1. 1
CV
Of
SUNAHWAR ALI
Date of Birth: 20th April 1962
Place of Birth: Sylhet, Bangladesh
Address:
12 Rectory Road
Manor Park
London E12 6JA
Mobile: 0742 101 68 13
Email: jesimineakhtar@yahoo.com
EDUCATION:
Subject:
Robert Montefiore Secondary School
English ‘O’ Level City and East London Collage
Bengali ‘O’ Level City and East London Collage
Access to Degree Kingsway Princeton Collage
BA Community Development North London University (Not completed)
Other Training programme:
Part Time Youth Worker Qualification
Bookkeeping
Advice
Supervision
Finance and Management
Paid Employment & Business:
Homeless Families Campaign (HFC), Coordinator.
Director of the Micro Credit Programme which was a sister body of the HFC and
started the First Micro Credit Project in UK under the name of Micro Credit Trust UK.
Team Leader of the Sheba Dan Project within St Hilda’s East (University Settlement
Centre established by Chattenham Women College.
Coordinator of the Sama Training Project.
Programme Coordinator for the Kobi Nazrul Centre employed by Tower Hamlets
Council.

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Mind in Tower Hamlets (Mental Health National Organisation in UK), Black and
Minorities Development Officer.
Montefi0re Community Educational Centre for Inner London Education Authority
(ILEA) stated as a Part Time Youth Worker and later got a Job as the Community
Outreach Worker.
Greater London Enterprise Board (GLAB) and did work as a Consultant for the
Hackney Road Improvement area.
Spring Board East in Tower Hamlets and Asian Unemployment Outreach Project
(AUOP) joint Training Summer Programme for Mulberry Girls School 6thFrom
Students Summer Programme, programme for unemployed young generation as the
Project Coordinator for 4 years.
AKG Leather Ltd, started as the Leather Garment Sticker, Finisher later Machinist.
BUSINESS:
SMA Leather Fashion owner of the Leather Factory
Mohib Restaurant, in Brick Lane, Banglatown, as the Managing Partner.
SAMA Leather Fashion, as a Managing Partner.
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE:
I have been spent his entire adult life in both unpaid and paid capacity in community
development. I have tirelessly worked for the betterment, especially of the Bengali
community, by setting up self-help groups, by entering mainstream politics and local
authority promoting community capacity and cohesion in the East End of London.
I got actively involved in the anti-racist struggles of the 1970’s. I was instrumental in setting
up a number of youth organisations and ranges of initiatives in Tower Hamlets (London). I
served on the management committee of a number of key bodies and initiatives such as
General Secretary, Federation of Bangladeshi Youth Organisations (FBYO), Member of the
Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) Area Youth Committee under 21 member and
Youth Office Sub-Committee member, Member of the Grater London Council (GLC) Asian
Youth representative, Anti-Racist Programme Sub-Committee, Governor of the City and East
London College & Hackney College, Governor of Adult Education Institute (AEL), &
Governors of various schools.
I was one the key lead member to Campaign against of the GLC Housing Ghetto Policy.
I also initiated and pioneered the first ever Micro Credit Programme for women in Tower
Hamlets (London). This was an innovative programme, as part of an anti-poverty strategy,
for the socially excluded resident of London Borough of Tower Hamlets. He was Sports
Secretary of the Bangladesh Youth Front (BYF) in 1978, Chairman of Bangladesh Cyclone &

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Flood Disaster Committee 1986-88, and has been involved with a host of other
organisations.
I was also member of the Editorial board of ‘Bengali Informer’, ‘Bengali Info’ and ‘Jubo
Barta’ aimed at Bengali young people. Mr Ali has made appearances on Channel 4 TV
(Dispatches Programme) and also BBC 2 News Night as a guest on live programme. I have
attended UN Human Rights Sub-Commission in 2003 and submitted and addressed the
session on human rights in Bangladesh.
From mid 1970s to now
My name is listed British Bangladeshis: Who’s Who publication to highlight distinguished
figures in the Bangladeshi community here
in Britain. http://www.bbwhoswho.co.uk/home.html is exceptional in the sense that I have
given almost all his time in the field of community work.
I was one of the pioneer youth who entered mainstream to bring about changes for his
community in the field of housing, health and education, community development,
regeneration and employment.
I believe that a place on your course would really assist me in achieving that goal by
developing the skills that I have already acquired and adding to my experience and
confidence. As well as benefiting, I also think I have a lot to contribute imaginatively and
creatively as a student. For all these reasons, I hope you consider my application seriously.
Signed by: ______________________________ Date: __________

