first print october 2010 editor in chief who website 2010.pdf · 2014-06-21 · first print october...

Published in the United Kingdom byBritish Bangla Media GroupUnit 2, 60 Hanbury StreetLondon E1 5JLTel: 020 7377 8966Email: [email protected]

FIRST PRINT OCTOBER 2010

EDITOR IN CHIEFMOHAMMED ABDUL KARIM

EDITORSHAHADOTH KARIM

BARRISTER AT LAW

ASSOCIATE EDITORMASHUK AHMED KHAN

M.Phil., M.A., B.A.(Hons), PG DIP.(HRM), AD. DIP. (Mgt.), MCIPD

DESIGN AND PRODUCTIONIMPRESS MEDIA UK

CONTRIBUTORSANAWAR BABUL MIAH, BARRISTER AT LAW

MATIAR CHOWDHURY

SHAMAYITA CHAKRABORTY

MIZANUR RAHMAN

SHEIK TUAHID

RAHMIN KARIM

SADIK KARIM

© British Bangla Media Group 2010/11

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2 British Bangladeshi Who’s Who 2010


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STATEMENT FROM THE LONDON MAYOR:

I am very proud to be the Mayor of one of the most diverse and tolerant cities in the world. It is pre-cisely because Londoners embrace with open arms and open hearts the diversity which Bangladeshicommunities bring to the capital that over 150,000 Bangladeshis have chosen to make this dynamic,world class city their home.Immigrants throughout the ages have brought, and continue to bring, skills, experience, knowledgeand, not infrequently, an entrepreneurial spirit that has contributed hugely to London’s economy andsuccess. This entrepreneurial spirit generates a turnover in the region of £4 billion for the capital’seconomy from the Bangladeshi-owned restaurant industry, which also employs around 50,000 peo-ple.A new generation of young Bangladeshis are making huge in-roads into areas such as the media,education, the arts and literature. There are no areas where Bangladeshis can’t make their mark. Ensuring our young people are suitably equipped to take advantage of future economic opportunitiesis the most important thing we can do to ensure the long-term economic and social stability of Lon-don. The children of today are our most valuable resource for tomorrow and they must not becomea wasted generation.

For that reason we are creating 3,000 apprenticeships across the Greater London Authority Group by2012 to provide skills and training opportunities for all Londoners. We are entering exciting times as the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games draw ever nearer, and Iwant everyone to be a part of it – whether through thinking creatively about how your business canbe involved to volunteering for the thousands of roles during the Games. Earlier in the year, I launcheda call for 8000 Ambassadors - welcoming faces that will greet the hundreds of thousands of visitors ex-pected to descend on London for the Games. Anyone over 16, who has a passion for all things London,can volunteer their time to give help and advice to our visitors arriving in 2012. This is your city andyou have a stake in its future success so get involved and help shape what you would like to see Lon-don become. This publication is a fantastic way of highlighting the vast achievements of Bangladeshi communitiesin London and the UK. I wish Abdul Karim and his team the best of luck with this year’s event and hopethe publication goes from strength to strength in future years.

Boris Johnson Mayor of London

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FOREWORD FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

After another year we have managed to compile another edition of the British BangladeshiWho’s Who publication. This year not only have there been aesthetic changes to the publication,but you may have also noticed new faces. Of course we endeavour to highlight members of thecommunity who are excelling however, those who may not have previously received the recog-nition they deserve.

I want to personally congratulate each and every entrant in this years edition. They deserve thecredit they get for their success.

I hope you enjoy the read.

Mohammed Abdul Karim- Goni

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FOREWORD FROM THE EDITOR

The British Bangladeshi Who’s Who publication is in my view unique to our community. It is per-haps the only annual text which strives to record and highlight the success of various individualswho from the community who have excelled in their respective fields.

This yeas publication aims to be even more exciting and contain profiles of individuals whohave not feature before. We seek to search for and locate meritorious British Bangladeshis whomay not have been in the limelight previously and showcase their endeavours.

I hope you find this year’s edition an enjoyable read.

Shahadoth Karim

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1. Abbas Helal Uddin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102. Ahad Abdul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103. Ahmad Syed Neaz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114. Ahmed Ali . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115. Ahmed Ayesha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126. Ahmed Bashir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127. Ahmed Cllr A M Ohid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138. Ahmed Cllr Mehfuz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139. Ashuk Rahman Zuhel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149. Ahmed Cllr Rofique Uddin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1410. Ahmed Doros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1511. Ahmed Gulam Mortuza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1512. Ahmed Mesba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1613. Ahmed Mosleh Uddin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1614. Ahmed Mr Shafi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1715. Ahmed Parvez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1716. Ahmed Mohammed Belal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1817. Ahmed Muquim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1818. Ahmed Shofi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1919. Ahmed Moulana Shuyeb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 20. Ahmed Syed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 21. Akbar JP Ali . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2022. Alam Meah Monirul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2123. Ali Alhaj Md. Tahir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2124. Ali Alhaz Sukur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2225. Ali Amin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2226. Ali Cllr Junab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2327. Ali Cllr Shahed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2328. Ali Dr Mir Azmal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2429. Ali JP Mohammed Monchab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2430. Ali Kamru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2531. Ali Lutfur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2532. Ali Maya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2633. Ali Mazhar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2634. Ali Md. Rahmat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2735. Ali Ragib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2736. Ali Rois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2837. Ali Rushanara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2838. Ali Shukur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2939. Ali Siraj . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2940. Ali Sunahwar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3041. Alom Shumon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3042. Anwar MBE Cllr Chaudhury Mohammed . . . . . . . . . . . .3143. Azad Abul Kalam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3144. Azad Shamim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3245. Azhar Ali M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3246. Badar Shahin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3347. Badsha Aminul Haq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3348. Bakhsh Hafiz Alam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3449. Bari Dr Muhammad Abdul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3450. Begum Shofna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3551. Brothers Taj . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3552. Choudhury Abdul Gaffar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3653. Choudhury Akhlaq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3654. Choudhury Akil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3755. Choudhury Amirul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3756. Choudhury Atique Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3857. Choudhury Anwar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3858. Choudhury Aziz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3959. Choudhury Capt Tasbirul Ahmed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3960. Choudhury Cllr Prince Sadik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

