Tasnim Jara () is a Bangladeshi physician, researcher, entrepreneur, social media personality and politician, who is currently serving as the Senior Joint Member Secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP). In 2021, the UK government recognized her as a "Vaccine Luminary" for her work in building public confidence in vaccination.
Early life and education.
Tasnim Jara was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She completed her Higher Secondary Education at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. She studied medicine at Dhaka Medical College, where she received her MBBS degree. She later completed a Master's in Evidence-Based Health Care at the University of Oxford.
Professional career.
Jara began her medical career at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. In 2019, she moved to the United Kingdom and worked as an emergency medicine doctor within the NHS.
Since 2021, Jara has been an internal medicine resident at Cambridge University Hospitals. Alongside clinical practice, she has been involved in undergraduate medical education at the University of Cambridge, where she has served as a clinical supervisor.
Jara co-founded Shohay Health, a digital platform providing health information to Bengali-speaking communities. In 2023, she contributed to the development of the Shohay Pregnancy app, which offers week-by-week pregnancy guidance tailored to users in Bangladesh.
As a researcher, she has co-authored articles published in international peer-reviewed journals, including "" and "Frontiers in Global Women’s Health".
Activism and social work.
In 2014, she was elected President of the United Nations Youth Advisory Panel in Bangladesh, advising the United Nations on youth engagement and policy development.
In December 2016, Jara received media attention for her choice of bridal attire. At her wedding reception in Dhaka, she wore a cotton sari inherited from her grandmother, without traditional jewelry or makeup. This decision was reported by several news outlets as a statement against societal pressures on women and generated public discussion.
She has also expressed support for mental health education in schools as a means to address stigma and improve access to care.
Social media influence.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she began producing Bengali-language health-related videos on social media. Her content, covering topics such as COVID-19 prevention, vaccination education, reproductive health, and mental wellness, has received international media attention, including Financial Times and ITV.
Political career.
Jara became involved in politics in 2024 through the Jatiya Nagorik Committee (JNC), a citizens’ coalition formed after the July uprising. She contributed to establishing the committee’s diaspora wing before taking a leadership position in the subsequently formed National Citizen Party (NCP).
As Senior Joint Member Secretary, she is also part of the NCP’s Political Council, a ten-member executive body referred to by "The Daily Star" as the “Super 10.”
In her political role, she has publicly advocated for transparency and accountability within the party, including raising concerns about financial disclosures by senior officials.
Recognition and awards.
In 2021, Jara was named a "Vaccine Luminary" by the UK government at the G7 Global Vaccine Confidence Summit.
Bangladeshi media outlet, The Business Standard, have named her as a "changemaker" in 2021, citing her use of digital platforms to address medical misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Personal life.
Tasnim Jara is married to Khaled Saifullah, a Bangladeshi tech entrepreneur and human rights activist. Saifullah studied human rights law at the University of Oxford and also holds a leadership role in the National Citizen Party alongside Jara.