Cllr Syeda Khatun became the First Female Mayor of Sandwell Council.
First Female Mayor of Sandwell Council
Councillor Khatun, who has been a councillor for 25 years, having been first elected in 1999, confirmed that the local charities she will be raising money for are Acorns and Yemeni Community Association’s Let’s Talk Hope project.
Acorns offers a network of palliative care and support to life-limited and life-threatened children and their families.
YCA Let’s Talk Hope actively raises awareness, offers guidance and extends support to anyone impacted by cancer, engaging with community and various faith groups to destigmatise discussions around cancer.
On becoming Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Khatun said: “This is a great privilege and honour and my promise to all is that I will uphold this honour and make Sandwell proud.
“I am Sandwell’s first female Muslim mayor which helps to reflect our diverse population in the borough and I feel very proud to be representing everyone in Sandwell.
“I want to wish every success to the Leader, Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, her cabinet and all councillors new and old across the chamber whatever their political allegiance.
“I would also like to thank the outgoing mayoral team for all their hard work over the last year.”
Councillor Syeda Khatun has been appointed as the mayor of Sandwell for the 2024/25 term following a ceremony in Oldbury on Tuesday.
A longstanding Sandwell councilor, Khatun made history in 1999 as the first Bangladeshi woman elected in the Midlands region and the first Muslim woman to secure a seat on Sandwell Council.
Her dedicated service to community development in Sandwell earned her an MBE in the 2004 New Year Honours.
The Mayor is the first citizen of Sandwell. While the role is non-political, the Mayor presides over meetings of the council. The Mayor attends events across Sandwell and also represents the borough at functions outside Sandwell involving local residents and organisations.
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