61. Choudhury Dr Sanawar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4062. Choudhury K MAbu Taher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4163. Choudhury Mohibuddin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4164. Choudhury Shetu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4265. Chowdhury Abdul Kadir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4366. Chowdhury Ahmed Us Samad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4367. Chowdhury Anamul Hoque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4468. Chowdhury Enam – Ul Haque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4469. Chowdhury China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4570. Chowdhury Cllr Salim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4571. Chowdhury Cllr Sherwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4672. Chowdhury Maruf Ahmed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4673. Chowdhury Matiar Rahman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4774. Chowdhury Matiur Rahman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4775. Chowdhury MBE Mamun Rashid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4876. Chowdhury Sayed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4877. Chowdhury Shamim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4978. Chowdhury Tareq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4979. Faruk Gulam Mostafa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5080. Faruk Shahagir Bakth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5081. Ghazi ATMW Saad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5182. Haque Abdul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5183. Haque Cllr Ahmadul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5284. Haque Cllr Shafiqul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5285. Haque Ehsan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5386. Harid Cllr MA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5387. Hayder Rafique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5488. Hassan Parveen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5489. Hoque Atiqul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5590. Hoque Rafiqul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5591. Hossain Mozammel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5692. Hossain QC Ajmalul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5693. Husain MBE Dr Hasanat M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5794. Husain Shahida Hasanat MA, FRSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5795. Hussain Cllr Ahmed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5896. Hussain Dr Babul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5897. Hussain MBE Shelim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5998. Hussain Sheikh Md. Ishtiaque Hussain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5999. Islam Cllr Sirajul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60100. Islam Ifty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60101. Islam Mohamed Fakhrul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61102. Islam Mujib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61103. Jahan Mohammed Shah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62104. Jahedi Mohammed Abdul Munim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 105. Jalal Rajonuddin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63106. Jamal Misbahul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63107. Jeetu Sheikh Nurul Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64108. Kabir Mahmuda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64109. Kabir Sandra M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65110. Kalam Muhammad Abul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65111. Khan Ayub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66112. Khan Azom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66113. Khan Dr Shafi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67114. Khan Helal Uddin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67115. Khan Hussain Ahmed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68116. Khan Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68117. Khan MA Mannan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69118. Khan Mashuk Ahmed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69119. Khan Md Shamsuddin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70120. Khan Tasmin Lucia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Names are listed in alphabetical order by surname

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121. Khan Zakir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71122. Khanum Taryn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71123. Khatun Cllr Shiria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74124. Kibriyah Minhaj . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74125. Khurshed S H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75126. Lais Mohammad Abul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75127. Liton Mohammad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76128. Mahmud Taysir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77129. Malik Ahmed Abdul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77130. Malik Dr Khalifa Mohammad Abdul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78131. Malique Abdul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78132. Masroor Ajmal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79133. Meah Alhaj Manik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79134. Miah Abjol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80135. Miah Faruk MBE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80136. Miah Alhaj M Noor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81137. Miah Alhaj Mohammed Rais . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81138. Miah Ana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82139. Miah Anawar Babul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82140. Miah Dr M G Moula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83141. Miah Jusna Begum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83142. Miah MBE Arju . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84143. Miah Md Harun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84144. Miah Mohammed Shofique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85145. Miah Muhammad Ayas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85146. Miah Noonu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86147. Miah Rohema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 148. Miah Shanur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 149. Miah Tommy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 150. Miah Yousuf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88151. Mitu Mohammed Mohed Ali . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88152. Mokis Monsur Ahmed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89153. Mokkodus Jamal Uddin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89154. Momtaz Hasina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90155. Moni Rowshanara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90156. Mortuza Ghulam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91157. Muquit Shuyeb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91158. Pal Rabin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92159. Pasha Nur-ur Rahman Khandaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92160. Pasha Syed Nahas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93161. Qureshi Khwaja Shamsheer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93162. Rahman Abu Nasir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94163. Rahman Alaur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94164. Rahman ANM Serajur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95165. Rahman Ataur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95166. Rahman Aziz-ur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96167. Rahman Cllr Lutfur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96168. Rahman Dr Moijur A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97169. Rahman Habib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97170. Rahman Mahbub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98171. Rahman Mahidur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98172. Rahman Misbaur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99173. Rahman Mizanur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99174. Rahman Mohammad Hafizur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100175. Rahman Mohammad Lutfur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100176. Rahman Mohammed Mujibur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101177. Rahman OBE JP Anis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101178. Rahman Sheikh Mohammed Mofizur . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102179. Rahman Mohidur Mohammed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102180. Raki Cllr Ayesha Chowdhury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103181. Ranu Syedur Rahman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104182. Rashid Aminur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104

