Profile: Sheikh Rahman, from Bangladesh war prisoner to Georgia’s first Muslim senator

By MNTV Staff Writer

At just 13, Sheikh Rahman was taken captive at gunpoint during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, a conflict that transformed his homeland and left a lasting mark on his childhood.

His father, Najibur Rahman, was involved in the struggle for independence from Pakistan.

Rahman was captured and held prisoner during the conflict that eventually led to Bangladesh’s independence.

A decade later, he arrived in the United States with ambitions of pursuing higher education. Despite coming from a prominent family in Bangladesh, he found himself washing dishes at a restaurant in North Carolina for $3.35 an hour to pay for college.

Those contrasting experiences, from political turmoil in Bangladesh to the challenges of immigrant life in America, became defining chapters in a journey that eventually took him to the Georgia State Senate.

In 2018, Rahman became the first Muslim, first Asian American and first immigrant elected to Georgia’s upper legislative chamber, marking a milestone for political representation in the southern US state.

Now 65, the Bangladeshi American Democrat is seeking another term representing Georgia’s 5th Senate District in the November 3, 2026, midterm elections.

Rahman defeated Democratic challenger Robin McCoy in the May 19 primary, securing 54.5% of the vote against her 45.5%. He is running without a Republican opponent in the general election.

His political career reflects a journey spanning Bangladesh’s independence struggle, immigrant entrepreneurship, civil rights activism and nearly eight years in Georgia’s legislature.

Childhood shaped by Bangladesh’s independence war

Rahman was born on November 15, 1960, in Sararchar village in Bajitpur, Kishoreganj district, in what was then East Pakistan.

He grew up in a politically influential family. His father, Najibur Rahman, was a prominent political figure who participated in Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.

Before the war, Rahman enjoyed a relatively comfortable childhood. His family’s financial position was such that someone carried his schoolbooks for him.

That life changed dramatically when the Bangladesh Liberation War began in March 1971.

Rahman’s family was directly affected by the conflict.

According to his account, he was abducted at gunpoint and held as captive because of his father’s involvement in the independence movement.

He survived the war, which ended in December 1971 with Bangladesh’s independence.

After independence, his father became head of the Bangladesh Railway Security Forces, and Rahman continued his education.

His family’s political connections and financial circumstances offered him opportunities that many Bangladeshis lacked in the difficult years following independence.

But Rahman eventually chose to pursue higher education abroad, beginning another chapter of his life.

From washing dishes to American dream

Rahman arrived in the United States on January 7, 1981, to attend Central Piedmont Community College in North Carolina.

The transition was dramatic for someone who had grown up in a relatively privileged household.

To support himself and finance his education, he began working as a dishwasher at a restaurant, earning $3.35 an hour.

The job also helped him improve his English and adjust to American society.

His arrival coincided with the Iran hostage crisis, when relations between the United States and Iran had deteriorated sharply and suspicion toward people perceived as Muslim or Middle Eastern was widespread.

Rahman encountered racism and xenophobia during his early years in America.

His religion, appearance and immigrant background made adjusting to his new surroundings difficult, but he continued working while pursuing his education.

Over time, he progressed through the restaurant industry, moving from dishwasher to restaurant manager and eventually becoming a corporate executive at Pizza Hut.

He later entered the real estate business, managing rental properties across Georgia.

Rahman continued his education at the University of Georgia, where he studied economics and global studies.

During his university years, he became involved in student government, serving as a student senator and president of the Global Studies Association.

In 1995, after a 14-year journey, he became a naturalized American citizen and completed his undergraduate degree.

His professional success and university experiences gradually drew him toward political participation.

From immigrant activism to elected office

Rahman’s involvement in American politics began long before he became an elected official.

A college friend introduced him to electoral campaigning when he volunteered for Eddie Knox, a former mayor of Charlotte who was running for governor of North Carolina.

Although Rahman continued participating in political campaigns, he initially had little interest in seeking office himself.

That changed during Barack Obama’s rise to the presidency in 2008.

