There are well over 150,000 Bangladeshi people living in London and the south east of England, and most of them come from the Sylhet region - a place of emerald green rice fields and dense tea gardens on the country’s eastern border.

The Bangladesh flag

Bangladesh went through a series of political upheavals, starting with the end of British India in 1947, a spell as East Pakistan and a battle against West Pakistan for independence in 1971. East Pakistan became the independent republic of Bangladesh in 1971 after this political conflict with West Pakistan.

Many Bangladeshi men emigrated to London in search of employment during the 1950s and 1960s and many more Sylhetis came to London in the 1970s in search of stability and work following the above mentioned conflict with West Pakistan. The majority of them settled in Tower Hamlets, particularly around Spitalfields.

Bangladeshi girls, Brick Lane Festival

This caused many Sylhetis to come to London, in search of stability and work. In the 1970s changes in immigration laws encouraged Bangladeshis to come to the UK. Job opportunities in London were initially limited to low paid, unskilled jobs in small factories and the textile trade, but as the restaurant business took off, some Sylhetis opened cafes. From these small beginnings, a network of Bangladeshi restaurants, shops and banks became established in Brick Lane and the surrounding area.

Brick Lane is a resturant hotspot

Brick Lane is the heart of the community and is known colloquially as "Banglatown". It has become a favourite food haunt for Londoners with scores of Balti and curry houses and a vibrant market.