183. Rashid Bajloor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105184. Rauf Mahmoud A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105185. Ray Mukul Chandra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106186. Saha Dr Bijan Kumar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106187. Salam Dr Mohammed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107188. Salique Muhammad Abdullah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107189. Sapnara Khatun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108190. Sattar Muhammed A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108191. Shahajahan H M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109192. Shahid Abdul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109193. Shariff Sultan Mahmud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110194. Shayeb Baharul Alam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110195. Shelim Wazid Hasan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111196. Shoaib Reza Ahmed Faisal Choudhury . . . . . . . . . . . . .111197. Siddiq Tulip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112198. Suton Abul Kalam Azad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 199. Syed M Altab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113200. Taher MBE Mohammed Abu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 201. Tasser Dr Wali . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114202. Tuahid Sheik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114203. Uddin Baroness Pola Manzila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115204. Uddin Giash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115205. Uddin Dr Ruab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116206. Uddin Joshim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116207. Uddin Khondaker Forid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117 208. Uddin Mohammed Kamar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117209. Uddin Moin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118210. Uddin Mostafa Saleh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 211. Uddin Nobab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119 212. Uddin Syed Monsur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119213. Uddin Zafar JP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120214. Ullah Ansar Ahmed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120215. Ullah Cllr Abdal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121216. Uz-Zaman Cllr Motin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121217. Waess Abssar Mohammed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122218. Waheed Rekha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122

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Helal Uddin Abbas is the present Leaderof London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Hecame to the UK in 1972. He joined theLabour party in 1979 and since then hasgone onto to serve in several positions in-cluding; ward secretary, chair of a second-ary school governing body, councillor, vicechair of the London Borough of TowerHamlets Education Committee, and leadmember for education.

Helal Uddin Abbas was one of thefounders of the first locally based anti-Na-tional Front organisations, called the AntiRacist Committee of Asians in East London(ARC-AEL). Mr Abbas has worked previ-ously as a youth and community worker inseveral London boroughs as well as thetraining programme director of CommonPurpose, a national charity. He was thelead member for education in the LondonBorough of Tower Hamlets and leader ofthe council for four years. As leader of thecouncil he was responsible for improvingthe standard of education in the borough,ensuring housing issues were resolved aswell as developing new houses and pro-viding residents with access to employ-ment and training.During his time at the council he achieved

a good rating under the government’scomprehensive performance assessmentinitiative, which recognised Tower Hamletshad both a focused and astute politicalleadership as well as strong, clear manage-ment.

Under Cllr Abbas’ leadership the Boroughof Tower Hamlets has achieved many Bea-con Awards in fields such as; communitycohesion, race equality, getting closer tocommunities and support for social careworkers as well as an LGC award for thebest Social Services Management Team.

Helal Uddin Abbas is notably proud of hispolitical achievements in regeneration,transport, housing and education. He is ac-tively involved in campaigning for localresidents and constantly stresses the im-portance of value, respect and inclusive-ness. He was also involved with theBengali Housing Action Group and wasthe secretary of the organisation.

Mr Abdul Ahad is a British Bangladeshi whohas been working in the catering industry fornearly thirty years, and it is fair to say that hehas been more than a success.

His first restaurant was opened in MiltonKeynes in 1980 and since then his cateringempire has grown stronger and stronger.From the moment Mr Ahad entered thecatering trade, he saw a vision to create anultimate shrine to Indian food. In 1998, hisplans began to take shape, and finally inearly 2002, the dream became reality.

As the owner of the famous Jaipur Restau-rant in Milton Keynes, Mr Ahad is the manbehind the largest purpose built Indianrestaurant in Europe.

The Jaipur Restaurant itself is an architecturallandmark building of great beauty, and onethat Mr Ahad refers to as his own ‘mini TajMahal’. The food and the service inside isequally impressive, having won practicallyevery available award to Indian cuisine.

Furthermore, although initially Jaipur wassolely an Indian Restaurant, it now houses aThai restaurant, the Orchid Lounge, on thefirst floor.For all his success as a restaurateur, Mr Ahadis equally as successful in other fields –one of

which is fundraising for charities. Two of MrAhad’s favourite causes are ‘the Jaipur LimbProject’ of the Rotary International and Savethe Children charity.

The ‘Jaipur Limb Project’ set up in Jaipur,India, is engaged in manufacturing pros-thetic limbs for children and adults who havelost their limbs due to disease or accidents.The provision of a new limb gives them a lifechanging experience enabling them to a fulllife in many different ways. Mr Ahad is amajor supporter and contributor to the proj-ect during the last twelve years, raising over£30,000 through the Annual Charity Dinner.

The Ousedale School branch of the Save theChildren fund engages in a variety offundraising activities. For last 19 years, theAnnual Gala Dinner at the Jaipur is one of thehighlights of the fundraising calendar andgives everyone a chance to participate eitherby donating for the raffle draw or by attend-ing the dinner. As recognition of his services,Mr Ahad was made the Honorary Presidentof the Ousedale School branch of the Charity.

Mr Ahad is also a high profile and integralmember of Britian’s Bangladeshi communityand has supported the development ofschools, mosques, madrassas and other char-ity projects in his parental village in Sylhet.

