Bangladeshi-origin Dolly Begum nominated as MP in Canada

The Scarborough Southwest riding of Toronto has become a hotbed of debate in the federal politics of Canada's ruling political party. The seat, known as a long-time Liberal stronghold, has been virtually vacant since the departure of former minister Bill Blair, so Bangladeshi-origin Dolly Begum has been nominated by the ruling Liberal Party.

On Tuesday morning (February 3), the Liberal Party of Canada officially announced that Dolly Begum will contest the upcoming federal by-election for the Scarborough Southwest riding for the Liberal Party led by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Dolly Begum, the first Bangladeshi-origin MPP elected to the Canadian legislature, has been serving as the provincial MPP for Scarborough Southwest since 2018.

In Queen's Park, Dolly Begum was not only a legislator, but also established herself as the Deputy Leader of the Ontario NDP and a strong voice of the opposition. She won three consecutive elections by huge margins and won the hearts of the people.

Liberal Party of Canada President Sachit Mehra said in a statement, "Dolly Begum's record of public service is unparalleled. She is not only a skilled politician, but also an embodiment of the hopes and aspirations of ordinary people. The addition of leadership like Dolly Begum to Prime Minister Mark Carney's new team will further enrich Canada."

In her official statement, Dolly Begum cited the visionary leadership of current Prime Minister Mark Carney as the reason for joining the Liberal Party. She said, "I have fought for the people of Scarborough Southwest for the past seven years. However, at this critical juncture in the country, I feel that it is necessary to work at the central level to build a stronger and more independent economic structure. I want to achieve that goal under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney. He said he is ready to take on the challenge of reducing the cost of living, ensuring affordable housing and building Canada as a united and prosperous country.

Dolly Begum's home is on the banks of the Manu River in Moulvibazar, Bangladesh. She migrated to Canada at the age of 12 with her father Raja Mia and mother Zaba Begum. After graduating in political science from the University of Toronto, she earned a master's degree in development administration and planning from the world-renowned University College London (UCL) in London.

Delwar Elahi, a prominent community figure living in Toronto, said that this decision by the Liberal Party and Prime Minister Mark Carney once again proves that not the party, but the honesty, efficiency, public relations and the political philosophy of equality of Canada, a country of multi-ethnic, multi-racial and multi-religious people, are basically the idols of any party in Canada. It has been proven time and again that Dolly Begum has achieved the highest acceptance in this regard. Mark Carney won by bringing Dolly Begum to his party.

Experts say that Dolly Begum's entry from Canadian provincial politics to federal or central politics will add a different dimension to her career. In addition, her success in politics will inspire Bangladeshis, especially the new generation, to the country's mainstream politics.