East Pakistan became the independent republic of Bangladesh in 1971 after political conflict with its Muslim sister state, West Pakistan. Bangladesh is a poor country and many Bangladeshi men emigrated to London in search of employment during the 1950s and 1960s. They were later joined by their families. Spitalfields in East London is now home to a sizeable Bangladeshi Muslim community and is famous for its numerous curry restaurants.
There is no doubt that our culture is absorbing a lot of Western elements and, in my opinion, it is gaining by that. What we are witnessing is the emergence of a new type of Bangladeshi culture.Bangladeshi youth activist, 1985
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When India was partitioned in 1947, the Muslim states of East and West Pakistan were created. There were a thousand miles’ distance in between these two sections of Pakistan.
The population of East Pakistan soon became dissatisfied with a situation in which they lacked political power and felt exploited by West Pakistan. The resulting conflict led to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman founding Bangladesh as an independent state in 1971, replacing East Pakistan.
Bangladesh is a poor, densely populated country whose economy is based on agriculture. Emigrants to London began to arrive in large numbers during the 1950s and 1960s. They were mostly single men from the district of Sylhet, whose families had enough money to buy them a ticket to Britain, where it was hoped they could make their fortune.
However, job opportunities in London were limited to low paid, unskilled jobs in small factories and the textile trade.
Bangladeshis settled primarily in Tower Hamlets, particularly in the zone around Spitalfields, formerly the Jewish East End. From the mid 1960s, these migrants began to send for their wives and families to join them.
As the textile trade declined, the restaurant business took off. Sylhetis had traditionally been cooks on board British ships and some opened cafes. From these, a network of Bangladeshi restaurants, shops and banks grew up in Brick Lane and the surrounding area.
Today there are over 50 restaurants in this location, known as ‘Banglatown’. Monica Ali’s 2003 novel ‘Brick Lane’ evokes the experiences of a Bangladeshi family living in the UK.
The local White population proved hostile to the Bangladeshi migrants and subjected them to physical assaults, culminating in the murder of Altab Ali, a local Bangladeshi man, in 1978.
This violence galvanised the younger members of the community into organising a protest campaign. They drew attention to the day-to-day prejudice encountered by Asians in housing and employment. Taking an active part in local government, they gained political representation for London Bangladeshis.
Over 153,000 Bangladeshis currently live in London, a population which has risen by 79% since 1991. The majority resides in rented accommodation in the east London borough of Tower Hamlets.
Some Bangladeshis have moved further afield, westwards to King’s Cross and Paddington and northwards to Ponder’s End.
According to the 2001 census, Bangladeshi Londoners have more children and therefore larger households than the average Londoner. 60% of them live in households classified as overcrowded.
Bangladeshi Londoners work primarily in the hotel and catering sectors or in textile and printing jobs. Although on average they are younger than other London ethnic groups, Bangladeshis are most likely to be unemployed. Many who do not work are occupied with looking after their families.
Nearly all Bangladeshis are Sunni Muslims. The East London Mosque on Commercial Road caters for the community's religious needs. Established in 1941, the mosque was replaced by a larger building which opened in 1985 and now accommodates 2,000 worshippers.
Since 1997 Brick Lane has hosted the Baishakhi Mela each May to celebrate the Bengali New Year. Spectators watch parades and musical performances and eat traditional Bangladeshi food.
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