Bodrul Islam was the wedding groom insulted by Jim Fitzpatrick last year. He then joined the Respect party and failed to land a Tower Hamlets council seat in May. I wrote in this post last week that he seemed to be loose with his tongue when ranting on Facebook sites.
Here’s a reminder of what he said:
The tower hamlets labour party seems to prioritise naked self interest at the expense of democracy. Abbas, that castrated prostitute has no mandate to stand as a mayoral candidate. Part of me wants to laugh at the dismantling of the labour party but the serious part of me sees the grotesque injustice against lutfur. I personally think he should do what ken livingstone did, stand as an independent. With his popularity he will win, as the block bengali vote will be activated like never before. [My emphasis].
In the comments section of that post, his rant at first continued and then his tone softened; he became more polite and tried to draw me into a debate. Maybe someone had had a word with him. However, his latest comment makes interesting reading and I’m producing it in full here. He makes a defence the Islamic Forum of Europe, the group at the centre of allegations surrounding Lutfur Rahman. Bodrul is backing Lutfur.
Ted I hope you are okay with me sharing my analysis here on ife. Ife are a socially conservative group that encourage residents to engage with the procedural and normative aspects of democracy. How do I know this? I have seen rigorous and acrimonious debates between ife and isolationist, exclusivist groups such as hizbut tahrir and al-muhajiroun. In all occasions ife have clearly come out in support of active citizenship via the democratic route.
The notion that ife have infiltrated the labour party for theological expediency is the most obscure and bizarre argument I have heard all year. What proof do we have of this? Has secular policies in the labour party changed into theological diktats? No of course they haven’t. Is there thus a concerted effort on policy levels to islamise tower hamlets? Of course not that is pure hysteria and conjecture.
We then move to the cry that muslims also have alleged the link of ife infiltration and extremism. Those muslims who assert this are quite easy to decipher, one of the most prominent one being related to me. Their assertions are based on political self-interest emanating unfortunately from the polarised nature of politics in Bangladesh. I will put a wager that every bengali person who has alleged ife being a socially divisive and regressive is an awami league supporter. That every bengali resident in tower hamlets knows. If you as a journalist were ever to produce a mass opinion poll of bengalis in tower hamlets I will also put a wager that 90 percent plus will hold ife to be a moderate group.
Ted unless we base our assertion on nuanced analysis complimented by tangible proofs all we are going to create is mass hysteria and a clash of the extremes which will devastate social cohesion. We must prevent polarisation where muslims think of a given white person as a potential racist and where whites think of muslims as the enemy within. We all need to get away from hearsay allegations and scrutinise the matter at hand with our logical capabilities.
And here’s another reminder of the comment he made in less unguarded moments on Facebook.
With his popularity he will win, as the block bengali vote will be activated like never before.
Trial by Jeory 
Hi Ted,
To be fair I think he has a general point: there *is* Bangladeshi politics involved (at least, in part) and this is (imo) at least partly about power politics within the Bangladeshi-origin community in the East End. No-one comes out of this shining bright, to some extent all are tarred.
As for the Bengali block vote comment … well, again, I would think that all sides within that community have exercised that option. I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes with Labour, Respect, Lib Dems etc – and not only for the IFE faction. (The old ‘village vote’ is what I’m referring to). As journos we can interpret or mould that we wish, but in that part of the world *context* is everything, as you well know 😉
About IFE itself: the jury’s still out on its aims and true nature, I think. I guess IFE people themselves need to make this far clearer. Are they prepared to be more open? To reform? To stand in the cold light of day? Time will tell.
cheers,
NR
Hmm. Bodrul’s facebook description of Rushanara Ali isn’t very nice either
” Bodrul Islam Apparently rushnara the bitch ali threatened to resign if lutfur got nominated. ”
Lovely stuff.
Bodrul Islam Apparently rushnara the bitch ali threatened to resign if lutfur got nominated.
This is another comment made by Bodul Islam. Does he condone abusing women in this way?
Ted I find your approach very disappointing . First you refuse to debate the subject matter at hand and then still persist on your decontextualised ramblings. You as a journalist should be more responsible.
As to my alleged language that is my prerogative and should not be such a priority as the issue at hand is infinitely more important. And to the commenter who links my comments to abuse, I shall tell her to lighten up and not respond so disproportionately. Calling someone a bitch should not draw such moral outrage.
Ted why are so afraid to debate the issue at hand? By the way no-one had a word to me regarding my language, as I have told you I am a fiercely independent person.
Why do you consider Rushanara a “bitch”?
I consider her abhorrent as she promised to unite the community but instead engages in divise, machiavellian strategies. As an mp she should no better. She is closely linked to the abbas camp as she is related to cllr khales uddin who is abbas’s most vociferous supporter.
Ted polemical analysis do not help. Our ex-chairman and some previous councillors have apparently jumped to abbas’s camp. So to associate lutfur with respect does not reflect empirical reality. Alliances come and go in this highly politicised and polarised area.
Bodrul, what “empirical” evidence do you have for saying that she engaged in divisive strategies?
Ted I will be giving out information regarding abbas and rushnara on my facebook for all to analyse. It will be grounded on empirical reality, make no mistake about that. Abbas who lives in my ward has been unable to prevent his strategy being leaked by his foot soldiers.
You have asserted respect to be an unsavoury lot and have been quiet on ife when I probe you. Are you avoiding the issue as you cannot offer any sound evidence?
Mr Islam’s facebook page appears to be visable to friends only hence the claim of “for all to analyse” is as fatuous as the corrupt third world politics these people intend to inflict on the eastend.
Lets be sensible if we must have a mayor at least go for someone that has a degree.
Joe what an unmitigating nincompoop that you are. The degree comment is quite amusing and displays your ignorance and stupidity. Lutfur rahman is a senior partner in a very respectable law firm. I will befriend anyone in facebook so you can cut out your silly perception of cultural superiority nonsense. By the way I am educated to post-graduate status.