Rahman has described Obama’s political success, particularly his background and unconventional name, as an inspiration that encouraged him to consider a larger role in American politics.

He subsequently became more active in the Democratic Party and civil rights organizations.

His involvement included the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, an organization that campaigns for racial equality, and the American Civil Liberties Union, which works to protect constitutional rights.

He also joined the National Action Network and became involved in Democratic Party organizations representing Asian Americans, workers and other communities.

Rahman served as an adviser to the Alliance of South Asian American Labor and participated in efforts to strengthen immigrant and minority political representation.

In 2018, he challenged incumbent Democratic state senator Curt Thompson in Georgia’s 5th Senate District.

Rahman won the Democratic primary with 68% of the vote, defeating Thompson, who received 32%.

He subsequently won the November general election without a Republican opponent and took office in January 2019.

His victory made him Georgia’s first Muslim state senator, as well as the first Asian American and immigrant elected to the chamber.

The achievement was particularly significant in Gwinnett County, one of Georgia’s most ethnically diverse counties and home to growing immigrant communities.

Rahman’s election reflected the changing demographics of suburban Georgia, where Asian American, Black, Latino and immigrant populations have become increasingly influential in local politics.

Civil rights and legislative priorities

Since entering the Georgia Senate, Rahman has focused on education, voting rights, immigration, economic development and environmental protection.

He has advocated strengthening public education and improving access to educational opportunities, particularly for families in underserved communities.

His legislative work has also addressed human trafficking, stalking, veterans’ affairs and food insecurity.

According to his official biography, he has cosponsored ten bills that were signed into law, including measures addressing those issues.

Rahman has also supported maintaining local control over election administration in Gwinnett County, opposing efforts that could reduce the authority of local officials over voting procedures.

His involvement in civil rights organizations has informed his political positions on voting access, racial equality and immigrant protections.

On environmental issues, he has supported policies addressing environmental protection and sustainability, earning recognition from the National Council of Environmental Legislators as a rising environmental leader.

His legislative committee responsibilities have included Appropriations, Economic Development and Tourism, Government Oversight, Natural Resources and the Environment, and Urban Affairs.

Rahman’s political involvement has extended beyond the Georgia legislature.

He became the first Muslim elected to the Democratic National Committee’s Executive Committee, gaining a role in the national leadership structure of the Democratic Party.

He also served as a Democratic National Committee delegate and participated in efforts to mobilize Asian American and Pacific Islander voters during Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign.

His involvement in national Democratic politics has given him opportunities to advocate greater representation for immigrant and minority communities within the party.

Seeking another term in Georgia

Rahman has continued representing Georgia’s 5th Senate District through successive elections.

He won reelection without a Republican opponent in 2020 and 2022.

In November 2024, he defeated Republican Lisa Babbage, receiving 67.6% of the vote against her 32.4%.

His district includes communities in Gwinnett County, a suburban area northeast of Atlanta that has undergone substantial demographic changes over recent decades.

Rahman lives in Lawrenceville with his wife, Sham’e Afrose, and their two children.

His political career has also maintained connections with Bangladesh, where his family’s involvement in public life extends across generations.

His younger brother, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal, previously served in Bangladesh’s Parliament, while his sister, Nadia Akhter, has held leadership positions within Georgia’s Bangladeshi American community.

In the 2026 election cycle, Rahman faced a Democratic primary challenge from Robin McCoy.

He won the May 19 primary with 6,188 votes, or 54.5%, against McCoy’s 5,166 votes, securing his party’s nomination for another term.

No Republican candidate qualified to challenge him in the November 3 general election, leaving Rahman unopposed on the ballot.

His campaign continues to emphasize public education, economic opportunities, civil rights and the needs of Georgia’s diverse communities.

For Rahman, the 2026 election represents another chapter in a political journey that began far from the American state Capitol.

Nearly five decades after Bangladesh’s independence and more than four decades after his arrival in the United States, Rahman is seeking to continue his work in the Georgia Senate.