A proof of merit in reply to false propaganda

Sadman Safi Protik

A storm of debate and criticism was raised in a planned way after Barrister Ms. Zaima Rahman got her job as a legal officer in the Office of the President of the UN General Assembly. People concerned call this storm fully biased and baseless. They say she earned the right to be a barrister from the respected Bar of England and Wales in London. They also say she won this post by her own talent and merit.

There was no scope for nepotism or political influence in this process. The UN picks candidates through its own strict rules and a neutral selection process, and it hires only those who qualify. Government officials and legal analysts spoke about the fairness and honesty of the hiring. They say the Executive Office of the UN Secretariat and the related department took the final decision after a very strict check of the candidate’s Terms of Reference and qualifications.

Dr. Mahdi Amin, adviser and spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, made it clear that the Bangladesh government had no involvement or interference in this process. He said there is no scope for it either. He said Ms. Zaima Rahman won this respected post through professional standards and global competition.

It should be noted that during the fascist regime, Ms. Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of Ms. Sheikh Hasina, was picked as a director of the World Health Organization and worked in Delhi. Allegations rose that she gave a fake PhD certificate. She quit her job during the investigation. Now a bot army run by a political party is spreading lies in a planned way to place Barrister Ms. Zaima Rahman in the same line as Ms. Putul.

Ms. Zaima Rahman passed her barrister exams and earned her chance at the UN through merit. Lies began to spread against her as soon as she got that chance. A large part of Jamaat and Shibir is chasing her out of political revenge. They keep spreading false claims, fake information and indecent comments on social media to damage her name. Several social researchers say this shows nothing but their own failure and jealousy.

Congress leader and former Indian Prime Minister Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru raised his daughter Ms. Indira Gandhi in politics. Pakistan Peoples Party leader and former Pakistani Prime Minister Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto raised his daughter Ms. Benazir Bhutto in the same way. In the same way, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman is raising his daughter Ms. Zaima Rahman. This has become a cause of burning anger for his political rivals.

The biggest political and social debate about Barrister Ms. Zaima Rahman was created in December 2021. Dr. Murad Hassan was then state minister for information and broadcasting in the fascist Awami League government. In a Facebook live interview, he made very indecent, racist remarks that showed hatred toward women about Ms. Zaima Rahman. A storm of strong condemnation rose across the country after his words came out.

Common citizens, women’s rights activists and political parties protested strongly. The BNP and the Zia family called his words biased, baseless and against good manners. Under heavy criticism, Dr. Murad Hassan had to resign from the cabinet. People also filed cases against him in different districts of the country.

Early in 2026, a viral video of Barrister Ms. Zaima Rahman made her a target again on social media. People posted many kinds of vulgar and offensive comments. Digital rights experts and academics criticised this as a dirty trick to push women away from political and public life. Ms. Zaima Rahman herself said at an event that people often try to push women out of public life through bullying and online harassment.

In June of that year, Chhatra Dal caught a young man for posting indecent comments about her on Facebook and handed him to police. While trolls and harassers attacked her over the video on Facebook, progressive citizens and human rights activists took a firm stand. Rights activists said on social media that this shows a cheap and male dominated mindset. They said clearly that she has the right to protect her private freedom and privacy. Where she goes or who she spends time with is fully her own personal matter.

Last October, Barrister Ms. Zaima Rahman got her job as a legal officer at the UN. Critics then questioned her qualifications, and UN spokesperson Mr. Stephane Dujarric cleared up the hiring process. He said clearly, “Zaima Rahman’s appointment was made fully by following rules and merit, after checking her professional skills.” Women leaders of different non government organisations also backed her.

These women leaders said Ms. Zaima Rahman is an independent, self reliant and confident young woman. They praised how she kept her dignity and patience even under cyberbullying and political attacks. They named her as an example of a strong willed modern woman.

Some reports questioned a lack of experience. Legal experts call that question irrelevant and one sided. They say Ms. Zaima Rahman’s educational qualifications are recognised across the world. They also say the UN judged her other professional experience and found her suitable.

An analyst of international law said a world class body like the UN has no room to hire an unqualified person. Every step there follows very clear and global standards, he said. He added that nothing broke those standards in Ms. Zaima Rahman’s case.

Some people are raising allegations of political revenge and conflict of interest. Senior diplomats and aware citizens say the Office of the President of the General Assembly runs on fully independent international protocol and rules set by the UN. They say the UN Secretariat’s Department of Operational Support directly verifies these regular budget posts. So linking this hiring to local politics is completely wrong.

A former diplomat who worked at the UN in the past did not want to be named. He said linking the career success of a qualified and talented legal professional to her family identity does more than undervalue merit. He called it a failed attempt to block the chance of Bangladesh’s youth to represent the country on the international stage.