Councillors from Tower Hamlets Council in central London have ignited controversy after being caught campaigning to stand as Members of Parliament in Bangladesh. Cllr Shabina Khan and Cllr Ohid Ahmed are reportedly seeking candidacy in the upcoming general election scheduled for February 2024 under the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a political group historically associated with allegations of corruption and political violence.
The BNP’s founding principles emphasize “full faith and trust in Allah,” “Bangladeshi nationalism,” and socialism. The party faced significant backlash in 2006 due to corruption scandals and political violence. More recently, in July 2023, its youth and student wings were implicated in the brutal murder of a scrap trader, Lal Chand Sohan, in Dhaka, leading to the expulsion of five party members.
Photographs have surfaced showing both councillors participating in campaign events in Bangladesh, where they appear to be courting local BNP leaders in hopes of securing nominations for parliamentary positions. Cllr Khan, previously affiliated with the Labour Party, has been criticized for her association with Lutfur Rahman, a convicted election fraudster who founded the Aspire Party.
Political figures have expressed outrage over the councillors’ actions. Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, called the situation a “complete farce,” insisting that the councillors should “resign immediately.” He highlighted the conflict of interest, stating, “Cllr Khan and Cllr Ahmed were elected to represent Tower Hamlets, not Bangladesh,” and noted that many residents feel betrayed by their representatives.
Similarly, Conservative politician Susan Hall questioned how they could fulfill their responsibilities to Londoners while seeking positions abroad. She emphasized that these councillors need to choose which country they wish to serve. Kevin Hollinrake, Tory Chairman, expressed disbelief that councillors elected and funded by British taxpayers would pursue elections in Bangladesh, remarking, “Not content with spreading their divisive, sectarian politics across the East End of London, they are travelling over 4,000 miles to spread it elsewhere.”
Cllr Khan’s record raises further concerns; she reportedly earned over £20,000 from her council roles last year, yet missed more than half of her official meetings. A local resident criticized her absence, stating, “We elected her to represent us, not Bangladesh.” Evidence of her campaign support for the BNP includes a Facebook page titled “Sabina Khan for Golapganj and Beanibazar.”
Cllr Ahmed, who serves as an independent councillor, has also been seen at BNP events, with social media posts highlighting his engagement with supporters. One such post included the caption, “The path of change begins at home.”
A long-serving councillor from Tower Hamlets described the situation as “utterly ridiculous,” emphasizing that the councillors are neglecting their responsibilities in East London. They noted, “Cllr Khan is being paid extra to lead the financial scrutiny of the council,” adding that the focus seems to be on personal political ambitions rather than serving the community.
The UK government has condemned the councillors’ actions as “unacceptable.” A spokesperson from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities stated, “We are clear that councillors must be able to effectively serve the constituents who elected them.”
In response to the situation, a spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council clarified that UK law does not automatically disqualify a councillor running for office in another country, although foreign jurisdictions may impose their own restrictions on dual mandates.
Earlier in 2023, ministerial envoys were dispatched to Tower Hamlets to address what was described as “failing governance.” A report indicated that decision-making was heavily influenced by an inner circle led by Rahman.
An Aspire Party spokesperson suggested that if Cllr Khan wins in Bangladesh, she would resign from her council position. Cllr Ahmed reaffirmed his commitment to his constituents, stating, “I have always believed that public service is about integrity, not rhetoric,” and pledged to continue serving the people of Lansbury until May 2024, emphasizing his dedication to community needs.
