By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: Young Congress MLA Sabina Yasmin today created history when she took oath as a Minister in West Bengal. She would be first Muslim woman minister in post-Independence West Bengal. Member of Rahul Gandhi brigade, Yasmin was Sabhadhipati (president) of Malda Zilla Parishad when she contested the recent Assembly poll and won.
Along with Yasmin, four other Congress MLAs, including Abu Nasar Khan Chowdhuri took oath as minister. With the inclusion of Yasmin and Khan, the number of Muslim ministers in the team of CM Mamata Banerjee has reached eight. Six were administered oath last month along with Mamata Banjerjee. Among six, one was from Congress and the rest five from Trinamool Congress.
Sabina Yasmin
Sabina Yasmin is MLA from Mothabari constituency in Malda while Abu Nasar Khan Chowdhury, brother of Ex Railway Minister late ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury, represents Sujapur constituency in the same district.
After Independence this is the first time the state Muslim community has got a Muslim woman in the council of ministers.
The first Muslim woman Member of West Bengal Assembly was Shakila Khatun. She had entered the Assembly after winning the assembly poll on Congress ticket in 1962. She had won Basanti constituency by a margin of 13978 votes. A graduate Shakila had defeated Independent candidate Phonibhushan Mondal. Basanti is now a reserved constituency for SC. In 1962, Shakila was the only Muslim woman in West Bengal Assembly. In 2011, there are seven Muslim women MLAs.
Sabina Yasmin resides at Karai Chandpur village in Malda. The 33-year-old is part of the Rahul Gandhi team. Her husband Mehbub Alam is a small businessman.
Yasmin holds Masters degree from North Bengal University. She completed her Graduation from GaurhMahavidyalay in 2000 and cleared post-graduation from North Bengal University in 2002. Six years later, she began her political career.
In 2008 she contested Zilla Parishad election on Congress ticket from Kaliachak-1. She defeated Left Front candidate Rekha Bibi by 8999 votes. After the victory she was selected as the district president (Sabhadhipati) of Malda Zilla Parishad.
Rahul Gandhi recommended her name as a Congress candidate for the recent assembly poll. She contested from Mothabari constituency and won by 6020 votes. Her rival candidate was Naimuddin Sheik of CPI-M.