in 2015, judge khatun sapnara was named the "person of the year" in recognition of her "outstanding achievement" as the first person of british bangladeshi origin to acquire a senior judicial position. the list also included oncologist prof nazneen rahman; dr irene zubaida khan, chancellor of the university of salford; baroness pola uddin; diplomat anwar choudhury; executive mayor of london lutfur rahman; lawmaker rushanara ali; author tahmima anam and captain naveen rahman of british army.