In a scene that could only happen in Bangladesh politics, independent candidate Rumeen Farhana held a press conference on Friday afternoon with a duck perched in her lap – her election symbol – celebrating a stunning victory over the BNP-backed candidate in Brahmanbaria-2.
Farhana defeated Junaid Al Habib by more than 38,000 votes, securing 1,18,547 ballots to Habib’s 80,434. Her win covered parts of Sarail, Ashuganj and Bijoynagar, marking a dramatic upset in the 13th parliamentary election.
From expulsion to electoral triumph
Once a key BNP figure, serving as a reserved-seat MP and the party’s international affairs associate secretary, Rumeen was expelled on December 30. She described her journey to victory as fraught with personal and political struggle.
“My journey was difficult, but my leaders and activists endured even more,” she told reporters. “If I had lost, I might have returned to Dhaka and resumed my profession. They haven’t slept at home for 17 years, yet they carry no resentment. How can I ever repay such devotion?”
Her triumph is not just personal – it’s symbolic of defiance against the party that ousted her. BNP recently expelled multiple leaders from Sarail for supporting her campaign, highlighting the high stakes and deep divisions her candidacy stirred.
Allegations of post-poll manipulation
The press conference also carried a political edge. Rumeen alleged attempts to manipulate votes and withhold results in several polling centres. She recounted personally intervening at Jaliapara, confronting rival activists, and overseeing recounts to expose “false votes.”
Why a duck?
The duck, now inseparable from Rumeen’s political image, reflects a personal story rooted in childhood memories and a lifelong connection to poultry. “I had ducks, roosters, pigeons,” she explained. “This symbol represents who I am and where I come from.”
A challenge to BNP
Rumeen made it clear that reconciliation with BNP is contingent on the reinstatement of her supporters who were expelled for backing her. Her dramatic win, combined with the symbolic duck, has captured public imagination and sent a clear message: in Bangladeshi politics, even the underdog can defy the establishment – and do it with flair.
Source: BBC