When Tarique Rahman came back to Bangladesh two months ago, just in time to lead his mother's party towards the national election victory, a figure has captured the attention of public was Tarique Rahman's pet cat, Zebu. This fluffy pet, a Siberian cat, has quickly gained popularity on the Internet, with a Facebook and Instagram page, and a variety of memes and light commentary.
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Soon after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) sweeping win, the Facebook page "ZebuTheCat" posted a celebratory message for Rahman. The illustration described him as "jantar pradhanmantri", Bangla for "Prime Minister of the People", alongside the caption "congratulations hooman". A user commented on the post and jokingly demanded the creation of a "Ministry of cat - under Zebu!"
Family pet in the public eye
Much of Zebu's online popularity has been driven by Tarique Rahman's daughter, Zaima Rahman, who frequently shares updates about the cat. Bangla speakers often pronounce the name as "Jebu" or "Jhebu", adding to the pet's recognisable identity across social media.
Zebu also drew attention during the family's return journey from London to Dhaka, travelling in a crate aboard the plane. Zaima later addressed the growing curiosity in a Facebook post, writing: "I must admit I'm equally surprised and amused by the level of curiosity surrounding Zebu in Bangladesh. If only she understood!"
Life with Zebu
Zaima reflected on the emotional bond the family shares with the pet, writing, "Caring for an animal, any animal, is a great responsibility. After all, it is a life, a creation of Allah. When I first brought Zebu home as a kitten, I never imagined how deeply she would become part of our family. There were times when my parents would come home and ask after Zebu before asking about me! She would bounce around my mum as she gardened or walked through the neighbourhood, and in the evenings she would curl up on my dad’s lap, enjoying a head massage while he finished his work calls. As for me, Zebu always seemed able to read my emotions, offering comfort in the only ways her little paws and fluffy belly could."
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On relocating with a pet, she noted, "Zebu has now travelled across continents into a completely new world. For her small soul, this is a far greater upheaval than we humans may ever fully realise," adding that Zebu taught the family patience and compassion. She also revealed a quirky trait, "She doesn’t meow!"
Instead, Zaima shared, "Instead, she chirps softly like a bird when she's happy or surprised, groans in mild protest if you carry her without permission, and can yowl quite aggressively at cats she doesn’t like!"
