London: Barrister Zaima Rahman, the only daughter of Tarique Rahman, is overjoyed to have her grandmother, Begum Khaleda Zia, who is also the former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson, at her London residence.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the 79-year-old ailing former prime minister is now able to enjoy precious family time in a comforting environment after enduring the repercussions of the deposed Awami League government’s actions, which had resulted in her imprisonment and subsequent severe illness. Her son, Tarique Rahman, has been living in exile in London since the political upheaval known as one eleven, along with his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and their only daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman.
In 2015, Begum Zia had to endure the profound sorrow of losing her youngest son, Arafat Rahman, which added to her mental distress amid the country’s political turmoil. Khaleda Zia’s last visit to London before her imprisonment was in July 2017, where she spent family time at the residence of her eldest son, Tarique Rahman.
Following her release from jail and subsequent acquittal in graft cases after a popular uprising that overthrew the AL regime on August 5, Khaleda Zia was taken to London for advanced medical treatment. She received care at the prestigious London Clinic for 17 days and was discharged on Friday night. Her son, Tarique Rahman, personally drove her to his residence from the hospital, accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida, with Begum Zia and her granddaughter Zaima seated in the back.
This reunion brought immense joy to Zaima, who, as a barrister, expressed her delight by sharing the moment on social media with a caption that read, “Alhamdulillah, we took my grandmother to our residence. Everyone pray for us.” The post was widely shared by her followers and evoked memories of the 2001 general elections when Begum Zia took her granddaughter to cast her vote and posed with a ‘V’ sign, proclaiming that Zaima always brought her good luck-a prediction that held true as she won the elections with a significant margin and formed the government for the last time.