The bus stop for Adler Street in the Whitechapel Road is to be renamed in memory of the murdered Bangladesh textile worker Altab Ali 40 years ago.

%image(14923243, type="article-full", alt="Funeral of Altab Ali after his murder in 1978. Picture source: Paul Trevor")

TfL has agreed the change to mark his killing in Whitechapel, following a campaign by the Altab Ali memorial trust and Tower Hamlets Council.

But an older East End heritage won’t disappear when the bus-stop is eventually renamed ‘Adler Street/Altab Ali Park’.

The stop is 200 yards from the corner of Adler Street, the turning named after Nathan HaKohen Adler, Orthodox Chief Rabbi of the British Empire from 1854 to 1890 whose head office was in that street.

London Assembly’s Unmesh Desai pressed for a name change in August in a City Hall meeting with transport chiefs.

%image(14923244, type="article-full", alt="London Assembly's Unmesh Desai... "Bus-stop namechage issymbol of east Londons historic defiance against hatred and intolerance." Picture: Mike Brooke")

“The symbol of Altab Ali represents east London’s historic defiance against hatred and intolerance,” he said.

“This change is a reminder that we must all come together to stamp out race hate to prevent any further tragedies.”

Altab was stabbed in 1978 on his way home from work through the park that now bears his name, formerly St Mary’s churchyard. Altab Ali Day is held every year on May 4 on the anniversary of his death.