Background
Sapnara was born in Sylhet District, Sylhet Division, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and came to the United Kingdom as a child. Her father, the late Mimbor Ali, was honoured by the Bangladeshi government for his significant contribution to the liberation of Bangladesh.
Education
Sapnara attended Chadwell Heath School (now Chadwell Heath Academy). In 1988, she graduated with Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the London School of Economics and Political Science from the University of London.
Career
In 2006, she was appointed as a Recorder of the Crown Court, becoming the first person of Bangladeshi origin in a senior judicial position. In 2014, she was appointed as a Circuit Judge to hear cases in the Crown and Family Court. In 1990, Sapnara was called to the Bar at Middle Temple.
She practises from Coram Barristers Chambers in London and specialising in Family law.
In 2003, Sapnara became the first ethnic minority person to be elected to the Family Law Bar Association Committee. In 2004, she was appointed by the Lord Chancellor Baron Charles Falconer of Thoroton to the Family Justice Council, a body of experts which advises the government on all aspects of the family justice system.
She is an expert in honour-based violence, and assisted in formulating and drafting the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Acting 2007. In 2006, she was appointed as a Recorder of the Crown.
In 2012, she was involved in proposals to criminalise forced marriage, arguing against criminalisation, contending that it was surplus to requirements.
In June 2012, she appeared on British Broadcasting Corporation Two"s Newsnight, debating against criminalisation of forced marriage with Aneeta Prem of Freedom Charity. In March 2014, she was appointed as a Circuit Judge sitting at both the East London Family Court and at Kingston Crown Court. She has served as director/chair of a number of charities and voluntary sector organisations and lectures widely on issues relating to family law, including to the Judicial College (formerly the Judicial Studies Board).
In January 2015, Sapnara was named the "Person of the Year" in the British Bangladeshi Power & Inspiration 100.