Dhaka, June 23 (V7N) — Dr. Zubaida Rahman, the wife of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)'s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, is in the process of being enlisted as a voter in Bangladesh, according to the Election Commission (EC). Officials confirmed that her personal information has already been collected as part of the ongoing nationwide voter list update.

According to EC sources, Dr. Rahman's data was gathered during the door-to-door data collection phase of the voter list updating campaign. She returned to Bangladesh from London on May 6, accompanying BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who had traveled abroad for medical treatment. Before Eid-ul-Azha, officials from the Election Commission completed the process of gathering her information for voter registration. Dr. Rahman returned to London on June 5.

Senior Secretary of the EC Secretariat, Akhtar Ahmed, confirmed the development on Monday, stating that Zubaida Rahman’s data has been collected as part of the current voter list updating initiative.

This move is especially notable considering the historical context: during the caretaker government formed under the "One-Eleven" political crisis, Bangladesh began creating a voter list with photographs in 2008. At that time, both Tarique Rahman and Zubaida Rahman were living in London and had not returned to the country since their departure on September 11, 2008 — until Zubaida's recent visit.

Although her data collection and preliminary registration have been completed, Election Commission officials emphasized that her name will only be included in the final voter list after the entire update process concludes. According to current electoral law, the draft voter list is scheduled for publication on January 2, 2026, and the final list on March 2, 2026. However, if the national elections are held earlier, in February 2026, the EC may amend the law to finalize the voter list sooner.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman hails from South Surma in Sylhet district. While she has remained largely inactive in formal politics, speculation is growing about her potential candidacy in the next national election. Her recent presence in Bangladesh sparked considerable attention within local BNP circles in Sylhet. Upon her arrival, enthusiastic supporters organized celebratory rallies, and anonymous posters appeared across Sylhet city, expressing a desire to see her contest from the Sylhet-1 parliamentary constituency.

According to Bangladeshi law, a person must be a registered voter to contest a national election. Once registered, any voter is eligible to run for office from any constituency across the country.

This development marks a potential shift in BNP’s political dynamics as the party prepares for the upcoming parliamentary elections, amid ongoing debates regarding participation, leadership, and the return of key figures to the political forefront.

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