Town Hall officials have taken over running the troubled Bangladesh Mela festival which draws in 100,000 spectators to London’s East End after ending the contract with the organisers.
Tower Hamlets council has decided to run the event directly itself this year after a history of uncertainty. Concerns were raised when the contract was terminated with Boishakhi Mela Community Trust, but the festival is now on track to go ahead on schedule at the end of July.
The Mela has had a turbulent history over the years—including allegations by an MP of being used for “people trafficking”, fears for “public safety” and rival groups fighting to take it over.
But the local authority has stepped in directly this year to stage Europe’s biggest Bangladeshi New Year festival at Bethnal Green’s Weavers Field, off Vallance Road, on Sunday, July 31, the Town Hall announced last Friday.
“Making sure this much-loved community event takes place is a priority for the council.” Mayor John Biggs said. “I’m committed to a Mela for the whole community despite austerity measures and cuts to the council’s budget.”
The authority is aiming to keep it on schedule to the Trust’s original date, despite the short time left to organise it.
The annual Mela, first staged in the 1970s, has drawn much criticism in the past decade over its funding and allegations one year that it had been used to ferry in migrants under the cover of hiring authentic Bengali catering workers—who then vanished into the population when the festival ended.