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APPENDIX (1)
MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THOSE ORGANISATIONS:
Bangladesh Youth Front (BYF), Sports Secretary, 1978.
Bengali Shomacher, the first Bengali community newspaper in UK, the Circulation Manager
in 1979-80
Bangladesh United Youth Front, General Secretary, 1980-82.
Federation of Bangladeshi Youth Organisations, Treasurer (1982-1983) & General
Secretary, 1983-85.
Overseas Youth Organisations, General Secretary, 1993-86.
Bangladesh Cyclone & Flood Disaster Committee, Chairman, 1986-88.In 1986 the
Committee managed to raise £85,000 and in 1988 after Flood managed to raise £36, 000
for Bangladesh and channelled the fund through War on Want (British Charity).
Bangladesh Youth League (BYL), Secretary (1986-1989), then Chairman, 1989-1991.
BYL were the first Bengali organisation in the UK to establish a cricket team and invited
Bangladesh Biman Cricket Team from Bangladesh for a month tour in the UK.
I also initiated the establishment of the Bangabandhu local Government School in East
London.
Bangladesh Educational Needs in Tower Hamlets (BENTH), Public Relations Secretary, 1984-
1985,
Banglatown Arts & Cultural Trust (Organising Baishakhi Mela in Brick Lane,
Banglatown). One the Founder and Chairman of Baishakhi Mela, 1988-2000.
Spitalfields Housing and Planning Right Services (SHAPRS), I was a lead person to carry out a
Survey within Spitalfields area.
Tower Hamlets Equality for Racial Justice (THARJ), I was one the Steering Committee
member than he was Elected Management Committee member. It was the race relations
body for the Tower Hamlets and the Founder Chairman was Late Bishop of Bath and Wales
Mr Jim Thomson.
Community Organisation Forum (COF) Management committee member and late Vice-
Chairman of the COF in Tower Hamlets.
Bethnal Green Rights Shop, advice given services, Management Committee member for 3
years.

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APPENDIX (2)
Spitalfields Project steering Committee member. Given extra fund from the London Borough
of Tower Hamlets Inner Area Programme (LBTH IAP) of the British Government to fund
deprived Wards of Tower Hamlets and Bengali community in Spitalfields area.
Spitalfields Housing Cooperative and now Spitalfields Housing Association one the Asian
Hosing Association in UK and founder member along-side with Late Fakaruddin Ahmed who
hadestablished many initiatives for the Bengali Community in Tower Hamlets and who was a
senior community leader and founder of both Spitalfields Hosing Cooperative and
Spitalfields Small Business Association (SSBA).
Spitalfields Housing and Planning Right Services (SHAPRS) Management Committee member
and one the key did carried out a Survey within Spitalfields area.
I was Joint Lead member for the Steering Committee for organising the Black and other
Minorities Youth Conference on behalf of the GLC.
Founder Chairman of the Shikka Kutir Education Project, within the Bethnal Green Area. It
was the first Bengali Community and Mother Tongue Project and the project was visited by
Princess Anne during 1984 at the Oxford House.
Bethnal Green Rights Shop, I was Management Committee member and Chairman for one
year.
Tower Hamlets Law Centre, was Management Committee member for two years.
Nirmul Committee UK (Forum for Secular Bangladesh), Chairman, 1998- 2005.
Swadhinata Trust Steering Committee, Founding Chairperson, 2002- 2005.Carried out a
project on “Three Generation of Bengalis in Britain” Co-partnership
with University of Surrey. The Book of the “Three Generation of Bengali in Britain” used by
many educational establishments including many universities in the UK as a reference book.
Homeless Families Campaign (HFC), Chairman, 1992- 98 and Director 1998-2005. The HFC
campaign organisation in East London lobbied both local and national government on
housing issues which affected people deprived of housing in East London. On many
occasions the HFC challenged and took local authority to High Court on behalf of homeless
families to get their rights to be housed by local Councils. Also the HFC was one the first
organisation to start Grameen Concept - Micro Credit Programme in the UK.
Bangladesh European Forum, Chairman UK Chapter, 2003- Present.
The Bangladesh European Forum stated in 2002 in Holland by 5 European country Bengalis
to campaign both in Bangladesh and at European level on behalf of Bengalis in Europe.
Kobi Nazrul Centre, founder Assistant Secretary, 1980-83 got funding from the Tower
Hamlets Inner Area Programme (THIP).