Helal Uddin Abbas

SECTOR: Politics

Abdul Ahad

SECTOR: Catering


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Mr Ali Ahmed came to the UK in 1975 withhis father Al-Hajj Alauddin Ahmed who hailsfrom the village of Saheb Bari Chandai,Dokkin Surma, Sylhet. In the UK Mr Ahmedstarted his first business in 1984. Currentlyhis business interests vary from investmentproperties, frozen foods to catering.

Mr Ahmed is members of various organisa-tions in UK, and has held various offices. He isone of the founding members and a trusteeof the Bangladesh Centre Cardiff. He hasbeen an executive member since 1985 andTreasurer since 1995. Furthermore, he is alsoChairman Caddyn housing contact group,Board of director Taff housing Association,Executive member and financial supporter ofBangla School in Cardiff. Previously he wasan Executive Member of Shahjalal MosqueCardiff from 1987 to 1998 and General Sec-retary Shahjalal Mosque Cardiff for two peri-ods in 1999 and from 2000 to 2002. AliAhmed is also an Executive member of RaceEquality First Cardiff and Treasurer of IslamicSociety Wales as well as being Vice ChairmanDokkin Surma Somaj Kollan Somitti.

Ali Ahmed maintains a strong connectionwith politics. He is Executive Member ofCardiff County Labour Party in addition tobeing Ethnic Minority Officer Cardiff Central.He is Secretary of Cyncoed, Pentwyn, Llany-

dren Branch Labour Party ( and has beenSince 2006) as well as holding the position ofExecutive Member - Cardiff & Vale Fabien so-ciety.

Ali has organised numerous fundraising andcharitable events and has campaigned re-lentlessly for the Labour Party in his localcommunity.

In 2006 Ali was a recipent of the Channel SCommunity Awards for his services and con-tributions to the community.

In July 2009 Ali Ahmed was invited to theQueens Garden party and earlier that year hewas invited by the Prime Minister to a recep-tion at 10 Downing Street.

Ali Ahmed

SECTOR: Business and Community Relations

Syed Neaz Ahmad is an academic, author, writer,journalist and columnist. He taught Creative Writ-ing and Applied Linguistics at Umm Al-Qura Uni-versity, Mecca, Saudi Arabia for over 20 years. Whileat Mecca University he authored a series of 3 text-books on writing. They are used at Middle East uni-versities.He has contributed to a US university textbook ,

Cultures: Diversity in Reading & Writing edited byCalifornia University Professor Emily Thiroux &published by Prentice Hall, New York (1998). Theanthology is used as a textbook at universities inthe US, Europe & Asia.Syed Neaz’s research feature in many textbooks in-cluding: An Introduction to Language & Linguisticsby CJ Hall published by Continuum (2008), An In-troduction to Linguistics by Syal Pushpinder pub-lished by Prentice Hall India (2007) and an e-bookof quotations compiled by a California academic.He contributed articles, features, book reviews andweekly columns to two Jeddah-based daily news-papers: Saudi Gazette & Arab News. His weekly col-umn, Viewpoint was published for 25 years, arecord in the Middle East. He was also editor ofSaudi Gazette for about five years. Syed Neaz wasEditorial Consultant for Saudi NGO Muslim WorldLeague's English Journal.

He writes for the London newspaper The Guardianon Muslim & Middle East issues. He has also beenpublished in The USA Today, Asian Tribune, Busi-nessweek, BioScience Encyclopedia, UNHCR re-ports published by the United Nations, the

Virginia-based Institute on Religion & Public Policypublications. He currently writes editorial articlesfor the Dhaka daily, New Age and Jeddah newspa-per, Arab News. His articles are carried by websitesworldwide including Middle East Online,Newspeg.com, journalisted.com, World PoliticalReport, Medarabnews and US National PublicRadio.

Syed Neaz has interviewed several prime minis-ters, ministers, MPs, Oscar winners, Nobel laureatesand has edited academic journals. His articles havebeen translated into Arabic, Bulgarian, Italian,Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, Bengali, Hindiand Japanese languages.He obtained a first class BA (Honours) and a first

class MA from Dhaka University during the headydays of Bangladesh freedom movement. Later heattended Birmingham & London universities topursue higher studies & research. His main area ofresearch and interest is Comparative Linguistics –Arabic & English language. He has given over 50 talks on BBC World Service

Radio on topics related to Islamic rituals, practicesand education and social norms. During his stay inSaudi Arabia he was often a guest on Saudi TV chatshows and Jeddah FM Radio.

Syed Neaz heads a resource & research organiza-tion, Media World. He is currently working on hismemoir, Saudi Arabia: A Holy Country That Was.He lives in London with his wife, Rina Musharraf

and children, Faisal, Talal, Tania & Anzar.

Syed Neaz Ahmad

SECTOR: Academic, Writer & Critic


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Mrs Ayesha Ahmed was born in Noy-asarak Mankpir Road of Sylhet. She startedher education at Kazitola Primary School,followed by Kishorimohon Girls HighSchool and Sylhet Government MohillaCollege.In 1965, she got married to the late DrBashir Ahmed. The following year, they moved to the UK.Ayesha Ahmed and her husband areblessed with four sons and one daughter.

Ayesha Ahmed has worked in the mediasector for over twenty years. She was thefirst female British Bangladeshi journalist inthe UK, and for this she is widely respected.She is currently the Honorary Editor of theweekly newspaper ‘Surma’, a publicationthat was started in 1977 by her late hus-band; this role entails assisting with theprinting, publication and editing.

