On the morning of Sunday, September 17th, Councillor Jyotsna Islam, recently appointed mayor of the London Borough of Redbridge Council, became the first individual of Bangladeshi heritage to assume this position. The official swearing-in ceremony took place at the Newbury Park Mosque. Her friends and relatives attended the ceremony.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by various dignitaries, including the mayor consort her husband, Cllr Sham Islam, the Mayor of Havering Council, Cllr Stephanie Nunn, and her consort, Cllr Barry Mugglestone, the Speaker of Tower Hamlets, Cllr Zahed Chowdhury, the Deputy Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Saira Jamil, the Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, and Deputy Leader Cllr Kam Rai, as well as other local councillors, community leaders, and guests from various organisations.
The mosque’s Imam, Mufti Mohiuddin Miqdad, congratulated Jyotsna Islam, the newly elected mayor, and her distinguished guests. He also stated that the poor people and the nation have always been the beneficiaries of authentic Islamic leadership and that this has always been a self-determined decision in their favour. Subsequently, Imam Maulana Abdullah Al Moudud delivered a lecture elucidating the role of Islamic leadership in bolstering the nation.
Mayor Jyotsna Islam, the primary guest, solemnly took her oath at the mosque and expressed her deep appreciation and gratitude to the mosque’s management committee for the honour of hosting the mayor’s civic event. She also met with her constituents in Aldborough ward.
Local residents attended and observed the ceremony, and they were very pleased to see their mayor sworn in at their local mosque.
The whole ceremony was overseen by general secretary Baha Uddin, acting chairman Mahbub Hussain Runu, and mosque committee members. The occasion was attended by individuals who were part of the current and previous mosque management committee, volunteers, and those who expressed their goodwill. Several notable individuals, including Treasurer Abdul Hannan and Joint Treasurer Ghulam Md., attended the event. Rafiq, Co-Editor AH Farooq Uddin, President of Redbridge Community Trust Mohammad Ahid Uddin, Vice President Afsar Hossain Enam, Prominent Media Personality Michbah Jamal, Vice President Farooq Uddin, Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Zainul Chowdhury, E/C Member Abul Kalam, Mohammad Abul Muhit, Mohammad Tarek Chowdhury, Abdus Shahid, Prominent Businessman Wazed Hasan Salim, Zahir Hossain Ghaus, Shajahan Ali, and several others.