Chapter 6: The Battle of Brick Lane

Six young people who arrived from East Pakistan subsequently Bangladesh, aged eleven to sixteen, between 1969 and 1973.

Bengali youth, who arrived between 1969 and 1973 from East Pakistan, subsequently Bangladesh, were attacked physically on the streets and in school playgrounds in east London. After the murder of Altab Ali in 1978 they set up youth organisations to defeat the National Front and challenge discrimination. ‘Make Britain Great Again’ was a cry by the racist organisation, the National Front, in the 1970s but was reclaimed to support withdrawal from the European Union.

Photo: Akikur (left) and Jalal (right), launch of the Bangladesh Youth Movement: Courtesy of Rajonuddin Jalal

Watch a film clip from Voices Past and Present where Manzila, now Baroness of Bethnal Green, shares her experiences during the War of Liberation in 1971 that led to the creation of Bangladesh

Watch a film clip from Voices Past and Present where Jalal shares his feelings about the pull of his birthplace.

Watch a film clip from Voices Past and Present where Manuhar, accompanied by Salam, shares his experiences of arriving in Whitechapel on arrival in the UK.

Watch the film clip from Voices Past and Present where Ayub shares his experience of waiting for the post man to bring a letter from home.

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Chapter 7