In response to the outstanding contribu-tion that Ayesha Ahmed has made to themedia sector, the Sylhet Press Club has ho-noured her by providing life membershipto their organisation.In addition, Ayesha Ahmed has been anambassador for the Bangladeshi people

who live in Britain. She has been very sup-portive, and has been generous with hertime in helping those members of the com-munity who need it.

Bashir Ahmed was born in Bangladesh in1953. He completed his SSC from CommillaBoard in 1970. After that he completed hisHSC from Madan Mohan College in 1972,and he gained a BA (Hons) degree from thesame college in 1974.

He is the Chairman and Managing Directorof Kohinoor of India Holding Ltd. This com-pany owns and manages the largest chain ofIndian restaurants in Netherlands.

Mr Ahmed is the propriertor of KasturiRestaurant situated in East London. Thecatering establishment is well known for itsquality food and service and has won a num-ber of awards.

Mr Ahmed’s journey to his current prolificrole began in 1974, when he started workingin a restaurant. He quickly rose through theranks, and in 1981 became the first Asianrestaurant manager at the Hotel Ibis Amster-dam in Holland. It was also in 1981 that heopened the first branch of Kohinoor of India,and set up Kohinoor of India Holding Ltd.

In the years since he has gradually built uphis restaurant portfolio to become the suc-cessful man that he is today. His effort hasnot gone unrecognised. In 1988, he was

named ‘Man of the Year’ for the small busi-ness association by the Chamber of Com-merce for East Netherlands. He has also beennamed an ‘Investor in People’ for his role ofestablishing the Kasturi Restaurant andCatering business he owns in the UK.

He has donated to many charitable institu-tions and causes both here in the UK as wellas in Bangladesh, and continues to donategenerously even today.

In his private life, Bashir Ahmed is a keen fol-lower of sports. He plays both football andbadminton, and was an Instrumental GuitarArtist on Radio Pakistan and Bangladesh be-tween 1968 and 1974.

Ayesha Ahmed

SECTOR: Media

Bashir Ahmed

SECTOR: Catering


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Cllr Ohid Ahmed is the lead Cabinet Mem-ber for Resources and Performance for theLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets. In ad-dition Cllr Ahmed also embraces the Secre-tarial position within the Labour Friends ofBangladesh organisation.

Ohid is a part qualified Certified CharteredAccountant (ACCA) and between 2002 and2005 he completed his MBA from Univer-sity of East London. As Finance & Grants Coordinator for Leaside Regeneration he manages variousprojects involving employment and fi-nance. He also provides advice and supportto project managers in relation to financialmanagement and administrative issues.

Cllr Ahmed was the first Bangladeshi Mus-lim to sit on the London Thames GatewayDevelopment Corporation. Cllr OhidAhmed is very strongly involved in the so-cial and economic regeneration of East Lon-don. He has worked with many communityand voluntary organisations in East Londonand has helped them obtain grants.

Another issue close to Ohid’s heart is the re-moval of barriers in the labour market forthose groups who are at a disadvantage in

entering the labour market. He places par-ticular emphasis on combating race, sexand disability discrimination, and he hashelped implementing measures, which willeradicate these barriers.

Cllr Ohid Ahmed also serves in several com-munity organisations. He is the Trustee ofthe Golapgonj Education Trust, as well as aTrustee for the Mahmud Hussain Education& Welfare Trust. He currently holds the posi-tion of Board Member at both the Lime-house Youth Club and the Poplar(Aberfeldy) Islamic Cultural Centre. He wasformerly the Cabinet Member of Educationand Youth Services for the London Boroughof Tower Hamlets, and the youth and cul-tural secretary at the Bangladesh Centre.Other positions have included being aTrustee for Canary Wharf Further EducationTrust, as well as a Director for Poplar Harca.

Cllr Ohid Ahmed’s favourite pastimes in-clude following national and internationalPolitics, cricket, Chess, gardening as well ascomputing. He is a well-rounded Councillorstriving for the success of East London andthe people within.

Mehfuz Ahmed was born and brought up inCity of Westminster. He attended local pri-mary and secondary school in Westminster.

Mehfuz’s Grandfather came to the UK in the1950’s and his father soon followed; bothlived in the City of Westminster. They origi-nate from village: Nidon Pur, Beani Bazaar,Sylhet District.

He is the son of Late Alhaj Hafiz Uddin, highlyrespected member of the community. His fa-ther was the Founding President of the WestLondon Awami League, Former Chairman ofMarylebone Bangladesh Society and atrustee of Beani Bazaar Welfare Trust UK. Hisfather has also been on the board of manyWestminster Networks and has receivedmany awards from the Council and other or-ganisations in recognition to his work in theCity of Westminster.Mehfuz currently works for a leading na-tional Voluntary Organisation. Previously hehas worked in the Banking field and has alsobeen a civil servant. He has also worked formany Conservative Ministers and Secretaryof States in his early career days.

In July 2008 Mehfuz made history with vic-tory in National Politics in Westminster. Hebecame the first ever Conservative Council-

lor in 108 years in the Church Street Ward By-Election in Westminster City Council. He isthe first and only Bangladeshi ConservativeCouncillor in Westminster City Council.Within 10 months of becoming a councillorMehfuz was promoted in May 2009 toDeputy Cabinet Member for Children andYoung People.

