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Ramadan Mubarak from ukbangla.com

Ramadan is the month when the Quran was revealed – a guidance for mankind with signs for guidance distinguishing right from wrong [Surah al-Baqarah v 185]

 First Bangladeshi MP In UK

Labour's Rushanara Ali made history today when she became the first Bangladeshi MP by taking Bethnal Green and Bow, the seat previously held by George Galloway. The 35-year-old Oxford graduate won with 21,784 votes, an 11,574 majority over Liberal Democrat Ajmal Masroor, who got 10,210 votes. Respect's Abjol Miah got 8,532 votes.To tumultuous applause Ms Ali, who has been subjected to attacks by Mr Galloway, said: “You, the voters, decided it was time to pay our final respect to Respect. This is a victory for people here who chose hope over fear, unity over division.“To millions of Bangladeshis around the world, it will mean so much to them that somebody of their background has been elected to the mother of all
parliaments. 

Brick Lane Mosjid

Nowhere is the unique history of the area better depicted than the history of the local Mosjid. The Mosjid in Brick lane has been a place of worship for different faiths for hundreds of years; it was first built as church by the Huguenots but changed use to become a synagogue when a Jewish community replaced the protestant population. By the middle of the 20^th century the Jewish community had mostly moved and the building was converted again, this time into a mosque to serve the Bengali community.

Origins of the Bengalis Community in Britain:

There are historical links between the former colonies in Britain, many migrants or thire relatives had served in the British army in the second war world, for example many of the merchant ships in the British navy were manned by Bengali seamen mostly from sylhet but also from Chittagong & Noakhali region of present day of Bangladesh. However following the partition of India and the war of independence in 1971 there has been a steady emigration from Bangladesh of people driven out by political and economic problems.

Elections 2010, Our Strength is in Islam and Unity

Elections in Britain are fast approaching. Yet some Muslims remain confused about their role in political line and the forthcoming elections. There is some who call for participation in the political life of the west, even to support western capitalist political parties. Other call on Muslims to secure benefits or protect their rights by feting western politicians, some think that muslim “minority’ – like other minorities’ should try a bloc vote to influence politician decisions or ‘Strategically vote’ for one western politician over another. There are even those who consider that voting in the western system is harm, but might bring a greater benefit or avoid a greater.

Bengali in UK

There are approximately 300,000 Bengalis currently living in the UK. Not much history of those Bengalis who settled in the UK currently exists (except two books written by Caroline Adams & Yousuf Chowdhury). Many of the first settlers are now elderly (sadly some have already passed away) and their memories and experiences are being lost . as their testimonies have not been recorded and preserved. Many young Bengalis do not know the history of their elders and cannot easily access information related to Bengali community. The project aims to preserve the memories and experiences of the elders before this loss The project will offer unique opportunity to Bengali young people to research, document and celebrate Bengali heritage & history by recording the experience of three generation Bengalis in the UK. Interviews (interviews will be translated into Bengali or vice versa) will be recorded on audio (and if possible on video), materials (including photographs) will be used for exhibition, publication (including learning packs for schools) and website. Original material will be held with the Swadhinata Trust (for its proposed Bengali Resource Centre) and CRONEM but copies will be deposited in the Tower Hamlets Local History Library and other institutions Swadhinata Trust works with in partnership

Racism and the murder of Altab Ali

During the 1970s as the local Bengali population in tower hamlets  grew part of the local white population was hostile towards the Bengali migrants and subjected them to physical assaults , Some provocative national front marches in the brick lane ended in violence, this culminated in the murder of altab ali, A local Bengali man in 1978. On 14 May, 7.000 people marched from Hyde Park to Downing Street to demand a government inquiry into the murder of altab Ali. Following months saw many clashes between racists, Bengali youth and anti-Nazi league supporters in brick lane. This violence galvanised the younger members of the community into organizing a protest campaign. They drew attention to the day-to day prejudice Encounted by Asians in housing and employment. Taking an active part in local government, they gained political representation for London Bengalis. The community is now prominent in local government in tower hamlets. In 998 baroness pola uddin of bethnal green become first Bengali born Briton to enter the House of Lords and the first Muslim peer to swear her oath of allegiance in the name of her own faith.  

This is edition number ‘6’ of CARF the paper of the anti Fascist co-ordinating committee. The front page shows photographs of funeral, headline who killed Altab ali. Altab Ali was a young Bengali man who worked in the local clothing industry, A park along whitechaple Road is now dedicated to the memory of altab Ali

Sourced from: http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/