True beauty of democracy lies in embracing difference: Zaima

Barrister Zaima Rahman on Sunday said the essence of democracy lies in the ability to come together, talk, and listen despite differences in ideology, experience, and perspective.
“We are not all the same. Our ideals, experiences, and viewpoints are different. Yet we are sitting together and engaging in discussions because we are all thinking about the country and its people. Talking and listening together despite these differences is the real beauty of democracy,” she said.
Zaima, daughter of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, made the remarks at a dialogue titled “Women Shaping the Nation: Policy, Possibility and the Future of Bangladesh” held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in Dhaka’s Farmgate area.
Speaking with a unique sense of emotion as it was her first policy-level address in Bangladesh, she said, “I am not someone who has all the answers or solutions to every problem. I have come here today with the intention of listening, learning and moving forward together with a spirit of cooperation.” This marked her first public speech in a forum.
In her scripted address, Zaima reflected on the role of women in society, drawing from her family experiences. 
She said, “My earliest understanding of women’s roles in society came from my family, as it does for most of us. Long before we encounter laws, policies, or institutions, our homes become our first classrooms.”
She praised her mother for excelling professionally as a cardiologist while balancing family, and her grandmother for founding one of Bangladesh’s earliest NGOs in 1979 to support vulnerable children. Zaima also highlighted her grandfather, former President Ziaur Rahman, and grandmother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, for championing women’s participation in public life, education, and the economy.
“Living between Bangladesh and the UK taught me that policies alone do not create equality. Social norms, daily expectations, and mindsets must change,” she said. 
Zaima noted that women still perform around 85% of unpaid household and care work in Bangladesh, which significantly affects their participation in the formal economy.
“Women are already leaders. Too often, they are praised for resilience, but resilience is not empowerment when it is demanded endlessly,” she said, stressing the need for men to actively support gender equality at home and in society.
She added, “What shaped me was not my father’s speeches, but his consistency. Through his daily choices, he showed me what I should expect from the world. When men confront unconscious bias and model respect, women can not just survive, but thrive.”
Zaima concluded by calling for collective action, “Keeping girls in school and women in public life requires sustained effort by women and men together. If Bangladesh wants real progress, empowerment must reach homes, institutions, and mindsets, and it must be the responsibility of all of us. I thank all of you for engaging in an inclusive dialogue that reflects the true spirit of progress.”