A day after completing the registration formalities, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has been officially added to the voter list. His daughter, Zaima Rahman, has also become a voter alongside him.

Both Tarique Rahman and Zaima Rahman are now registered as voters in DNCC Ward No. 19 under the Gulshan area of the Dhaka-17 constituency.

Confirming the development on Sunday (December 28) afternoon, Election Commission (EC) Director of Public Relations Ruhul Amin Mollick said, "The inclusion of Mr. Tarique Rahman in the voter list has been approved by the Honorable Election Commission."

The decision was finalized with the consent of the five-member commission led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin.

According to electoral laws, being a registered voter is a mandatory requirement to contest parliamentary elections. Any citizen aged 25 or older can run for office if they are on the voter list of any constituency in the country.

While NID and voter list activities usually remain suspended after the announcement of an election schedule, Tarique Rahman’s inclusion required special approval from the EC. Although the voter list for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election has already been finalized, the Voter List Act empowers the Commission to include any eligible person at any time.

Earlier on Saturday, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed briefed journalists about the process, stating that Tarique and Zaima had filled out 'Form 2', provided their biometric data (fingerprints and iris scans), and submitted formal applications for inclusion in the voter list.

Regarding the issuance of National Identity Cards (NID), the Director General of the NID Wing, ASM Humayun Kabir, mentioned that the processing time varies for individuals, ranging from a few hours to a bit longer depending on technical procedures.

Tarique Rahman completed the registration formalities on Saturday at 1:00 PM at the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) building in Agargaon.

Background
When the first photo-voter list was prepared in Bangladesh during 2007-2008, Tarique Rahman was in prison. After his release in 2008, he moved to London for medical treatment and remained abroad for 17 years, resulting in him never receiving an NID. Following the political transition after the July-August 2024 mass uprising, his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, returned to the country and became a voter earlier this year.

Tarique Rahman’s formal inclusion in the electoral roll now clears the legal path for him to lead and participate in the national elections scheduled for February 12.

Timeline: Tarique Rahman’s Journey Back to the Ballot Box

• September 2008: Tarique Rahman leaves for London for medical treatment after being released from prison during the military-backed caretaker government.
• 2008–2024: Remains in exile in the UK, leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) from abroad as Senior Vice Chairman and later as Acting Chairman.
• August 5, 2024:The fall of the Awami League government following a mass student-led uprising, clearing the way for his eventual return to domestic politics.
• Late 2024: His wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, returns to Bangladesh and completes her voter registration.
• December 27, 2025 (Saturday): Tarique Rahman visits the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) in Dhaka to provide biometric data, fingerprints, and iris scans for NID and voter registration.
• December 28, 2025 (Sunday): The Election Commission officially approves his inclusion in the voter list for the Dhaka-17 constituency.
• February 12, 2026: Scheduled date for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, where Tarique Rahman is now legally eligible to contest.