.jpg)
.svg)
The political career of Mohammad Amirul Islam, a once-celebrated figure who rose to become Enfield’s first British Bangladeshi mayor, has plunged into further controversy following revelations that he openly defied sanctions imposed by his local authority. The Ponders End councillor, who is currently the subject of an active Home Office investigation regarding alleged immigration offences, was photographed wearing ceremonial mayoral regalia at an Oxford University event, blatantly disregarding a specific ban placed upon him by Enfield Council, Daily Dazzling Dawn realized.
This latest act of defiance serves as the newest chapter in a dramatic fall from grace for the barrister and community leader. Mr Islam, who made history within the borough as the first mayor born in Bangladesh, now sits as an Independent councillor after being suspended by the Labour Party in June. His suspension followed an internal council investigation which concluded he had behaved with a lack of integrity by utilizing his mayoral office to influence visa applications for 41 foreign nationals.
The controversy centres on allegations that Mr Islam leveraged his position to pressure the British High Commission in Dhaka. According to a confidential 160-page dossier compiled by independent investigators, Mr Islam sent official council-headed letters—some of which were found to be "doctored"—urging diplomatic staff to grant favourable treatment to his "friends, family, and associates." The report details how he sought to bring dozens of individuals from Bangladesh to the UK, ostensibly to attend his mayoral inauguration, with some correspondence sent even before he had formally assumed the role.
Despite the gravity of these findings, Mr Islam appeared at the World Leaders Summit held at Keble College, Oxford, in August, where he was billed as a chief guest. Social media images, which have since been deleted, showed him wearing the golden past mayor’s badge and full chains of office. This direct violation occurred despite a formal letter sent to him by Enfield’s monitoring officer on September 12, noting his breach of the sanctions. The council’s conduct committee had previously stripped him of the right to wear such paraphernalia after determining he had used his public office to advance personal and private interests.
Prior to this scandal, Mr Islam was viewed as a rising star within North London’s political landscape. A legal professional by trade, he built his career as a practising barrister, a background that has added a layer of irony to the accusations of rule-breaking now levelling against him. His election as mayor was hailed as a significant milestone for representation in the diverse borough of Enfield. However, his professional reputation is now under intense scrutiny as the Home Office confirmed in May 2024 that they had contacted the council regarding a letter sent in support of a visa application, triggering the current probe into potential immigration crimes.
Politically, Mr Islam now faces an uncertain future in the wilderness. having been administratively suspended from the Labour Party, he no longer enjoys the backing of the political machinery that helped secure his seat. While he continues to represent the British Bangladeshi populated Ponders End as an Independent, his isolation in the council chamber is palpable. With the next local government elections slated for 2026, it remains unclear whether he will attempt to defend his seat without party support, though his refusal to engage with current sanctions suggests a combative stance rather than a retreat.
In his defence, Mr Islam has maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal. Speaking to the press, he insisted he had done nothing wrong and denied wearing the specific past mayor’s badge at the Oxford event, despite photographic evidence to the contrary. He further argued that his interventions were ultimately futile, claiming that none of the visa applications he supported were successful and that no individuals entered the UK as a result of his letters.
The standoff between the councillor and the local authority has deepened, with town hall officials reporting that Mr Islam has ignored repeated requests to issue a formal apology or agree to abide by the code of conduct sanctions. As the Home Office investigation proceeds, the former mayor remains in a precarious position, his legacy as a community trailblazer now overshadowed by allegations of systemic abuse of power.
