Bangladesh-Born Councillor Becomes Deputy Mayor of Redbridge

A British-Bangladeshi politician with roots in Bangladesh’s Moulvibazar district has been appointed Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Redbridge, marking another milestone for the growing influence of the Bangladeshi diaspora in British politics.

Councillor Syeda Lovely Choudhury formally took up the ceremonial civic role following the borough’s annual council meeting after the 7 May 2026 local elections.

Her appointment has been widely welcomed by British-Bangladeshi communities across the United Kingdom, particularly in her ancestral home district of Moulvibazar.

A senior figure within the Labour Party, Ms Choudhury has built a longstanding reputation in local government and community activism. She previously made history as the first British-Bangladeshi woman elected as a Labour councillor from Redbridge’s Loxford ward.

Most recently, she represented Bridge ward before securing re-election in Newbury ward during this year’s local elections.

Her latest appointment is not the first senior civic role she has held in the borough. Between 2021 and 2022, she served as Civic Mayor of Redbridge, where she became known for her community engagement and charity work.

Alongside her ceremonial responsibilities, Ms Choudhury has also played an active role in council policymaking. She has served on Redbridge Council’s Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee and the Strategy and Resources Policy Development Committee, contributing to discussions on healthcare provision, local governance and public services.

Despite her political career in Britain, Ms Choudhury has maintained close ties with Bangladesh. Her family home is in Bekamura, in Moulvibazar Sadar upazila, and she regularly visits the region while supporting charitable and educational initiatives there.

Community leaders say her appointment reflects the increasing visibility of British-Bangladeshi women in mainstream British politics.

Beyond council politics, Ms Choudhury is also involved in several community and cultural organisations. She serves as Women’s Affairs and Cultural Secretary of the Greater Sylhet Development and Welfare Council UK, one of the UK’s largest Bangladeshi diaspora organisations.

She has also campaigned on public health awareness among ethnic minority communities and has supported cultural and literary events promoting Bengali heritage among younger generations growing up in Britain.

Speaking after taking office, Ms Choudhury said she hoped to continue working on neighbourhood safety, education, public health and community cohesion across Redbridge.

Her appointment comes amid a broader rise in representation for British-Bangladeshis in local government across London, particularly in boroughs with large South Asian communities such as Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge.

EN/RA