception to his signature style. The titles are, Ami Tar Nidarun Obohela, Aj Tar Mon Kharap, and Amare Bhuila Jaiyen Na.Speaking about these new releases, Salman Habib said, “Human emotions are diverse. Sometimes one burns in sheer neglect, sometimes the sadness of a loved one casts a shadow of melancholy, and at other times, one is consumed by the fear of fading into oblivion. These three books are essentially documents of love, separation, neglect, and memories. I hope readers will find their own unspoken words echoed in the lines of my poetry.”The eye-catching covers and binding of the books are attracting readers. The covers for Ami Tar Nidarun Obohela and Aj Tar Mon Kharap were designed by Ahmad Borhan, while the cover for Amare Bhuila Jaiyen Na was designed by Parag Wahid.Ami Tar Nidarun Obohela is composed of poems centering on the pain of neglect and indifference. The moments of melancholy, distance, and a loved one's somber mood are captured in the collection Aj Tar Mon Kharap. Meanwhile, Amare Bhuila Jaiyen Na encapsulates the cry against oblivion and the fear of being forgotten.The publisher stated that, in addition to the Book Fair stalls, readers can already easily order the books from Rokomari.com, Bookmark, and all other online bookshops across the country.Notably, Salman Habib’s other popular poetry collections include Otota Dure Noy Akash, Valobashi Ekti Kobitar Nam, Biramchinho, Bishader Dharapat, and Mone Pore Mon-o Pure.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman has sought the support of the people in the upcoming election to build a safer Bangladesh. At the same time, he expressed regret for past mistakes.In a televised address to the nation ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the BNP chairman appealed to the public for their backing.He said, “After returning from abroad, I have tried to reach as many of you as possible within this short time. I have received your love and felt your emotion and support for the BNP. February 12 is another day to express that love for the BNP.”He added that the BNP had governed the country several times with public support and acknowledged that unintentional mistakes may have occurred during those periods. “For that, I sincerely apologize to the people. Learning from past mistakes and building on our achievements, I seek your support in the February 12 election to build a safe Bangladesh for present and future generations.”Rahman further said, “For every plan I have taken for the country and its people, and for you and your family, I seek your support and vote for the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol.”Emphasizing accountability, he stated there is no alternative to ensuring government responsibility to the people. He pledged strict anti-corruption measures, rule of law, and accountability if elected. “A BNP government will be as strict as possible in controlling corruption and restoring the rule of law. This is my commitment to the people.”Referring to the January 7, 2024 election, which he described as a “so-called dummy election,” Rahman recalled urging people to spend that day with their families. He now called on voters to cast their ballots for the BNP symbol on February 12, encouraging first-time voters to support the party.He urged citizens to take responsibility for BNP candidates on election day, promising that elected MPs would serve the people afterward. He said he would ensure representatives remain accountable.Rahman stated that the BNP’s guiding principle in governance would be justice inspired by the ideals of the Prophet. He prayed for victory and framed the election as a day to establish people’s rights.In his 37-minute speech, Rahman outlined his vision and plans for governance. He appealed to people from all walks of life, students, workers, farmers, professionals, and others, to support the BNP, saying victory for the party would mean victory for Bangladesh and its sovereignty.He spoke about continuing the legacy of Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, praising their leadership and sacrifices. Rahman said Khaleda Zia endured imprisonment without compromising national interests.Addressing governance, Rahman criticized past politicization of institutions and pledged that constitutional bodies would operate independently under BNP leadership. Promotions in administration, he said, would be based on merit.He reiterated manifesto commitments including family cards, agricultural support, employment initiatives, unemployment benefits, expatriate support, and restoring constitutional wording expressing faith in Almighty Allah.Rahman emphasized religious harmony, stating BNP envisions a Bangladesh where people of all faiths and beliefs live safely. “Religion belongs to individuals, but the state belongs to everyone,” he said, highlighting coexistence and rejection of extremism. He concluded by calling on believers to remain vigilant against misuse of religion for political gain and reaffirmed BNP’s commitment to safeguarding religious values while ensuring national unity.