Shama Obayed, daughter of former BNP Secretary General K.M. Obaidur Rahman, has entered parliament for the first time and simultaneously taken charge as a State Minister.

After securing a two-thirds majority in the 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed a new government on Tuesday. Party Chairman Tarique Rahman took oath along with members of his cabinet. Shama Obayed has been appointed State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Khalilur Rahman (a technocrat) has been made the minister in charge of the ministry.

Fifty-two-year-old Shama Obayed currently serves as BNP’s Organizing Secretary for the Faridpur division and has been involved with the party chairperson’s advisory committee on international affairs. In the latest election, she won the Faridpur-2 constituency (Saltha and Nagarkanda upazilas) with 121,994 votes.

Born on May 14, 1972, Shama is the daughter of freedom fighter Obaidur Rahman, who served as BNP Secretary General in the 1980s and was also a minister under the government of Ziaur Rahman. Her mother, Shaheda Obayed, was a teacher. A graduate by education, Shama resides in Banani, Dhaka, while her ancestral home is in Laskardia village of Nagarkanda, Faridpur.

She became politically active following her father’s death in 2007. She first contested the parliamentary election in 2008 but was unsuccessful. Although nominated again in 2018, she later withdrew in line with her party’s election boycott decision.

Shama previously held US citizenship but formally renounced it on November 20, prior to the announcement of the 13th national election schedule.

Ahead of the election, a dispute arose between her and Shahidul Islam, central general secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal, over BNP’s nomination for the Faridpur-2 seat. On August 21 last year, clashes between supporters of the two sides left one person dead. That night, BNP temporarily suspended both leaders from their party posts, though the suspension was lifted a few months later.

Shama has also faced legal cases related to the incident. In her affidavit, she disclosed a total of 18 cases, noting that she has been acquitted in 17 of them.

In her election affidavit, she listed her profession as a businesswoman. She serves as Managing Director of Allure Builders Limited, Chairman of Avosilk Solutions, and General Secretary of the Institute for Global Co-operation Foundation (IGCF). Her husband, Shovon Islam (Mustazirul Shovon Islam), is also a businessman. The couple has one son and one daughter.

According to her affidavit, her annual income is Tk 2,189,071. Of this, Tk 786,667 comes from employment and Tk 96,000 from honorariums.

She owns a flat in Banani valued at Tk 69.32 million. Her declared assets include Tk 25.25 million in cash, Tk 3.03 million deposited in banks, Tk 5 million in shares and bonds, 50 bhori of gold ornaments, and a jeep worth Tk 3 million. She also has an outstanding bank loan of Tk 16.74 million related to the purchase of the apartment. The acquisition cost of her immovable property is listed as Tk 69.32 million, with a current estimated value of Tk 90 million. She also declared movable assets worth Tk 43.7 million.