Mehfuz is also on the board of the Conserva-tive Friends of Bangladesh (CFOB). He is anactive member of CFOB since it was estab-lished. He has worked very closely with Chairof CFOB Anne Main MP and colleagues DrCharles Tannock MEP (Conservative ForeignSpokesman in the European Parliament) andDominic Grieve MP (Shadow Justice Secre-tary) to lobby the Caretaker Government andthe British Government in 2008 for the re-lease of former Prime Ministers ofBangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia and SheikhHasina and for a free and fair election inBangladesh.Mehfuz is currently the General Secretary ofMarylebone Bangladesh Society and afounding Trustee of London Tigers - a leadingsports organisation in London.

Mehfuz is married to Ritha Ahmed who is aCompany Director; together they have 2 chil-dren Majeed and Jannat.

Cllr A M Ohid Ahmed

SECTOR: Politics

Cllr Mehfuz Ahmed

SECTOR:Politics


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Mr Zuhel Rahman Ashuk, son of late MrAlaur Rahman and Mrs Husna begum, wasborn in 1979 in Sharia Pachgor, ( Dullovpur) Moulvibazar Sadar. Mr Ashuk is married toLuthfa Akthar and have a daughter, AlaynaAshuk .

Mr Ashuk is one of the most successfulyoung entrepreneurs in Bangladeshi com-munity. He is the founder and ManagingDirector of Automec UK ltd. Automec isone of the UK’s best service providing acci-dent management and car credit hire com-pany with credit repair facility .

After working with various insurance com-panies as an Operations Manager with awide experience in insurance Claims, MrAshuk decided to start his own Accidentmanagement company and a credit hirefirm. Since then He has been working ex-tremely hard to establish a reputed Acci-dent management company in theindustry. Now Automec is a well respectedAccident management company within theinsurance industry because of its knowl-edge, expertise, and honesty.

Automec can settle any road traffic or per ashort period of time. Automec also supply

vehicle’s to the clients of number of solicitorfirms and Body Shops throughout theUnited Kingdom. Automec is regulated andmonitored by the Ministry of Justice in re-spect of regulated Claims management ac-tivities.

Mr Ashuk is currently planning to launch acompany in Bangladesh called AshukGroup Bangladesh Ltd, an independentcompany already working on market re-search and preparing a report which ex-pected to be finished in December 2010.Ashuk group will invest in property devel-opment, Private Medical centres and sports& leisure. Mr Ashuk believes thatBangladesh is a developing country and ithas a lot of potential for Business. BritishBangladeshi entrepreneurs should considermaking some investment in Bangladesh asit will create lot of jobs for the local’s andhelp in the growth to the economy.

Born in Sylhet, Cllr Ro�que was amongstthree sons of Mr Haris Ali and Mrs K. Nessa.His older brother lives in London and hisyoungest brother, Kutub Ahmed graduatedfrom UCL and now works for a reputable Ac-countancy firm.

Alhaj Rofique Ahmed married Mrs AyshaBegum in 1983; they have been residing inTower Hamlets since 1985. Their eldestdaughter Aklima Begum, graduated fromWestminster University with a First (1st) ClassHonours Degree in Business Management.She works at Reuters, a worldwide Media/Fi-nancial Institute and married Nuruz Z. Ruhelin December 2008. Nelema Begum is study-ing Medicine at Kings College University.Their only son, Emad Ahmed is awaiting his ALevel results from Leyton College. NasimaBegum currently studies at CFGS in Year 10and youngest child Shamima Begum is inyear 4 at BJPS.

Since elected as Councillor for Mile End andGlobe Town LBTH in 2002, Cllr Ahmed hasbeen re-elected in 2006 due to growing pop-ularity and holds many important high pro-file positions, playing a vital role in decisionmaking in the following organisations: Cab-inet Lead Member for Culture and Leisure for2years running. Olympic Delivery Authority

(ODA) Planning Decisions Team. London2012. Chair of Strategic Development andDevelopment Committee for 3years. Chair ofOlympic Development Committee for2years. London Council’s Culture, Tourismand 2012 forum. Chair of Licensing Commit-tee, Chair of Standards Panel. Trustee ofOcean Regeneration trust. Lead Member ofAsia Urbs - Sylhet Partnership. Director ofOcean New Deal for Communities. LeadMember of the Association of London Gov-ernment (ALG) Grant Committee. Trusttee ofStepney Relief in Needs Charity Board.Trustee of East London CAB. Trustees of RichMix Centre.His contributions to the community includes:Chair of Ben Jonson School Governing Body,Senior Vice-Chair of Greater Sylhet Develop-ment and Welfare Council East London,Tower Hamlets Governors Forum, AssistantSecretary - Ocean Tenants and LeaseholdersAssociation.

Cllr Ahmed has a vision of an inclusive soci-ety where everyone enjoys opportunities re-gardless of their backgrounds. He is workingto create a stronger local economic infra-structure to create better housing, environ-ment and health for all. He wants to seechildren educated, motivated and deter-mined to pursue successful careers.

Mr Zuhel RahmanAshuk

SECTOR: Business

Cllr Ro�queUddin Ahmed

SECTOR: Politics


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Mr Doros Ahmed is a successful restaura-teur in the West Hampstead, North WestLondon. Mr Ahmed arrived in the UK in1971 from Balagonj in Sylhet. Upon arrival,Mr Ahmed completed his secondary edu-cation. He also took a marketing and man-agement course. He then proceeded intoemployment in West End hotels, whichhelped build his knowledge and experi-ence substantially.

In the early 1980’s Mr Ahmed went intopartnership with Emanul Hoque of the fa-mous Lal Qila restaurant. Later, Mr Ahmedopened his first ever restaurant called East-ern Brasserie in Holborn and this followedby another restaurant called Chowrangeein Central London.

