Jebu the cat lands in Dhaka as Tarique Rahman returns to Bangladesh, sparks social media buzz

Jebu the cat

Jebu, the Siberian pet cat belonging to the family of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman, landed in Bangladesh from London on Thursday and quickly sparked widespread chatter online.

The BNP’s verified Facebook page announced the cat’s arrival shortly after noon, posting a photograph with the caption, “Zebu has returned to the country.”

Jebu travelled on the same Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight as Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Zaima Rahman. The flight, BG 202, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 11:39 am after flying from London via Sylhet.

Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh after more than 17 years in exile. To mark his homecoming, the BNP organised a large public reception at the 300-foot area of Purbachal, where party leaders and supporters gathered in significant numbers.

From the airport, Rahman was scheduled to head directly to the event. Following the public programme, he was expected to visit his mother, BNP chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital.

In recent months, Jebu has emerged as an unlikely social media sensation, particularly among younger Bangladeshis and cat enthusiasts.

The pet first caught public attention after a photograph surfaced showing the cat intently gazing at Tarique Rahman’s mobile phone. Subsequent images and videos helped cement Jebu’s status as an online favourite, according to a report by India Today.

Tarique Rahman has also shared photographs featuring Jebu on his own social media accounts. Commenting on the unexpected popularity, he told BBC Bangla, “The cat is my daughter’s cat. Now, of course, it has become everyone’s. We all adore it."

Just hours before the family’s arrival in Dhaka, Jebu expanded its digital footprint with the launch of a dedicated Facebook page. The page, described as light-hearted and satirical, was confirmed to be official by Saimum Parvez, special assistant to the BNP chairperson’s foreign affairs committee and head of the party’s content generation team.