London Councillor Under Fire for Claiming Allowances While Based in Bangladesh
A Tower Hamlets councillor has ignited a major controversy by continuing to receive substantial taxpayer-funded allowances while living over 5,000 miles away in Bangladesh. Sabina Khan, who represents a ward in east London, has reportedly been based in Sylhet, Bangladesh, for the past eight months, yet continues to claim her full annual package of £20,600.
Substantial Allowances for Remote Representation
Tower Hamlets Council has confirmed that Councillor Khan earns £11,898 annually as a basic councillor allowance, with an additional £8,702 for her role as Scrutiny Lead for Resources. This position specifically requires her to closely examine council spending and financial decisions, a responsibility critics argue cannot be properly fulfilled from another continent.
Since first travelling to Bangladesh in May last year, Khan has spent the majority of her time in the Asian country. Her participation in council business has been minimal, with most meetings attended remotely via video link, occasional proxy representation, or missed entirely. Sources within the council have described the situation as "scandalous" and expressed astonishment that she hasn't been compelled to resign immediately.
Political Ambitions in Bangladesh
The reason for Khan's extended stay in Bangladesh appears to be her political ambitions there. She has been actively campaigning to become a parliamentary candidate for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), attending rallies and distributing leaflets throughout December and January ahead of Bangladesh's general election.
Khan initially claimed to have stepped down from her Tower Hamlets role to "dedicate myself fully to public service in Bangladesh," stating her resignation had been accepted. However, it later emerged that Tower Hamlets Council never received any formal resignation, and Khan subsequently appeared at a council meeting later that same month.
Controversial Party Defection
Sabina Khan was originally elected as a Labour councillor in 2022 but defected to the controversial Aspire party in November 2024 alongside another councillor. This defection gave Aspire overall control of Tower Hamlets Council, which has long been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
This isn't Khan's first controversy regarding her residential status. During her previous tenure as a Labour councillor on Brent Council in West London, she faced criticism for not living within the borough she represented.
Growing Criticism and Public Outrage
Communities Secretary Steve Reed has expressed being "appalled" that Khan would "abandon her commitment" to local residents, particularly while Tower Hamlets faces numerous fraud scandals. Critics have highlighted the stark contrast between Khan's £20,600 package and the average annual wage in Bangladesh of just £1,961.
One council source revealed: "When she has joined meetings online you can see where she is - on her balcony in Bangladesh. It's scandalous." Another councillor commented: "It's staggering. It is unfair on everybody. I think she should have done the decent thing and gone. She should resign, she frankly cannot do it from Bangladesh."
Remote Working Challenges
Critics have emphasised the practical impossibility of properly serving constituents from another continent. "I know what it's like at Tower Hamlets, with harrowing stories of casework," said one councillor. "People come to see you, you can't do it from abroad, you have got to sit there and see people. You can't do casework by Microsoft Teams, I'm sorry it's ridiculous!"
Despite the controversy, Khan intends to continue serving until the local elections in May, meaning she will have received a full year's allowances while predominantly based in Asia. Her social media activity suggests she has made only brief returns to London for specific events, including Eid-al-Adha celebrations in June and a trip to Mecca in October.
Neither Sabina Khan, fellow councillor Ohid Ahmed (who also attempted to become a BNP candidate), nor the Aspire Party responded to requests for comment. Tower Hamlets Council, now controlled by Mayor Lutfur Rahman's Aspire Party, has been approached for further clarification on this developing situation.
