Staff Correspondent:
Rina Hasan, the current executive member of Bangladesh Nationalist Women’s Party, has been an active and well-known name in grassroots politics for a long time. Active in the political arena since 1994, she served as the founding general secretary of Pallabi Thana Women’s Party. Later, she was elected the president of the same unit.
Along with politics, her involvement in development activities is notable. She has played an important role in the empowerment and social progress of women in Greater Pallabi and Rupnagar areas by being associated with various development activities of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Her role in building leadership in women’s organizations and raising awareness at the local level is appreciated.
Rina Hasan’s main source of political inspiration was former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Besides, Begum Zia’s elder sister, the personality known as ‘Chocolate Apa’ and her experience in politics with BNP leaders Selima Rahman and Sarwari Begum has enriched her political journey.
Her husband, the late freedom fighter Ahsan Ullah Hasan, was the founding general secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP. He also served as the organizing secretary of the Khoka-Salam Metropolitan Committee. He was also a three-time elected commissioner of Dhaka City Corporation and served as the acting mayor in 2004. He also participated as a BNP nominee in the 11th National Parliament election in 2018.
It is known that Rina Hasan and her family had to face various types of pressure and harassment during political adversities. Being forced to stay outside her residence for a long time, multiple cases against her children, her detention during the 2018 elections and being under treatment while ill – these incidents have been difficult chapters in her political life. She was later released on bail from the court. The family has claimed that her two children have also been imprisoned in political cases.
However, despite these adversities, Rina Hasan remains active in the political arena. She continues to speak out publicly against corruption and injustice. She is known as a symbol of courageous and steadfast leadership to many in the Pallavi area.
