Zaima Rahman Takes to Dhaka Streets in Rickshaw Campaign for Father Ahead of Crucial Election
In a vivid display of grassroots political outreach, Zaima Rahman, the daughter of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman, embarked on a rickshaw campaign through the capital's bustling neighborhoods. Her mission: to canvass support for her father in the high-stakes Dhaka-17 constituency, just days before the February 12, 2026 general elections.
Direct Voter Engagement in the Capital
Videos circulating online captured the London-trained barrister navigating crowded streets alongside Fatema Khatun, the longtime caregiver to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Zaima was seen actively distributing pamphlets and making personal appeals to residents, marking a hands-on approach in a fiercely contested electoral battle.
Beginning her outreach at Gulshan Police Plaza, she moved systematically through various public spaces—including streets, shops, cafes, and office buildings. Her leaflets prominently featured the BNP's election symbol, the "Sheaf of Paddy," as she engaged with a cross-section of Dhaka's populace.
"My father, Tarique Rahman, is the 'Sheaf of Paddy' candidate in Dhaka-17. I am asking for your votes in his favour," Zaima told pedestrians, rickshaw pullers, vendors, and office staff during her campaign trail. This direct interaction underscores the personal stakes in a constituency where every vote counts.
A High-Profile Contest in Dhaka-17
Tarique Rahman, 60, is widely considered a front-runner in what will be Bangladesh's first general election since the ouster of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. However, he faces a significant challenge in Dhaka-17 from Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. SM Khalekuzzaman, a popular local doctor.
The BNP supremo recently rejected a proposal from Jamaat-e-Islami for a unity government, expressing confidence in his party's prospects. "How can I form a government with my political opponents, and then who would be in the opposition?" he remarked in an interview, hoping rivals would serve as a "good opposition" if elected.
Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December after nearly two decades in exile, prompted by the deteriorating health of his mother, Khaleda Zia. Zia, the country's first woman prime minister, passed away on December 30, 2025, adding emotional weight to the campaign.
Bangladesh's 2026 General Election: A Landscape Transformed
Scheduled for February 12, 2026, the election will elect 300 members to the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) and include a constitutional referendum on the July Charter. With over 127 million eligible voters and 1,981 candidates, it stands as one of the largest democratic exercises of the year.
The vote is being conducted under an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, established after Sheikh Hasina's removal following a student-led uprising in 2024. Hasina, now in exile in India, was later convicted by a Bangladesh tribunal for allowing lethal force against protesters, resulting in approximately 1,400 deaths—many of them students and teenagers. She has been sentenced to death in absentia.
Major Political Realignments
The suspension of the Awami League, which won the previous four elections under Hasina, has reshaped the electoral dynamics. The contest has largely evolved into a bipolar fight between the BNP and the 11-Party Alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP).
- The BNP has nominated 288 candidates and is seeking additional seats through allies and independents.
- The 11-Party Alliance is contesting 298 seats.
- Islami Andolan Bangladesh has fielded candidates in 253 constituencies.
- The National Democratic Front (NDF), led by the Jatiya Party (Ershad), is contesting 206 seats.
- Leftist parties under the Democratic United Front are in 149 seats.
- The Greater Sunni Alliance is contesting 64 constituencies.
Key Campaign Issues and Electoral Innovations
Campaigns are focusing on pressing national concerns, including:
- Unemployment and economic stability
- Corruption and extortion in public life
- Proportional representation reforms
- Outreach to youth and minority voters
Notably, postal voting will be used for the first time in a Bangladeshi general election, and the "No Vote" option has been reintroduced, offering voters greater flexibility and expression.
A Pivotal Moment for Bangladesh
With opinion polls indicating a slight edge for the BNP but a strong showing expected from Jamaat-e-Islami, the February 12 election is poised to redefine Bangladesh's political trajectory. Zaima Rahman's rickshaw campaign in Dhaka-17 symbolizes the intense, personal efforts underway as the nation approaches this historic vote, set to reshape its democratic landscape amid profound shifts in leadership and alliance structures.
