DHAKA, Feb 15, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh Chapter of the SAARC Journalist Forum (SJF) today congratulated BNP chairman Tarique Rahman on the victory of his party in the 13th national parliamentary election. SJF Bangladesh chapter president Nasir Al Mamun and general secretary Shiyabur Rahman (Shihab) said the victory reflects Tarique Rahman’s uncompromising leadership in the struggle for restoring people’s voting rights and democracy. Through the ballot, the people of the country have expressed their full confidence in his leadership, they said. SJF leaders expressed the hope that under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, the new government would work to consolidate democratic institutions, ensure freedom of expression, strengthen media freedom, and achieve inclusive development. They also hoped that the country’s new leadership would uphold Bangladesh’s commitment to enhancing regional cooperation, particularly within the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and promote constructive engagement with neighbouring countries for peace, stability and shared prosperity in South Asia. In the congratulatory message, they wished all successes of the new government and good health and wellbeing of Tarique Rahman.

GOPALGANJ, Feb 15, 2026 (BSS) - In the recently concluded 13th National Parliamentary Election, a total of 20 candidates of three constituencies of the district have lost their security deposits. According to the election results, two-thirds of the total 30 candidates who participated in the election failed to secure the minimum required votes under the rules, official sources said here today. As per the Election Commission's regulations, a candidate forfeits security deposit if he or she fails to obtain at least one-eighth (1/8) of the total votes cast in his or her constituency. The information regarding forfeited deposits has been confirmed from the official result statement signed by the Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Gopalganj Md. Arif-Uz-Zaman. According to the data received here, six candidates in Gopalganj-1, nine in Gopalganj-2 and five in Gopalganj-3 constituencies have lost their deposits.  However, despite this poor performance overall, one candidate from Jamaat-e-Islami, two from Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish supported by Jamaat-NCP, one from Ganadhikar Parishad, one rebel BNP candidate and one independent candidate managed to retain their deposits. In Gopalganj-1 (Muksudpur and part of Kashiani), the candidates who lost their deposits are Mohammad Mizanur Rahman (Islami Andolon), Sultan Zaman Khan (Jatiya Party), Nirod Baran Majumdar (CPB) and independent candidates Ashraful Alam Shimul, M. Anisul Islam and Kaiyum Ali Khan. In Gopalganj-2 (Gopalganj Sadar and part of Kashiani), those who forfeited their deposits are-Taslim Sikdar (Islami Andolon), Mahmud Hasan (Zaker Party), Riaz Sarowar Mollah (Jatiya Party), Din Mohammad (Ganadhikar Parishad), Shah Mofiz (Gonoforum), BNP rebel candidate M. Sirajul Islam Siraj and independent candidates Utpal Biswas, Rony Mollah, and Shipon Bhuiya. In Gopalganj-3 (Tungipara-Kotalipara), the candidates who lost their deposits are Abul Bashar (Ganadhikar Parishad), Dulal Chandra Biswas (Gonoforum), Md. Maruf Sheikh (Islami Andolon), Sheikh Salahuddin (APP) and independent candidate Md. Habibur Rahman Habib.