Tower Hamlets Bangladeshi Politicians' Reference Book 1982-2018

They were many, such as Tassaduk Ahmed, Altaf Ali, Ayub Ali Master and others who started the cogs turning and brought about changes for the community; one such change was capacity building for the youth of their time. Then the community needed to take the reign of living in UK by getting into the decision making systems. So in 1982, sadly after the 1978 murder of Altab Ali, the community leaders put forward seven Independent councillors to contest the seats in key wards in Tower Hamlets. The effort did not go to waste, we had the first two Bangladeshi councillors out of eleven contesting in four wards, St Katharine's, St Mary's, Spitalfields and Weavers. Out of which the Labour party candidate won in St Katharine's Ward and one Independent seat in Spitalfields. The community finally got in but it took many years before shifting the balance and directly addressing the deprivation and lack of investment in the borough and this book recognises and celebrates the councillors.