Mr Ahmed moved to West Hampstead inthe 1990’s where he opened up BabourEmpire and Ruchi restaurant. Mr Ahmedhas been successfully running Ruchirestaurant with his eldest son KhaledAhmed.

Mr Ahmed has been a long serving mem-ber of the Bengali community. He was thefounding member of the Bengali Workers

Action group from its inauguration in 1976.The association is now known as the Ben-gali Workers Association (BWA). He has alsoserved as the treasurer for this association.He completed two terms helping theBangladesh community of Queens Park, to-talling five years as the General Secretaryof the Queens Park Bangladeshi Associa-tion. Adding to this, Mr Ahmed is SeniorVice President of the Bangladesh CaterersAssociation UK. Mr Ahmed also plays an ac-tive role as a labour party member of NorthKensington closely working with memberof the parliament, Karen Buck. He is also in-terested in Bangladesh politics. BangoBandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman being hisidol. He is also the Vice President of WestLondon Awami League. Mr Ahmed is cur-rently General Secretary of Queens ParkBangladesh Association, North West Lon-don.

Mr Ahmed is married to Samirun Neharand they have five children, two sons andthree daughters who are attending collegeand university.

He enjoys travelling and has visited manycountries.

Gulam Mortuza Ahmed was born in theBiswanath region of Sylhet Bangladesh andcame to the UK at an early age. He is one offour sons of Haji Shajidur Rahman.

Gulam achieved a Masters Degree in Com-mercial Law from the University of Birming-ham and called to the Bar by the HonourableSociety of Lincoln’s Inn in 1997.

Gulam is a specialist criminal defence barris-ter practising from 1 Inner Temple LaneChambers, Temple, London. Gulam under-took his pupillage training at 2 Paper Build-ings, Temple, London. Over the last few yearsGulam has successfully represented clientscharged with fraud (including VAT fraud, In-land Revenue Fraud, Company Fraud, Bank-ing fraud), money laundering, murder andterrorism. Gulam has been led in multi-handed cases and instructed as lead counselin multi-handed cases. Furthermore, Gulamhas also appeared before the GMC and theCoroners Court

Gulam is highly regarded as a very compe-tent barrister in a field of law which lawyersof Bangladeshi origin have rarely excelled.Gulam is a very promising Barrister who hasappeared in many notable cases. His abilityand achievements make him one to watch

out for in the future.Gulam is married with 3 children, 1 daughterand 2 sons. His hobbies are current affairs,sports and travelling.

Gulam is a member of the Criminal Bar Association. He lives in London and Birmingham.

Doros Ahmed

SECTOR: Catering

Gulam MortuzaAhmed

SECTOR: Legal (Barrister)


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Mesba Ahmed was born in Nidon Pur,Beani Bazaar, in the Sylhet District ofBangladesh.He is the son of the late Alhaj Hafiz Uddin. Mesba followed both his grandfather’s andfather’s footsteps by moving to the UK in1972.He completed his education in England. Hethen worked for Allied Dunbar as a Finan-cial Consultant.Due to the recession in the early 1990’s, hewas forced to change his career, and con-sequently started working for the Maryle-bone Bangladesh Society and Age ConcernWestminster.He is currently The Chief Executive of Lon-don Tigers, Director of Prime Financial Serv-ices and a Partner of Atithi Restaurant.Mesba established London Tigers in 1986and it has grown immensely since its incep-tion. The organisation has won numerousawards, and is widely recognised as a bea-con of success by many local authorities,sports governing bodies and politicians.The Patron of London Tigers is Ken Living-stone, the former Mayor of London.

Mr Ahmed is involved with many charita-ble organisations.

He was the founder President of Nidon PurWelfare Association and a Governor of theArk Academy School to name but a few.For his endeavors, Mr Ahmed has receiveda number of high profile awards. In 2004,he was the winner of the inaugural West-minster Local Leadership Award, and in2005, he won the GG2 Leadership DiversityAward. He was nominated for an Outstand-ing Achievement Award at the Sony AsiaTelevision Sports Personality Awards in2007, and London Tigers were nominatedfor Best Community Organisation UKin the 2008 Channel S Awards.Recently Mesba visited Bangladesh as partof the Foreign & Commonwealth Officeprogramme called ‘Projecting British Mus-lims,’ which enables prominent British Mus-lims to visit countries to compareexperiences and celebrate the successes ofBritain’s Muslim population. The delegateswere also able to dispel misleading stereo-types and myths and give first-hand ac-counts of actual life as a Muslim in the UK.Mr Mesba Ahmed is married to Mrs LubnaAhmed, and together they have four chil-dren.

Mosleh Uddin Ahmed was born in Golapgonjin Sylhet, Bangladesh in 1970. He is the sonof Mr Haji Ismail Ali and the late Mohiba Bibi.Mr Ahmed moved to the UK after he had com-pleted an MA at Jagannath College in Dhaka.While living in Bangladesh, Mr Ahmed becameinvolved in the world of journalism. He com-pleted his apprenticeship at Jugovary in Syl-het, before moving to Sylhet Sanglap and thenthe Daily Ajker Sylhet.

