Zubaida Rahman moves to be a voter

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, is going to be a voter. 

The Election Commission (EC) has gathered Zubaida’s information for inclusion in the voter list during the ongoing update process. 

EC sources revealed that Dr. Zubaida’s details were collected door-to-door. She accompanied BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia back to Bangladesh on May 6, 2025, after her treatment in London. 

EC officials completed Zubaida’s information collection and registration before Eid-ul-Azha for voter registration in Dhaka. Zubaida returned to London on June 5.

Senior Secretary of the EC Secretariat, Akhtar Ahmed, confirmed on Monday that Zubaida’s information was collected during this year’s voter list update. 

The voter list preparation, including photographs, began in 2008 under the caretaker government. At that time, Tarique and Zubaida were in London, having left Bangladesh on September 11, 2008, and did not return until recently.

EC officials noted that names will be finalised in the voter list after the update process concludes. 

The draft voter list is scheduled for publication on January 2, 2026, with the final list on March 2. If elections occur in February, the EC plans to amend the voter list law to finalise it earlier.

Dr. Zubaida’s home is in South Surma, Sylhet, and she is not politically active. 

However, speculation surrounds her potential candidacy in the upcoming election for the Sylhet-1 constituency. 

Following her recent return, BNP supporters in Sylhet held a celebratory procession, and posters urging her candidacy appeared across the city. 

To contest a National Parliament election, a person must be a registered voter and can run from any constituency in the country.