Zubaida Rahman Returns Home After 17 Years to a Changed BD

Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman, is set to return to Dhaka on Monday (6 May), ending 17 years of self-imposed exile. Her return marks an emotional homecoming at a time when the country has undergone profound political and social changes.

She will arrive with her ailing mother-in-law, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, aboard a special air ambulance sent by the Emir of Qatar. The flight is scheduled to leave Heathrow Airport at 6:15pm (London time) on Sunday and land in Dhaka at 10:30am on Monday after a stop in Doha.

Zubaida plans to stay at Mahbub Bhaban, her paternal home in Dhanmondi, where her mother Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu and elder sister Shahina Zaman’s family currently reside. The house, located on Road 5, was once the residence of her late father, Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, former chief of the Bangladesh Navy.

Ahead of her arrival, the residence is undergoing renovations and enhanced security measures. CCTV cameras are being installed, and police along with the BNP Chairperson’s Special Security Force (CSF) have been deployed. BNP insiders say specific instructions have been given to ensure neighbours are not disturbed by the arrangements.

Additional vehicles and a dedicated security team have been prepared for Zubaida’s stay. On 30 April, a letter was sent to the Inspector General of Police requesting armed protection and the installation of an archway scanner at the house, citing security concerns.

Zubaida left Bangladesh on 11 September 2008 with her husband Tarique and daughter Zaima. Since then, the family has lived in London. Her departure followed legal troubles that arose during the military-backed caretaker regime and the subsequent Awami League government.

In September 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed a case against Zubaida, her husband, and her mother for alleged illegal wealth accumulation. She was later sentenced to three years in prison and fined Tk35 lakh. The sentence was stayed following the fall of the Awami League government in August last year.

Born on 18 May 1972 in Sylhet, Zubaida studied medicine at Dhaka Medical College and joined government service through the BCS exam, where she ranked first in the health cadre. She later earned a postgraduate degree in medicine from Imperial College London.

Her father, Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, was not only a former navy chief but also served as minister under the government of Hussain Muhammad Ershad. She is also the niece of General MAG Osmani, commander-in-chief during the Liberation War.

She will be accompanied by Khaleda Zia, Syeda Sharmila Rahman (widow of Arafat Rahman Koko), and members of Khaleda’s medical team. Khaleda had travelled to London on 8 January for advanced treatment and was admitted to a private hospital before continuing treatment at Tarique Rahman’s residence.

Zubaida’s return signals a significant moment for her family and the political landscape of Bangladesh. Whether her arrival carries broader political implications remains to be seen.