Mushtaq Ahmed Becomes Tower Hamlets Speaker

Barrister Mushtaq Ahmed, councillor for Bethnal Green West, has been elected as the new Speaker of Tower Hamlets Council in London, marking another milestone in a remarkable journey that has taken him from working as a kitchen porter to becoming a barrister and now one of the borough’s leading civic figures.

His appointment was confirmed during the council’s Annual General Meeting held at the council chamber on Wednesday evening, 20 May. Councillor Iqbal Hossain, representing Lansbury ward, was also elected as Deputy Speaker.

Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman congratulated the newly elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker, saying the new civic leadership team would work with commitment and dedication in serving the residents of Tower Hamlets.

Following his election, Mr Ahmed thanked fellow councillors for placing their trust in him. He also announced that during his term as Speaker, his chosen charities would include the Marie Celeste Samaritans Society of the Royal London Hospital and the Valance Community Sports Association.

Born in Khatira village in Jalalpur, South Surma, Sylhet, Mr Ahmed moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 18. Like many first-generation British Bangladeshis, he began his life in Britain facing considerable hardship, initially working as a kitchen porter before building his own restaurant business and spending more than a decade in the catering industry.

At the age of 32, he returned to education, enrolling at Tower Hamlets College where he was named “Student of the Year”. He later studied law at Queen Mary University of London and the Open University before completing the Bar-at-Law at the University of Law. In 2017, he was formally called to the Bar by the Inner Temple.

Mr Ahmed currently works as a trainee solicitor and litigation consultant, specialising in civil, employment and immigration law.

Alongside his legal career, he has maintained a long-standing commitment to community service. During his student years, he worked as a health advocate at the Royal London Hospital and spent 15 years supporting patients and vulnerable residents.

Within Tower Hamlets Council, he has previously served in several senior roles, including Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Growth. He also chaired the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

His wider community involvement has included serving as a member of the Police Custody Visitor Panel, a school governor and a former executive member of the London Council of Mosques. He has also served as director and secretary of Bishops Way Mosque.

Speaking after the ceremony, several members of the British Bangladeshi community described Mr Ahmed’s election as an inspiring example of social mobility, perseverance and public service.

From a restaurant kitchen to the Bar and now to the Speaker’s chair at Tower Hamlets Council, Mushtaq Ahmed’s story reflects the aspirations of many immigrant families who arrived in Britain seeking opportunity through hard work and education.

EN/SA