Town Hall refuses to say how long it knew councillor was in hiding in Bangladesh
Cllr Nazma Rahman previously served as Camden’s mayor. Photograph: Camden Council
Camden Council has refused to clarify how long it knew its former mayor was in hiding in Bangladesh – after it emerged the councillor was absent for months from the Town Hall.
Last week, Cllr Nazma Rahman’s return was announced to the full council after a long period of non-attendance.
Borough solicitor Andrew Maughan had planned to ask that members agree to a waiver that made sure the Labour councillor for West Hampstead would not lose her seat in the chamber as a result of her not being present.
His report explained that Cllr Rahman went to Bangladesh this summer to visit family, but was “caught up in the recent political turmoil in the country”.
“Her family came under the direct threat of violence and went into hiding, making it difficult for her to return,” he said.
But the waiver request was withdrawn when it emerged Rahman was in attendance at the full council meeting after all, and was therefore not at risk of losing her seat.
A council spokesperson told the Citizen that Cllr Rahman had “safely returned” to the country, and had recently attended meetings.
When asked how long the council had known about the situation, the spokesperson refused to comment.
They confirmed Cllr Rahman had been in receipt of her basic council allowance throughout this time, “in accordance with the terms set out in the Members’ Allowance Scheme”.
All councillors must attend at least one meeting in a six-month period, or risk losing their place in the chamber.
Azadur Rahman Azad, Cllr Rahman’s husband, was a senior organiser for the Awami League (AL), the ruling party in Bangladesh until August.
The AL’s leader and now former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, fled the country by helicopter following allegations that she was involved in the mass killing of protesters during a period of deadly anti-government unrest.
The nation’s interim government has since banned the AL.
When asked about the connection between her husband and the AL, or the exact reasons why the Cllr Rahman had found it difficult to return to Britain, the spokesperson declined to comment.