Apsana Begum’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Apsana Begum (Bengali: আফসানা বেগম, Sylheti: ꠀꠙꠍꠣꠘꠣ ꠛꠦꠉꠝ; born May 1990) is a British politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Poplar and Limehouse since 2019. A member of the Labour Party, she succeeded Jim Fitzpatrick, who was first elected in 1997.

Early life and career

Begum was born in Shadwell, Tower Hamlets, London to Bengali Muslim parents originally from Jagannathpur, Sunamganj, Bangladesh. Her father, Manir Uddin Ahmed (who died in 2012), was also a Labour Party politician, the Tower Hamlets Community Housing Board Director (2002–2006) and the 2004 Mayor of Tower Hamlets. Begum completed her education at Queen Mary University of London.

She worked as an administrative officer for Tower Hamlets Council whilst the discredited former Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, held office.

In 2017, Begum became the first British Bangladeshi woman elected as Secretary of Tower Hamlets Labour Party.

She has been actively involved in local campaigns to protect public services, stating that “tackling inequalities and standing up for marginalised communities has always been key to me”. She presented a petition to Tower Hamlets Council asking the Mayor to reconsider the 2017 budget “on the grounds that it is discriminatory to Women and Black and Minority Ethnic residents”.

Parliamentary career

Apsana Begum was selected to contest the safe Labour seat of Poplar and Limehouse at the 2019 General Election. She was endorsed by the left-wing group Momentum and nominated from an all-women shortlist, which included Tower Hamlets councillor Amina Ali and Progress activist Heather Peto.

In the general election in December 2019, Begum was elected MP for Poplar and Limehouse.

Apsana Begum is the UK’s first Muslim woman MP to wear the hijab, taking her seat in what has been called the most diverse Parliament ever. On being elected, Begum spoke to the Eastern Eye about the series of racist, Islamophobic and misogynistic attacks that she has had to endure and the many barriers facing BAME women when getting involved in public life.

Council housing allegations

Begum “faces an investigation over whether she wrongly secured a council flat”. Begum had left her husband’s residence and was allocated a one-bed flat worth £330,000 soon afterwards, allegedly jumping a queue of 18,000 people on the waiting list in her local area. A senior executive at Tower Hamlets has received two official complaints concerning Begum’s housing allocation. A Labour Party source has said, “It’s a disgrace these malicious attacks are being published, and she is being forced to relive these traumatic experiences.” A council spokesman has said that it takes allegations of housing fraud very seriously.

Personal life

In 2014, Begum moved into her husband’s residence, and they split up a year later. Her ex-husband is a councillor for Tower Hamlets. She does not have any children.