After 17 years in exile, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Christmas surrounded by heavy security and fanfare.
While the BNP acting chairman’s visit naturally made headlines across several papers, the presence of his now internationally renowned companion Jebu also captured popular social interest on digital media platforms making her into somewhat of a social media sensation.
Who is Jebu?
The much adored figure in Bangladesh named Jebu is actually a Siberian cat that belongs to Zaima Rahman, the daughter of Tarique Rahman, and has now acquired the status of being the official pet of the Rahman family.
Jebu’s popularity across Bangladesh has soared to such an extent that members of Rahman’s political outfit have created an official instagram account for the cat, where the party will keep on posting light hearted, whimsical posts showcasing the everyday life of Jebu along with some memes.
Jebu’s breed and features
Jebu is an orange Siberian cat, who’s found in the forests of Siberia. The cat belongs to an ancient natural breed that has been selectively bred and pedigreed worldwide. A long-haired pet, this particular breed of Siberian cats is popularly known to be very affectionate and is often compared to dogs in friendliness.
Bushy tail and round features characterise the breed who also has a thick coat to protect it from cold weather.
Why did Rahman return to Bangladesh?
Rahman returned to Bangladesh to be with his mother, the ailing ex PM who is being treated at the Evaren hospital. Rahman is now expected to lead the BNP’s campaign for the country’s first national elections following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.
Rahman had previously been sentenced to a life in prison under Hasina’s regime for his alleged role in the 2004 grenade attack in Bangladesh that killed 24 people and various corruption cases. It is because of these charges that Rahman had remained under exile for the past 17 years.
Following Hasina’s ouster, Rahman was acquitted of all the charges by the Mohd. Yunus administration.
Could Jebu’s popularity help with the elections?
While it would be difficult to quantify the impact of Jebu’s popularity on Rahman’s image, having a pet has generally played well for political leaders on social media. Multiple world leaders from France’s Emanuel Macron, UK’s Keir Stammer and Russia’s Vladimir Putin live with their official pets, who have gained much popularity over the years.