DHAKA, Jan 1, 2026 (BSS) – The Railway Ministry today organized a discussion meeting on former three times Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia who has passed away on December 30. After the discussion, the ministry officials and employees held a doa mahfil. The discussion meeting and doa mahfil was held at Rail Bhaban conference room here, said an official handout here today. Senior officials of the railway ministry and Bangladesh Railway were present at the function. Begum Khaleda Zia’s illustrious career, her uncompromising leadership and various spheres of her political activities were also highlighted during the programme. Railway secretary M Fahimul Islam who presided over the programme also highlighted Begum Khaleda Zia’s role in flourishing democracy and economic development of the country.   Doa and munajat seeking the eternal peace of her departed soul was held at the end of the discussion.

RANGPUR, Jan 1, 2026 (BSS) - On the first day of the scrutiny of nomination papers for the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections, the nomination papers of one candidate out of the nine submitted in Rangpur-1 constituency were declared cancelled today.   The cancelled candidate is Barrister Manjum Ali, the nominated candidate of Jatiya Party.    The candidacies of the remaining eight people contesting in Rangpur-1 (Gangachara and part of Rangpur City) constituency were declared valid.    Rangpur Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Mohammad Enamul Ahsan declared the said nomination papers cancelled on Thursday afternoon.    Earlier, the scrutiny of Rangpur-1 and Rangpur-2 constituencies was held in the conference room of the Rangpur Deputy Commissioner on Thursday in the morning and afternoon respectively.   During the scrutiny, the nomination papers of all five candidates of Rangpur-2 (Badarganj-Taraganj) constituency were declared valid.    The eight valid candidates for Rangpur-1 constituency are BNP's Mokaram Hossain Sujan, Jamaat-e-Islami's Moulana Raihan Siraji, Islami Andolan Bangladesh's ATM Golam Mostafa Babu, Gano Adhikar Parishad's Hanifur Rahman Sajib, BSD (Marxist) Ahsanul Arefin Titu, Jatiya Nagorik Party's Md Al Mamun, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish's Md Mominur Rahman and Islamic Front Bangladesh's Mohammad Anas.    The five legitimate candidates for Rangpur-2 (Badarganj-Taraganj) constituency are BNP's Mohammad Ali Sarkar, Jatiya Party's former MP Anisul Islam Mondal, Jamaat's ATM Azharul Islam, Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Maulana Md Ashraf Ali and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD)'s Md Azizur Rahman.    Later, Barrister Manjum Ali, the candidate whose nomination was rejected, told reporters that his nomination was rejected due to a small mistake in the nomination form.    He said that he would appeal in this regard.    In this regard, Rangpur Returning Officer Mohammad Enamul Ahsan said that the nominations of the candidates for Rangpur-1 constituency were scrutinized this morning and Rangpur-2 constituency in the afternoon.    During the scrutiny, the nomination of Jatiya Party's nominated candidate Barrister Manjum Ali for Rangpur-1 constituency was considered rejected due to citizenship.   "However, as per the rules, he can appeal to the Election Commission to regain the validity of his candidacy," he added.    The scrutiny of the submitted nomination papers for Rangpur-3 (Sadar-City Corporation) constituency and Rangpur-4 (Kawnia-Pirgachha) constituency will be held at the same venue on Friday in the morning and in the afternoon respectively.    Besides, the scrutiny of the submitted nomination papers for Rangpur-5 (Mithapukur) constituency and Rangpur-6 (Pirganj) constituency will be held on Saturday in the morning and in the afternoon respectively.