DHAKA, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 1,191 striking teams of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) have been deployed across the country to perform field-level duties during the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and referendum. The armed teams are working as striking forces to ensure security and maintain law and order at 42,779 polling centres nationwide, particularly during emergency situations. The information was disclosed today in a press release signed by Md Ashiquzzaman, Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP. As part of the coordinated security plan of the Ministry of Home Affairs, special priority has been given to polling centres in remote and risk-prone areas.  Two Ansar Battalion striking teams have been deployed in each upazila and one in each district, with their activities being monitored round the clock from district, range and headquarters control rooms. To strengthen election security, a modern digital framework has been introduced. Under this system, one member from each striking team is serving as a responder on the 'Election Security App' to ensure rapid response and effective coordination. According to the press release, the Ansar Battalion striking teams will remain active during the pre-election, election day and post-election phases until February 14 and will remain prepared to prevent any untoward incidents. The teams are performing their duties in close coordination with the district and upazila administrations, the Bangladesh Army, police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and other law enforcement agencies.

KHULNA, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia  Golam Parwar today said journalist Sheikh Belal Uddin did not consider  journalism merely as a profession, rather he embraced it as a mission. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a memorial meeting  organized by Metropolitan Journalists Union (MUJ), Khulna, marking the 21st  death anniversary of former MUJ Khulna president and former Khulna bureau  chief of Daily Sangram, Shaheed journalist Sheikh Belal Uddin. Belal Uddin was critically injured in a bomb attack at the Khulna Press Club  on February 5, 2005, and later died at Dhaka's Combined Military Hospital on  February 11. The meeting was held this afternoon at the Humayun Kabir Balu Auditorium of  Khulna Press Club as part of a two-day programme announced by MUJ Khulna. MUJ Khulna President Md Rashidul Islam presided over the programme, while  General Secretary Abdur Razzak Rana conducted the event. Bangladesh Federal  Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Assistant Secretary General Ehteshamul Haque  Shawon attended as the keynote speaker. Khulna City BNP President Advocate SM Shafiqul Alam Mona, Khulna Metropolitan  Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Professor Mahfuzur Rahman, Metropolitan Jamaat  Secretary Advocate Sheikh Jahangir Hossain Helal and Khulna Press Club Member  Secretary Rafiul Islam Tutul, also addressed, among others. Speakers at the memorial meeting said Sheikh Belal Uddin's contributions to  journalism and to the welfare of the people of the region are still  remembered with deep respect.  They called for naming the road from Baikali to Rayer Mahal as "Shaheed  Journalist Sheikh Belal Uddin Road" and demanded the revival of the murder  case, proper trial and exemplary punishment of the killers, alleging that the  accused have not yet been punished. A special doa and munajat was held after the discussion.