The Homecoming of Dr. Zubaida Rahman: A Pivotal Moment in Bangladesh’s Political Landscape
Dhaka, December 26, 2025 – Yesterday marked a historic day in Bangladesh politics as Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman, returned to her homeland after 17 years in exile. Accompanying her husband and their daughter, Zaima Rahman, on a flight from London, Zubaida’s arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka symbolized the complete reunion of the influential Zia family on Bangladeshi soil.
Born on June 18, 1972, in Sylhet, Zubaida Rahman is a distinguished physician specializing in cardiology. She is the daughter of the late Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, a former Chief of Naval Staff of Bangladesh. A graduate of Dhaka Medical College, she joined the Bangladesh Civil Service (Health Cadre) in 1995 and later pursued postgraduate studies in medicine at Imperial College in London. Zubaida married Tarique Rahman, son of former President Ziaur Rahman and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, on February 3, 1994. The couple has one daughter, Zaima Rahman, a barrister.
The family’s exile began in September 2008 amid intense political persecution and multiple corruption cases filed during the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina. Tarique Rahman, widely regarded as the de facto leader of the BNP from abroad, faced numerous charges, many of which were later acquitted following Hasina’s ouster in 2024. Zubaida herself was implicated in some cases but has since been cleared.
Their return on December 25, 2025 – Christmas Day – drew massive crowds of BNP supporters who lined the streets from the airport, waving flags and chanting slogans in celebration. Tarique performed a symbolic gesture by stepping barefoot on Bangladeshi soil and picking up a handful of earth, a moment echoed in the family’s emotional homecoming.
Zubaida Rahman’s return holds profound significance in Bangladesh’s turbulent politics. With parliamentary elections slated for early 2026, Tarique Rahman is positioned as a leading contender for prime minister, bolstering the BNP’s momentum after years in opposition. Her presence alongside him reinforces the unity of the Zia dynasty – a powerful political legacy tied to Bangladesh’s independence era and nationalist sentiments.
In a nation navigating post-Hasina instability, including communal tensions and economic challenges, the full return of the Rahman family energizes BNP supporters and signals a potential shift toward restoring what Tarique described as “democratic and economic rights,” while pledging equal treatment for religious minorities.
As the family settles back into Dhaka life – including visits to ailing matriarch Khaleda Zia – Zubaida’s low-key yet steadfast support over the years in exile underscores her role as a pillar of resilience. Her homecoming not only completes a personal journey but also amplifies the BNP’s narrative of revival in a new era of Bangladeshi politics.
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