Barrister Zaima Rahman, daughter of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman, has held an interactive dialogue with young people in Dhaka as part of the party’s outreach to youth voters ahead of the election.
The event, titled Tea Conversation, took place on Monday at the DOHS playground in the capital’s Mohakhali area. It was organised by the Content Generation Team of the BNP Election Management Committee, with the aim of creating direct engagement between political leadership and the younger generation.
Rather than delivering a traditional speech, Zaima Rahman moved from table to table, speaking informally with participants and listening to their views. She sought to understand the concerns, aspirations and expectations of young voters, many of whom were students from colleges and universities.
During the discussions, participants raised a wide range of issues, including challenges in the country’s education system, air pollution in Dhaka, traffic congestion, unemployment and uncertainty about future job prospects. They also shared their thoughts on political awareness, voting rights and the role of social media in political participation.
Zaima Rahman responded by sharing her own perspectives on several of the issues raised. Speaking as the chief guest, she expressed concern about the growing problem of cyberbullying, particularly among young people.
She said that having laws alone was not enough to tackle online harassment, stressing that effective enforcement was essential. She also suggested that the establishment of local offices by major social media platforms in Bangladesh could help address many of the challenges related to online abuse.
Addressing education, Zaima Rahman said meaningful reforms must begin at the primary level if inequalities between urban and rural areas are to be reduced. She argued that early intervention could help narrow long-standing gaps in access and quality.
At the higher education level, she said universities should place greater emphasis on practical activities and co-curricular programmes alongside academic study to better prepare students for real-world challenges.
Zaima Rahman also spoke positively about the enthusiasm shown by young people to contribute to the country’s development. She said it was important to create platforms that would allow citizens of all backgrounds to take part in nation-building efforts.
The event reflects BNP’s broader attempt to connect with younger voters and incorporate youth perspectives into its political messaging, as parties increasingly focus on first-time and digitally engaged voters in Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape.
