It has been confirmed by Transport for London (TfL) that the Alder Street bus stop in Whitechapel will be renamed after the murdered Bangladeshi textile worker, Altab Ali. Local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, received these assurances from TfL following a long-running campaign by the Altab Ali Trust UK and Tower Hamlets Council. Mr Desai said the successful campaign reflected the community’s “historic defiance against hatred and intolerance”.
The bus stop, about to be renamed as ‘Adler Street/Altab Ali Park’, is located beside Altab Ali Park on the route heading westwards towards Bank. However, the exact date that the change will take place is yet to be confirmed.
In August, Mr Desai raised the case for the name change in a meeting with the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander.
Altab Ali was a Bangladeshi textile worker murdered in a racially motivated attack on the 4th May 1978. Tragically, he was fatally stabbed whilst returning home from work through the park that now bears his name. Altab Ali Day is held as an annual commemorative event to mark his death.
Local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, said:
“I’m delighted to see that the name of the bus stop is finally going to be changed. The symbol of Altab Ali means so much to the East London community and represents our historic defiance against hatred and intolerance.
“This announcement is a testament to the hard work of all of those who have been involved in the campaign to change the name of the stop, providing another fitting tribute to the life of Altab Ali.
“It also acts as a reminder that we must all come together as a community to stamp out racially motivated hate crime to prevent any further tragedies from taking place”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Notes
- Unmesh Desai AM is the London Assembly Member for City and East (covering Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and the City of London).
For more information please contact Labour Group Research Support Officer, Nick Wilson on 020 7983 4401. Number not for publication.