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As the nation prepares for the high-profile return of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on December 25, a wave of coordinated misinformation has surfaced on social media targeting his personal life. Investigating these claims reveals that rumors suggesting Mr. Rahman had a "first wife" or previous marriage are entirely baseless, appearing to be a deliberate attempt at character assassination by vested groups ahead of his arrival.
According to authentic biographical records and official family data, Tarique Rahman has been married only once. He tied the knot with Dr. Zubaida Rahman on February 3, 1994. Dr. Zubaida, a renowned cardiologist and daughter of the late Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan—a former Chief of Naval Staff and minister—has remained his sole partner for over three decades. The couple has one daughter, Zaima Rahman, who recently completed her law degree in the United Kingdom.
Photo: The rumors shared in social media
The recent spark of misinformation originated from a historical photograph circulating on social platforms, accompanied by a caption in Bengali that translates to "Tarique Rahman’s first mother-in-law." Fact-checking the image confirms that the individual identified in the post is actually Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu, the mother of Dr. Zubaida Rahman and the only mother-in-law Mr. Rahman has ever had. The use of the word "first" in the caption is a factual error designed to mislead the public into believing there was a prior marriage.
Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu is a respected social worker and recipient of the Independence Award. Her presence in historical family archives with the Zia family is well-documented, and any attempt to recontextualize her as a "first" mother-in-law contradicts thirty years of public record. There is no evidence in any legal, civil, or news archives in Bangladesh or abroad to support the existence of a previous spouse.
Political analysts observe that this surge in fake news coincides directly with the announcement of Mr. Rahman’s return to Dhaka after 17 years in exile. With the 13th parliamentary elections scheduled for February 2025, the BNP leadership has condemned these digital campaigns as "fascist propaganda" intended to create confusion among the electorate.
The government has already assured full security for Mr. Rahman's homecoming on December 25. As the date approaches, the public is urged to verify information through credible news outlets and official party statements rather than relying on unverified social media commentary. The record remains clear: the marriage between Tarique Rahman and Dr. Zubaida Rahman stands as the only marriage in his life, and any claims to the contrary are confirmed as fabricated propaganda.
In light of Tarique Rahman’s upcoming return to the country, multiple organized groups have launched a fresh wave of propaganda against him. These malicious efforts spare nothing, targeting everything from his personal life to his family affairs. This coordinated disinformation campaign is specifically intensifying ahead of December 25th.
