Career
In 1979, Ali bought the New Curry Centre, in Stanford-le-Hope. At the time Ali"s family was the first Bengali family in Thurrock Essex. Ali runs the Maharaja restaurant in South Benfleet, Essex.
Since 1991, the restaurant has held charity nights raising close to £2 million for hundreds of charitable causes including.
Multiple Sclerosis Society, NSPCC, British Red Cross and Breast Cancer Awareness amongst others Ali has been involved in the Indian catering industry since the 1970s, with a career spanning 40 years.
He is the general secretary of the Castle Point Bangladeshi Education and Cultural Centre, as well as governor of the Hajji Soyed Ali Primary School and the chairman of the advisory committee of the Essex Bangladesh Welfare Association. He is chairman of the Interim Committee Arbitrator and former treasurer of the Balagonj Education Trust, which aims to provide life skills and education to disadvantaged children in Bangladesh.
He is also vice-chairman of The Bangladeshi Catering Association (Essex region).