Bangladeshi Social Media Star Tasnim Zara Loses Parliamentary Election

Tasnim Zara, a well-known figure in Bangladesh with 7.5 million Facebook followers, has been defeated in the recent parliamentary election. Zara finished in third place.

According to Bangladeshi newspapers, Zara, who ran under the (ball) election symbol, contested from Dhaka-9 constituency and received 44,684 votes. The winner, Habibur Rashid of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, secured 111,212 votes.

Her election symbol was a sheaf of paddy, and she had been considered a strong contender. The 31-year-old doctor rose to prominence through Bangladesh’s student movements and youth activism.