Habibur Rashid Habib

Habibur Rashid Habib (born 15 September 1973)^[1] is a Bangladeshi politician and the incumbent member of the Jatiya Sangsad representing the Dhaka-9 constituency and the incumbent state minister for Road Transport and Bridges and Railways since February 2026.^[2][3] He is affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and has been active in politics for over 38 years, rising through the party's student wing and local organisations.^[4][5]

Habibur Rashid Habib was born in Dhaka and a resident of the Basabo area in the city's Sabujbagh neighbourhood. He completed his secondary and higher secondary education at Motijheel Ideal School and College and Dhaka City College. He later earned a master's degree in management from Jagannath University.^[6]

Habib began his political journey through the student wing of the BNP, serving as general secretary of the central committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. He later held the position of Joint General Secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan South unit of the BNP, where he played a key role in grassroots organisation and political activities in areas including Khilgaon, Sabujbagh, Mugda, and Basabo.^[7][8]

Habib is currently a member of the BNP's central executive committee, contributing to national-level policy discussions and party strategy. Habib has described himself as a "tested and courageous fighter" on the streets, emphasising service to the people over personal gain.

In the lead-up to the 13th parliamentary election, Habib campaigned on pledges including eliminating waterlogging and traffic congestion, improving healthcare and education, creating drug-free communities, protecting playgrounds, and promoting youth employment and women's safety.^[9]

Habib contested the 13th national parliamentary election as the BNP candidate for Dhaka-9, winning by a significant margin with over 111,000 votes. He defeated prominent independent candidate Tasnim Jara and others. The victory was marked by cordial gestures, including sharing sweets with opponents after the results were announced.^[10][11]

Like many opposition leaders in Bangladesh, Habib has faced multiple legal cases, primarily related to political violence and sabotage allegations during periods of opposition protests.

In 2013 and 2014, Habib was placed on remand in connection with violence cases while serving as a student leader.^[12][13]

In 2024, Habib was sentenced in absentia and later surrendered in a sabotage case from 2012, leading to imprisonment alongside other BNP leaders.^[14][15]

Several cases against him and other BNP activists have resulted in acquittals in subsequent years.^[16]