Several councilors from Tower Hamlets, elected by voters in London, are reportedly running for parliamentary seats in Bangladesh.
Tower Hamlets, a culturally rich borough within London, is known for having the largest Bangladeshi community in the UK. Lutfur Rahman, the borough’s mayor who has a contentious history due to corruption convictions, could potentially lose some parliamentary seats during the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh scheduled for February.
According to a local newspaper, the Evening Standard, there are reports about a few Tower Hamlets councilors indicating their intention to seek election in Bangladesh. While there isn’t a law in the UK prohibiting this, some government officials have criticized these councilors for neglecting local constituents in London.
One notable figure mentioned is Sabina Khan, who was elected as a Labor MP for Mile End in 2022 but switched allegiance to the Aspire Party led by Bangladeshi-born Mayor Rahman last year. Her social media activity reveals little connection to local governance recently, leading to speculation about her focus on Bangladeshi politics. Interestingly, she has also been a strong supporter of London Mayor Sadiq Khan throughout her career.
The local Labor Party has highlighted Khan’s significant roles at the Tower Hamlets Council, particularly on the Overview Scrutiny Committee, for which she received remuneration.
It was reported that Khan has been accepted as the candidate from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for Golapganj, a region in northeastern Bangladesh with around 330,000 residents.
Recent coverage suggests Khan’s absence from council meetings has raised doubts, with some linking it to her campaigning in Bangladesh. Historical criticism of low parliamentary attendance in her area might hint at a longer-term trend.
Another councilor, Oyed Ahmed, was also mentioned. He was re-elected in 2022 as a Labor representative for the Poplar, Lansbury area but has since defected to Mayor Rahman’s party, first as part of Tower Hamlets First and now as an independent. His social media presence includes posts about domestic issues, immigration policies, and reflects his involvement in Bangladeshi politics, often in Bengali.
A Bangladeshi newspaper noted that like Khan, Ahmed serves as a foreign affairs advisor for the BNP and has connections to the Golapganj region.
There’s word of a third councilor preparing to run, although their name wasn’t disclosed.
This isn’t the first time UK politicians holding dual roles have made headlines in relation to Bangladeshi politics. Earlier this year, Tulip Siddique, an anti-corruption minister, resigned amid accusations of corruption involving a prominent Bangladeshi family. Her background is noteworthy, as her grandfather was the president and prime minister of Bangladesh, and her aunt held the longest-serving prime minister title until a coup in 2024.
Siddique was confirmed for a position in August during an ongoing corruption trial in Bangladesh. She did not attend, citing corruption concerns within the court system and disputing the authenticity of the evidence against her.
Additionally, another Labor minister recently resigned due to financial misconduct related to property issues, highlighting ongoing turbulence among politicians with Bangladeshi ties.
