A Labour politician is under investigation after allegedly abusing his position as mayor to try to secure visas for dozens of family members and friends from Bangladesh.
According to a Telegraph investigation, Cllr Mohammad Amirul Islam sent both “official” and “doctored” letters, bearing Enfield Council’s crest, to the British High Commission in Dhaka in an attempt to have visa applications treated “favourably.”
The correspondence, seen by the Telegraph, asked embassy staff to “ensure a smooth visa application process” for individuals invited to his inauguration as mayor of Enfield in north London.
Mr Islam, 47, is the subject of a Home Office probe into potential immigration offences. An independent inquiry commissioned by Enfield Council also found he had brought the authority “into disrepute” by using his office improperly to “assist family, friends and associates in obtaining visas” and to “advance personal and private interests.”
The confidential 160-page report concluded that some of the letters were written before he became mayor and even before he knew he would assume the role. Investigators found that 13 were produced by the council’s mayoral office team, six were acknowledged by Mr Islam as his own, and the remainder were “on the balance of probabilities” linked to him.
Although 41 people in Bangladesh were invited to his mayor-making ceremony in May 2024, only one is believed to have attended.
The inquiry found Mr Islam had altered some letters himself after council staff said they were uncomfortable drafting them. The documents included personal details such as passport numbers and dates of birth to try to speed up applications.
The report stated that while it was acceptable for deputy mayors to request visas for official guests, Mr Islam went “way beyond these limitations,” creating “a pattern of behaviour where he used council resources and letterheads to support visa applications, even when not officially authorised.”
Mr Islam, who completed his year as mayor in May 2025 and now sits as an independent councillor after being suspended by Labour, has denied wrongdoing. He told investigators that previous mayors had supported visa applications and claimed an “agency” in Bangladesh had forged some letters and signatures.
Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: “None of the visa applications I supported was successful so no one came to the UK.” He added that his family, who were proud of his appointment as Enfield’s first Bangladeshi-born mayor, had hoped to attend the ceremony.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “It would be inappropriate to comment on an active investigation, but all allegations of immigration crime are thoroughly investigated and appropriate action is taken where necessary.”
Enfield Council said it backed the conduct committee’s findings that Mr Islam had brought his office into disrepute. Sanctions include barring him from using his role to support visa applications, requiring code of conduct training, and a request not to wear his past mayor’s badge again.
Cllr Alessandro Georgiou, leader of the council’s Conservative group, said: “The Enfield Labour council knew about these allegations long before he became mayor and he was still allowed to take office. This all brings deep shame upon the council. He should resign.”
Mr Islam has not yet issued an unreserved apology, as recommended by the investigation.
Read the full story in the Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/27/labour-mayor-demanded-visas-for-bangladeshi-family-friends/
