The Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, has responded to the Mayor of London’s concession announced today, which comes just weeks after Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Lewisham councils launched a legal challenge against the decision to slash the affordable housing quotas from 35 per cent to 20 per cent. The new proposal from the Mayor of London would exempt Tower Hamlets and several other boroughs from the proposed reduction in affordable ...

   Bangla Mirror Desk:   A memorial meeting and prayer service marking the 48th anniversary of the racist murder of Ishaque Ali was held at a community centre in Tower Hamlets, East London, on 16 July. The event, organised by the Altab Ali Foundation, paid tribute to Ali, who was killed in Hackney in 1978, and highlighted the continuing fight ...

Ansar Ahmed Ullah:   An international seminar titled “Bangladesh at a Democratic Crossroads: Human Rights, Political Inclusion, and the Future of Democratic Governance” was held at the Leonard Wolfson Auditorium of Wolfson College, University of Oxford, on 13 July 2026. The event, organised by the Canada-based Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG), attracted a full audience in Oxford and was viewed online ...

Dhaka, Bangladesh – 16 July 2026. Representatives from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and the British High Commission Dhaka have concluded their first joint visit to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, highlighting the impact of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom’s growing humanitarian partnership in support of the Rohingya refugees. During the visit, the delegation met ...

    Dhaka, Bangladesh – 15 July 2026. The UK government is providing £355,000 (approx. BDT 5.7 crore) in life-saving humanitarian assistance to support more than 55,000 people affected by flooding in Southeast and Northeast Bangladesh. Managed by Start Network and delivered through national and local NGOs, the UK contribution will provide affected communities with cash assistance, food, and hygiene supplies across six of the worst affected districts: Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Chittagong, Khagrachari and Moulvibazar. This support builds ...

14 July 2026, Dhaka: British High Commission Dhaka organised a send-off reception, hosted by High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, to celebrate the Bangladeshi athletes who are set to participate in the Commonwealth Games 2026, taking place in Glasgow, Scotland later this month. The United Kingdom is proud to once again host the Commonwealth Games, this time in the vibrant city of Glasgow in 2026. This marks the UK’s third time hosting the Games since 2014, reaffirming ...

  By Matiar Chowdhury:   Sipahsalar Syed Nasir Uddin—one of the 360 ​​*Awliya* (saints) accompanying Hazrat Shah Jalal (RA)—is an unforgettable name in the history of Sylhet. Following the conquest of Sylhet in 703 Hijri, twelve *Awliya* (saints), led by Sipahsalar Syed Nasir Uddin, defeated the tyrannical King Achak Narayan of Taraf and conquered the kingdom of Taraf. The shrine ...

    By Motiar Chowdhury:   Golapganj Social and Cultural Trust UK' has accorded a civic reception to Abu Taher—a distinguished son of Golapganj and a noted poet, playwright, organizer, and accountant—in recognition of his being awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by King Charles III for his outstanding contributions to the British-Bangladeshi community in ...

  Aakash Odedra’s Songs of the Bulbul is a mesmerising, deeply moving work that takes audiences on an emotional journey from happiness, hope and freedom into entrapment and the devastating reality of the caged bird. From the opening moments, Odedra’s virtuoso performance radiates joy and possibility. His extraordinary physicality, delicate gestures and breathtaking control create a sense of a bird in flight ...

  Bangla Mirror Desk:   Apsana Begum MP, a survivor of domestic abuse and violence, has tabled two amendments to the Representation of the People Bill, seeking to increase protections for survivors standing in elections. Speaking in the House of Commons in on 30 June, Apsana informed the House of Commons about her horrific 2024 election experiences where her ex-husband ...