00:00Councillors have been criticised for campaigning to become members of parliament in another country
00:04while holding office and representing residents in East London.
00:07Several councillors in Tower Hamlets have indicated that they intend to seek nominations
00:12to stand in the upcoming elections in Bangladesh in February.
00:15Sabina Khan, who represents Mile End and holds an important role on the council's scrutiny committee,
00:20has already been confirmed as a candidate for the Bangladesh National Party.
00:24She was first elected as a Labour councillor in 2022,
00:27but defected to the borough's ruling Aspire party last year.
00:31Since February, she's attended fewer than half of the council meetings she was due to be at,
00:35and social media posts suggest she's been out in Bangladesh campaigning.
00:39A spokesperson for the Labour Party said the people of Tower Hamlets deserve better.
00:43They are paying her to campaign for office in a different country
00:45while she is meant to be undertaking a serious role in scrutinising how this council looks after its finances.
00:51Other independent councillors have also shared posts about how they intend to stand
00:56in the upcoming elections.
00:57They have been sharing social media posts about the economic situation in Bangladesh
01:01and even about potholes blighting the country's roads.
01:04All of the councillors representing Tower Hamlets, ruling Aspire party, have Bengali heritage,
01:09and the borough has long been proud of its history and association with the country.
01:13But residents told us that it was unfair that people elected to represent their views in the town hall
01:18are splitting their time by trying to get elected as politicians abroad.
01:22So, again, that's the most if you want to agree.
01:24Thank you so much to thank Wegner and go to others.
01:25Thank you so much when this meeting is 때문에 Kanitay
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