London Bureau

Six women of Bangladeshi origin are contesting in the upcoming national elections in the United Kingdom.

They will contest the election on the nomination of the opposition party Labor Party.

Among these 6 women are currently members of the House of Commons, the lower house of the British Parliament, Rushnara Ali, Tulip Siddique, Rupa Haque and Afsana Begum. Rumi Chowdhury and Rufia Ashraf have become candidates with them.

The opposition Labor Party is likely to win the upcoming national elections. Meanwhile, the Labor Party is 20 points ahead of the ruling Conservative Party in all opinion polls. If no major incident happens, the Labor Party will form the government in the UK after 15 years. If the party comes to power, some of these women of Bangladeshi origin may find a place in the cabinet.

National elections will be held in the United Kingdom on July 4. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced early elections at least six months before the end of the current government's term in the country.
Rushnara Ali

Rushnara Ali is the first MP of Bangladeshi origin in the UK Parliament. He has been elected MP for four consecutive times since 2010 in Bethnal Green and Bow constituency in London's Bangladeshi-dominated Tower Hamlets. Rushnara Ali has served as the shadow minister for international development since 2010. He was then appointed Shadow Minister of State for Education in October 2013.

Rushnara Ali was born in Sylhet. When he was seven years old, his family moved to the UK. He graduated from St John's College, Oxford with a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Silver hook

Rupa Asha Haque was elected MP for the first time in 2015 on the nomination of the Labor Party. He was then elected MP for Ealing Central and Acton in West London for three consecutive terms.

In October 2016, Rupa Haque became the Shadow Home Minister of the Labor Party. He was appointed Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Music Group and the All-Party Parliamentary Position of Crossrail.

Tulip Siddique

In 2015, Tulip Siddique was first elected as an MP from the London constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn on the nomination of the Labor Party. Tulip Siddique, daughter of Sheikh Rehana, youngest daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Tulip MP for three consecutive terms. Since 2016, she has also served as Shadow Education Minister, Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group, Member of the Women and Equality Select Committee.

Afsana Begum

Afsana Begum was elected MP for the first time from the Poplar and Limehouse constituency in East London on the nomination of the Labor Party.

MP Afsana Begum came into widespread discussion by playing a vocal role in the British Parliament against the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and voting for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Afsana was born and brought up in Tower Hamlets. His original home in Bangladesh is Jagannathpur in Sunamganj.

Rumi Chowdhury

Rumi Chowdhury has become a candidate for the first time in the parliamentary elections with the nomination of the Labor Party. He was first elected as a councilor from Luton Council in 2023.

Rumi Chowdhury's rival candidate is Conservative Party leader and former Home Minister Preeti Patel. Rumi Chowdhury is optimistic about the victory as the ruling Conservative Party is now in a shaky state.

Ruffia Ashraf

Northampton Town Council Mayor and Councilor Rufiya Ashraf is the first Labor Party candidate to run for the South Northampton seat. The seat has long been held by the Conservative Party.

Many say that the popularity of the ruling Conservative Party is declining, which has led to a nationwide surge in the Labor Party. This time the Labor Party is determined to save the South Northampton seat.