Harun Nasrullah & Ahmed J Versi
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla visited Tower Hamlets on February 8 as part of a visit to honour the borough’s Bangladeshi community.
The tour began at Altab Ali Park in Whitechapel, which was named after a 25-year-old man who was killed in a racist attack on Adler Street in 1978. There, the King and Queen Consort met with community elders who were active in the anti-racism movement at the time.
To commemorate the 45th anniversary of Altab’s death, the King and Queen Consort planted a tree and paid a visit to the Shaheed Minar monument, which honours the Bengali Language Movement.
They also strolled down Brick Lane, beginning at the Banglatown Arch and the adjacent mural. Both the arch, which was renovated last year, and the mural “Mateer Tan” (the land is calling), which was painted by international artist Mohammed Ali in 2021 to mark Bangladesh’s 50th anniversary of independence.
Pervez Qureshi speaking to King Charles II
They continued down the famous street, accompanied by a dance procession, stopping to meet children from local schools, charities, and businesses, as well as women from the BBPI Jamdani Network.
The visit concluded at the Brick Lane Mosque, where they learned about the history of the building, which has changed over the years from a church to a synagogue to the present mosque.
They met fifty community and business representatives, including the Brick Lane Funeral Service Director and the President of the East London Central Synagogue, to hear about the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and interfaith work.
They spent half an hour in the mosque. Pervez Qureshi, Black Lane Funeral Director, who was honoured with a BEM for his work providing funeral services during the pandemic, told The Muslim News that the King “appreciated” the work he and others did during the pandemic when others had closed down due to COVID-19.
“The King was sympathetic to the community, which disproportionately suffered during the pandemic. He thanked our team for the work we did for the community in providing funeral services by making sure the dead were treated with care and buried with dignity.
Family members were not able to attend the funeral due to the fear of catching COVID-19. The Queen Consort also thanked us for the ‘good work’ we did during the pandemic.”
“We really appreciated their visit to the mosque and Tower Hamlets,” Qureshi added.
The visit was organised by the British Bangladeshi Power and Inspiration (BBPI) working with Tower Hamlets Council and Tower Hamlets Police.
Ayesha Qureshi JP, Founder of BBPI, said: “As a community, we have suffered a disproportionate number of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We proposed Their Majesties’ visit as a way for our generation to pay tribute to those we have lost, on whose shoulders, we stand today.”
Shafi Ahmed, Speaker of Tower Hamlets Council, said, “We believe Tower Hamlets offers the best of London in one borough with our mix of culture, communities, entrepreneurship, and history. “Our Bangladeshi community is an example of all of those elements, with Brick Lane at the heart.”
Photo: King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla planting a tree in memory of the 45th anniversary of Altab Ali’s death. Looking on is Ayesha Qureshi.
(Credit: Kois Mia/ Khalid Hussain/BBPI)
