Bolton: Sufrana Bashir Ismail, the first Muslim woman elected as Bolton Councilor died of cancer at the age of 47. Tributes are paid to her after she passed away on last Friday. She had been working in Crompton ward for the last nine years. Her funeral was held in Tayyaba Mosque in Draycott Street and was buried in New Overdale cemetery. She was the first Muslim woman who got elected as Bolton Councilor in 2006. She kept getting promoted on the basis of her dedication and took lead in the areas of environment, public health and community service.
Councilor Sufrana was treated for breast cancer in 2011 following the lengthy and painful chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After a year she started charity work and introduced her own chemokits for the people who are suffering from this pain, to help them go through this rough time.
Her colleagues paid tributes to her and said that she was a great person; dedicated and passionate about her work. She always put others needs first and felt proud in helping them. Young people get to learn a lot from her. She was a mentor and a great inspiration for them and a lot other people whom she met and made friends with. She was the first female Muslim councilor and did great justice to the job. She would be greatly missed by the people of Bolton. She broke all the religious barriers and brought people from all religions and all walks of life together.
She courageously fought her battle against cancer and will truly be missed and remembered as a first class Councilor, a true friend and a much greater human being.