Queen Mary partners on Bengali heritage walk marking 25 years of the Swadhinata Trust

The walking tour, developed in collaboration with the School of Geography at Queen Mary University of London, showcases stories, places and people central to the area’s Bengali community. The project was co-led by Professor Alastair Owens, from Queen Mary’s School of Geography, in partnership with Ansar Ahmed Ullah, from the Swadhinata Trust, and Mehak Raghuwanshi (a BA English and History student) through the university’s STRIDE programme.

STRIDE (Summer Training Research Initiative to Support Diversity and Equality) provides paid research opportunities for UK fee-paying undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds. The programme offers students the chance to gain hands-on research experience, training and mentorship during the summer months.

The walk begins at Altab Ali Park and explores the area south of Commercial Road, where East London’s Bengali community has shaped the cultural and political life of the neighbourhood. From the arrival of Bengali seafarers (lascars) to the growth of the community in the 1980s, the tour uncovers pivotal moments in local history — including the founding of the Bangladesh Youth Movement and community-led events like football tournaments, music festivals and cultural cafés.

Julie Begum, Chair of the Swadhinata Trust and a Queen Mary honorand, said: “I’m delighted to launch this new heritage walk in collaboration with Queen Mary. It highlights the deep and ongoing connections between the university and East London’s diverse communities.”

Professor Owens, who is a long-standing member of the Swadhinata Trust management group, will take part in the launch. He said: “This was a fantastic opportunity to involve our students in public-facing research that tells important local stories. It also reflects the kind of community-engaged work we’re increasingly championing within the School of Geography.”

The walk ends at the Brady Arts Centre, where attendees can enjoy a live concert titled Ganer Sylhet Praner Sylhet.

Tickets for the East London Bengali Heritage Walk on Sunday 10 August 2025 at 5:30pm are available via Eventbrite.