Born in 1900 in Sylhet, Ayub Ali Master settled in east London in the 1920s and opened the Shah Jalal restaurant in Commercial Street.
Tower Hamlets Council said it served as a hub for the Asian community and played a vital role in supporting south Asian seamen and migrants in east London during the early 20th century.
The plaque is located in Christian Street, near the site where he and Shas Abdul Majid Qureshi ran the Indian Seamen’s Welfare League office in 1943.
Parul Husain, granddaughter of Ali, attended the unveiling with family members and said: “Our family are immensely proud and excited about this historic event.
“Our grandfather was an early Bangladeshi pioneer.
“He aided so many people in the Bangladeshi community when they first arrived in the UK, as he was fluent in English and Bengali.
“He also worked tirelessly for social justice via the Indian Seaman’s Welfare League during the 1940s.”
Executive mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said Ayub Ali Master was “a trailblazer whose tireless efforts laid the groundwork for community welfare in the borough”.
He added: “His legacy continues to inspire generations, and it is fitting that we honour his contribution with a permanent plaque in the heart of our borough.”
Those who want to view the plaque in real life can find it in Christian Street, on the side of Drewett House.
