The chartered accountant and local party chair is one of five candidates running in Thursday’s by-election
By Marco Marcelline
The Conservative candidate in Higham Hill’s Thursday by-election is a chartered accountant and local party chair who is campaigning to stop “Labour over-development” in the area.
In campaign leaflets, Moufazzal Bhuiyan has opposed what he has called the “inappropriate” development of the Uplands Business Park off Blackhorse Lane. Proposed plans by global investment manager BlackRock would see the construction of eight towers of between 18 to 38 storeys tall. The tallest towers, if approved, would rank as the highest in the borough.
Moufazzal was born and raised in Bangladesh, before moving to Waltham Forest in 2006. He has been chairman of the Waltham Forest Conservative Party Association since 2022.
A LinkedIn profile with his name and picture lists his role as Accounts Manager at Channel S Television and Prestige. The profile also states he studied a Masters in Accounting at the University of Dhaka between 1987 and 1990, where he also received a master of business administration.
Channel S is a Bengali television channel based at Prestige House in Walthamstow. The channel is currently available to view on Sky, and claims to be the “voice of British bangladeshis across the world.”
It streams talk show, news and entertainment programmes in Bengali, Sylheti and English.
On his X (formerly Twitter) profile, Moufazzal can be seen mixing with various high-profile Conservatives, such as Chingford MP Iain Duncan Smith, and former London Mayor candidate Shaun Bailey.
On his X page, Moufazzal has shared support for Moz Hossain, Susan Hall’s challenger in the Conservative primary for London Mayor as well as Shaun Bailey, the London Mayoral candidate who lost to Sadiq Khan in 2021.
From social media posts, it appears that Moufazzal is, like his party, opposed to the ULEZ expansion. In February 2018, Moufazzal was present at a Conservative Party organised protest against London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Chingford visit to promote ULEZ. In a selfie posted to his Twitter, Moufazzal can be seen smiling while holding a “No to ULEZ” sign.
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Moufazzal Bhuiyan has stood for election in Waltham Forest twice before.
Last year he stood for election in the Upper Walthamstow ward and received 368 votes, coming fifth out of eight candidates. In a campaign leaflet, Moufazzal promised to stop “overdevelopment”, “provide green spaces” and “stop anti-social behaviour” in the area. He also said he would work to “create better youth community engagement activities” and sort out potholes, road closures and broken pavements.
In 2018 he stood for election in the Wood Street ward and came sixth out of twelve candidates, with a total of 479 votes.
In campaign material for the 2018 local elections, Moufazzal said he was “dedicated to making [the] community safe and secure” after having lived in Waltham Forest “for over a decade”. He also promised “actively listen to ensure a strong voice” for constituents and praised the “vast culture and the beauty” of the borough.
In a TikTok shared to his Facebook page, he lists his occupation as a professional accountant.
The TikTok touts his charitable efforts, including that he has organised donation to support Ukraine and Turkey and created a food bank delivery program in Walthamstow to support vulnerable/disabled residents, and has raised £150,000 to support communities during the COVID pandemic.
Moufazzal is also the founder of the Waltham Forest Lions Club, a registered charity that says it “dedicated to helping those in need.” Founded in 2016, its website says the group responded to Ukraine and Syrian refugee support appeals and for disaster relief calls in Pakistan, India, Bahamas or Beirut and supported a food bank.
The Charity Commission’s website lists Waltham Forest Lions Club’ most recent income (year ending 30 June 2021) as £3,167, and its expenditure also £3,167.
Its reporting for the 2022 financial year is overdue by 177 days, and financial documents for June 2021 were received 303 days late.
The charity received a total of £500 in government related grants in 2020, but none the following year.
Moufazzal was not available for an interview with the Echo.
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