Luthfur Rahman
- Surabur Rahman (father)
- Fulmala Rahman (mother)
Luthfur Rahman OBE (Bengali: লুথফুর রহমান; born October 1976) is a British former local councillor, who served as the deputy leader of Manchester City Council from 2021 to 2024.[1] In May 2008, he became the first person of Bangladeshi origin to be elected a Councillor on Manchester City Council.[2]
Early life
Luthfur Rahman was born into a Bengali Muslim family from Shathal in Patli, Jagannathpur in the Sunamganj District of Bangladesh.
Migrating to Longsight in Manchester as a child in 1980, Luthfur Rahman attended St Agnes Primary School and Burnage High School.[3]
Career
Luthfur Rahman was first elected to Manchester City Council in 2008, taking the seat from the Liberal Democrats with a swing of over 30 per cent gaining a majority of 1147. He was re-elected in 2012, doubling his majority. In 2010, Luthfur Rahman was elected by fellow Councillors to be the lead member for the race and equality portfolio at Manchester City Council.[4]
In the 2024 local elections, Luthfur Rahman lost his Longsight ward seat to Shahbaz Sarwar of The Workers Party of Britain (WPB) by 184 votes.[5] The surge in support for the WPB has been attributed to the national position of the Labour Party on the 2024 conflict in Gaza.
Recognition
In 2011, Luthfur Rahman was awarded the Community Champion of the Year at the Local Government Information Unit Councillor Awards.[6] The Local Government Information Unit described Luthfur Rahman as having
"successfully developed links with marginalised groups across Manchester, and, furthermore, was at the forefront of an effort to bridge the various gaps between different generations. Importantly, after establishing these new connections, Cllr Rahman effectively used these channels to ensure that council decisions were sensitive to the different interests of different sections of the community."[7]
Arts Council England have said of Luthfur Rahman
"He was integral in the making of the The[sic] Festival of Manchester and helped Manchester achieve the UNESCO City of Literature status."[8]
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to local government.[9]
See also
References
- ^ "Councillor Luthfur Rahman". Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "Creating a voice for the community". Sylhet Times. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "City's Culture councillor made OBE in Queen's Birthday Honours". Asian Leader. 14 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Councillor's delight at equality post". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "Local elections 2024". Manchester City Council. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Longsight councillor wins Community Champion Award". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "C'llr Awards 2012: Community Champion of the Year". Local Government Information Unit. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
- ^ "Councillor Luthfur Rahman". Arts Council England. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ "No. 63135". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 2020. p. B14.