Quick Facts
Biography
Helen Zerin Khan or Helen Jerin Khan is a former member of the Bangladesh Parliament, a Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician, and currently the secretary general of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Mohila Dal.
Career
During her adolescence and early adulthood, Khan served as the vice-president of Chatra Dal, and a student leader of the Eden Mohila College. She was elected to parliament from reserved seats as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate in 2005, following a result of 120 votes (0.06%) in the 2001 Bangladeshi general election as an independent candidate, and eventually resulting in 28,594 votes (13.17%) in 2008 for the Madaripur-2 constituency, as a candidate of the BNP. However, during the 2014 Bangladeshi general election, almost all of the major parties boycotted the election, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. During this period of national political unrest, Khan continued to campaign and strike. She additionally prepared for the 2018 Bangladeshi general election, which would once again be boycotted.
Helen Zerin Khan continues to campaign and contest, as well as celebrate occasions such as the 45th-anniversary of the founding of the Jatiotabadi Mohila Dal with her fellow party leaders.
Early life and family
Khan was born into a political family; with her father and uncles being successful politicians, and her mother being a social worker. She has a son studying A-levels, a daughter studying in the United States, and a brother teaching at New York University. As a child, she often practiced speeches with her father, which she gave in class and in competitions. Helen graduated in 1984 from Charmugaria Girls' School, where she would often practice her public speaking and find her interest in programmes and policy; especially those relating to women. In 1993 she completed her BA (hons) in Islamic history at Eden Mohila College, and went on to achieve an MA in 2010, and an LLB in 2012.
Helen Zerin Khan has lived in Madaripur and Dhaka, as well as the United States, where she holds citizenship.