United News of Bangladesh

Barrister Zaima Rahman, daughter of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, virtually joined a party meeting and spoke for the first time on Sunday (November 23). A short video showing Zaima taking part in the virtual meeting of expatriate party leaders has gone viral on social media. The meeting, held on Sunday with BNP leaders based abroad and a European representatives’ team, discussed expatriate voting activities. From Dhaka, BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and BNP Media Cell convener Mowdud Hossain Alamgir Pavel joined virtually. Zaima, who has so far stayed away from formal political activities, was seen thanking participants in the 39-second video clip. “Thank you, everyone. Thank you for coming and for all the work you have done. You have shared your thoughts, the problems and the advantages. A few issues have been discussed. Rizvi uncle has taken notes, Pavel uncle too. We will see centrally how much we can do,” she said. Read more: Tarique cites Prophet’s ideals, seeks Islamic scholars’ support for BNP “The work must move forward. Everyone is in touch with each other and should help in every possible way. Khokon uncle explained well how things should be done according to time. We should not delay. We should prioritise and work according to the schedule. Thank you so much,” Zaima added. BNP Media Cell member Atikur Rahman Rumi told UNB that although Zaima joined the virtual meeting and spoke, the video was not released officially. “It has not been published by the BNP Media Cell or on Zaima Rahman’s own page. Someone secretly recorded a short clip and posted it on social media,” he said. This is the first time Zaima has been seen in a BNP organisational meeting related to expatriate voting activities. Earlier, she attended the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC on 5–6 February this year as part of a BNP delegation. The three-member team was led by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, with Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury also present. Last month, in an interview with the BBC, Tarique Rahman was asked whether his family members — including his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman — would join politics in the future. Tarique replied, “Time and circumstances will say.” Zaima moved to London with her parents in 2008. She completed her schooling, secondary and higher studies there.  She earned her Law degree from Queen Mary University of London and later completed her Bar-at-Law from Lincoln’s Inn. Read more: Khaleda admitted to Evercare Hospital with chest infection

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday said the Election Commission’s initiatives to facilitate expatriate voting will prove ineffective without the active support of political parties. “We want to introduce a feasible option. We seek your support. Even on a small scale, we want to begin the journey…if political leaders do not support us, all our exercises will end in futility,” he said while inaugurating a seminar at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the morning. The Election Commission arranged the seminar on voting from abroad in a bid to find an effective mechanism to ensure the voting rights of expatriate Bangladeshis in the next general election. Political leaders from various parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP), along with election experts, technical specialists and journalists, participated in the discussion. The commission aims to introduce a hybrid method in combination with postal ballot, online voting and proxy voting—at least on a limited scale during the upcoming 13th parliamentary election. When they took office, the CEC said, they pledged to introduce a voting system for expatriates. “We’re committed, and so is the chief adviser to the nation.” Making Expat Voters: What does Reform Commission say?