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APPENDIX (3)
After a long struggle the Bengali community managed to establish cultural centre in East
London naming after great poet Kabi Nazrul Islam. Also in 1990s a primary school was
named after Kabi Nazrul in East London (Tower Hamlets).
Tower Hamlets Law Centre, Management Committee member for 3 years.
Asian Unemployment Outreach Project (AUOP), Founding Member, 1983-86.
The AUOP was first organisation to encourage Bengalis claimunemployment & widow
benefits. The Bengali community was not aware of these entitlements.
International Bangladesh Foundation (IBF), Founding Member, 2005-present.
The International Bangladesh Foundation (IBF) organised European Bangladesh Human
Rights conference in July 2005 and has continued to organise seminars on other areas
of Bangladesh’s human rights and democratic process. Chairman of the IBF is Lord Eric
Avebury.
T’TEN (Tower Hamlets Training Enterprise Network) for the all the training providers within
Tower Hamlets and Founder Chairman, 2002-2004. The European Social Fund (ESF) given to
the all the training providers in Tower Hamlets area.
Tower Hamlets Regeneration Network, for all the Training Providers for the Tower Hamlets,
Chairman during 2003-2005.
Board member of Objective 2 Sub-Committee (European ESF & ERDF Funding), 2004-2005.
Tower Hamlets Association for Racial Justice (THARJ), Founding member of the Executive
committee member, 1980-85.
Grater London Council, Anti-Racist Programme Sub-Committee, Asian Youth Representative,
1983-85.
City and East London Area Youth Committee (ILEA) Under 21 members and I was the 2nd
Bengali person to become a member and representative in 19 82-85.
City and East London College, Board Governor in 1983-85.
Hackney College, Board, Governor in 1983-85.
Steward Headlamp School, ELA rep, Board Governor in1983-87.
Old ford School, Parents Governor in 1990-93.
Montefiore Community Education Centre (ILEA), Management Committee Member in 1980-
1984.

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APPENDIX (4)
Sheikh Mujib Research Centre, founding member and first Organising Secretary.
Cityside Regeneration Board, Founding Board Director (SBR 3 ).
League of Joi Bangla Youth, Founding Co-Convener.
Community Job Link East, Founding Management Committee member, did Set up with help
from the Business in the Communities Chaired by Prince Charles. Community Development
Group (Prince Charles supported major development of 27 acre of land but due to financial
crisis in the City the project was not implemented)
UK Jubo League, Vice- President, 1989-93.
The Probashi organisation in UK the lead member and Founder Assistance Secretary of the
Biswanath Probashi Shongo. After establishing the organisation others Upozilas started their
own Upozila Organisations.
Doshgor Union, Biswanath, Probashi Shamity the founder General Secretary
I have played major role in naming both Osmani Primary School and Bangabandhu Primary
School in Tower Hamlets.
Newspaper & Magazines
Bengali Informer, Member of Editorial Board.
Bengali Info, Member of Editorial Board.
JuboBarta, Member of Editorial Board.
Bengali Shomacher, Bengali Community News Paper, Circulation Manager.
Media appearances/interviews
Channel 4 TV (Dispatches Programme)
BBC 2 NewsNight (live on stage as a guest)
Bangla TV
Given Interview to four major PhD researchers.
Sign____________________________________ Date: ________________________