Moulvibazar’s Jilani Wins London Seat Again

British Bangladeshi politician Golam Jilani Chowdhury Jibu, originally from the Jamadar Bari area of Moulvibazar, has been re-elected as a Labour Party councillor in London’s Barnsbury ward for a sixth consecutive term.

The result was announced following the 2026 local council election in the London Borough of Islington, where Labour retained strong support in the ward.

Jilani Chowdhury was elected alongside fellow Labour candidates Rowena Elizabeth Champion and Kane Emerson. The three Labour candidates secured the highest number of votes in the contest.

Elected Councillors in Barnsbury Ward

Rowena Elizabeth Champion (Labour Party) – 1,615 votes
Jilani Chowdhury (Labour Party) – 1,394 votes
Kane Emerson (Labour Party) – 1,355 votes

The election drew significant interest among members of the British Bangladeshi community, particularly people from Moulvibazar living in the United Kingdom.

Other Candidates and Results

Green Party candidates also performed strongly in the ward:

Amelia Rose Bottomley (Green Party) – 1,168 votes
Sara Mulatu (Green Party) – 1,041 votes
Lucas Waelbroeck Boix (Green Party) – 982 votes

Liberal Democrat candidates received:

Jeremy Arthur Hargreaves – 395 votes
Michael Benedict Champness – 394 votes
Erwann Patrick Michel Le Lannou – 284 votes

Conservative Party candidates secured:

Oliver Teller – 482 votes
Christopher Conor McCann – 447 votes
Zak Vora – 342 votes

Reform UK candidate Francis O’Brien received 480 votes.

According to the official election figures, a total of 10,379 votes were counted in Barnsbury ward. The electorate stood at 7,792, with voter turnout recorded at 47.25 per cent.

A total of 33 ballots were rejected, including 11 ballots rejected due to uncertainty or incomplete marking.

Strong Presence of British Bangladeshis

Jilani Chowdhury’s latest victory is being seen as another example of the growing political influence of the British Bangladeshi diaspora in London politics.

Over the years, politicians of Bangladeshi heritage have established strong representation across several London boroughs, including Tower Hamlets, Newham, Camden and Islington.

Community leaders in Moulvibazar described the result as a proud moment for Bangladeshis living both in the UK and abroad.