Zubaida set to be voter

Staff Reporter :

The Election Commission (EC) has officially registered Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, as a voter, finalising her inclusion in the national voter list.

As part of the registration process, Dr Rahman’s biometric data — including her photograph and fingerprints — was collected for the issuance of a National Identity Card (NID). EC officials confirmed the completion of the registration on Monday, June 23.

Speaking to reporters, Akhtar Ahmed, Senior Secretary of the EC Secretariat, stated that Dr Rahman’s registration was conducted under the ongoing nationwide voter list update. “Her biometric and personal information was verified and processed in accordance with standard procedures,” he said.

Dr Zubaida Rahman had previously not been included in Bangladesh’s photo-based voter list, which was introduced in 2008. At that time, both she and her husband Tarique Rahman were living in London, having left Bangladesh on September 11, 2008.

Her return to the country on May 6, 2025, alongside BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia — who had been abroad for medical treatment — marked her first appearance in Bangladesh since their departure. EC officials completed her voter registration shortly before Eid-ul-Azha, during her stay in Dhaka. She departed again for London on June 5.

Dr Rahman’s registration has drawn public attention, given her political ties and long absence from the country. However, EC officials emphasized that the process followed standard legal and administrative procedures applicable to all eligible citizens.