Bangladeshi-American wins in US polls

DHAKA - Hansen Hashem Clarke, a Democrat, has become the first Bangladeshi-American to win a congressional seat to the US House of Representatives, it was reported here.

Clarke, a member of the Michigan Senate, trounced Carolyn Cheeks Kilkpatrich, a Republican who held the seat for 20 years.

After winning the congressional seat, Clarke said he would try to fulfil the dreams of the people of the US.

Clarke was born in Detroit, Michigan to a Bangladeshi-American father, Mozaffar Ali Hashem from Sylhet, and an African-American mother, Thelma.

Clarke visited his village in Bangladesh a few years ago, The Daily Star reported Thursday.

In Tuesday’s midterm elections in the US, the Republicans wrested majority control of the House of Representatives but Democrats retained their hold of the Senate.