Upon his arrival in the UK, Mr Ahmed contin-ued working as a journalist, and is now thenews editor of the most renowned BritishBangladeshi newspaper – Janamot. Mr Ahmedwas the joint secretary of the Bangladesh Jour-nalist Association, and was also the LiteratureSecretary of MC College Student Union in Syl-het.At present, Mosleh Uddin Ahmed is an integralmember of the London Bangla Press Club, andhe is also the treasurer of the newly electedPress Club Committee. Mr Mosleh Uddin Ahmed is a life member ofBonigram- Bhorgram High School.Mr Ahmed is married to Hamida Begum, andthey have two children Iffat Ahmed MohathirAhmed.

Mesba Ahmed

SECTOR: Community Relations

Mosleh Uddin Ahmed

SECTOR: Media (Journalist)


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Mr Sha� Ahmed MBBS FRCSED,FRCSENG, FRCSI, FRCSGEN.SURG is aConsultant Surgeon at Barts and The LondonNHS Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer atBarts and the London Medical School,Queen Mary University of London. He wasborn in Sylhet and arrived in the UK as a childand is one of three sons and daughter of theLate Alhaj Mimbor Ali. He qualified in medi-cine in 1993 from Kings College HospitalMedical School where he was elected presi-dent of the medical students union and ob-tained the Jelf Medal in 1991 for academicexcellence. He underwent surgical trainingin London and obtained fellowships fromthree Royal Colleges of Surgeons and ob-tained his specialist registration in 2006. Hespent three years performing research intothe genetics of colorectal cancer and lookedspecifically at how this common disease af-fected the Bangladeshi community in TowerHamlets. This remains the only paper of itskind in world literature. The paper is entitled“Microarray profiling of colorectal cancer inBangladeshi patients” - Colorectal Dis. 2005Nov; 7(6):571-5.He was appointed as Con-sultant Surgeon in 2007 and specialises ingeneral and colorectal surgery. His main ex-pertise is in laparoscopic (keyhole surgery)and is the clinical lead for laparoscopic col-orectal surgery at Barts and the London NHStrust. He has recently performed one of thecountry’s first combined laparoscopic liver

and colon resections. He works in the Centrefor Academic Surgery which is one of themost prestigious surgical departments in thecountry with an international reputation forexcellence in the treatment of colorectal dis-ease. He is a member of the Association ofColoproctology of Great Britain and Ireland,Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons andthe European Association of Endoscopic Sur-geons and has admitting rights at ThePrincess Grace Hospital, The London Inde-pendent Hospital and the Spire Roding Hos-pital. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturerat Barts and the London Medical School andis the surgical lead for education for under-graduates. He is an external examiner for theUniversity of Oxford medical school. He isalso actively involved in postgraduate surgi-cal training and education. He is an AssignedEducational Supervisor for the Royal Collegeof Surgeons of England and runs the trainingprogramme for surgical trainees at Barts andthe London as well as being involved in theselection process of prospective medical stu-dents and surgical trainees. One of his maininterests is colorectal cancer and helaunched, in the media bowel cancer screen-ing for the Bangladeshi community in TowerHamlets to encourage participation in thisnational screening programme. He is mar-ried to Dr Farzana Hussain a GP principle inNewham and has two children Usmaan andZarina.

Parvez Ahmed is an entrepreneur who is ac-tively involved with the North West Chamberof Commerce in London. In 2006, Mr Ahmedreceived a community achievement awardfrom Channel S in recognition for many yearsof hard work in the community. The busi-nessman completed his education inBangladesh before moving to the UK. How-ever, since the age of twenty one, Mr Ahmedestablished a number of businesses through-out Bangladesh. Most notably, Mr Ahmed in-vested in the textiles and garment industry.He continued his focus in the textiles andgarment industry after arriving in the UKwhere he also opened a restaurant. He hasbeen closely involved with the BangladeshCaterers Association where he has served asa Management Committee Member, DeputySecretary General and Secretary Generalover the last twenty years. Mr Ahmed is alsocurrently the Managing Director of S.O.I Lim-ited and Chairman of New Generation 2000.Mr Ahmed also helped organise an educa-tion awards ceremony for the BangladeshHigh Commission celebrating the achieve-ment of young British Bangladeshi’s.

Mr Ahmed is also a loyal member of theLabour party, participating in a number ofcommittees as well as serving as the currentchairman of the Dollis Hill Ward in Brent.

Over the last twenty years, Mr Ahmed hasbeen involved with many local organisationsholding a range of posts including boardmember, management committee member,Trustee and Chairman. These groups includethe Brent Minority and Ethnic Forum, GreaterSylhet Council UK, Kilburn Partnership, Sin-gle Regeneration Board, Friends ofBangladesh, West Hampstead Bengali Asso-ciation, 403 Harrow Road Limited,Bangladesh Centre (Notting Hill), Brent Ben-gali Community Centre (Brent) and the Syl-het Sador Education Trust.

Through his businesses, Mr Ahmed has sup-ported numerous mainstream national char-ities through donations and regularfundraising. In Bangladesh, the businessmannamed a charity after himself to encouragewomen to continue studying called theParvez Ahmed Female Educational Trust inaddition to supporting the APEX Interna-tional and the Red Crescent project.

Married for twenty two years to London Bor-ough of Brent Councillor Lena Ahmed, thecouple have been blessed with two sonswho are studying science and law at Univer-sities respectively.

Mr Sha� Ahmed

SECTOR:Medicine

Parvez Ahmed

SECTOR: Business


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Mohammed Belal Ahmed is the chief edi-tor of the most circulated newspaper in theUK and President of the London BanglaPress Club, a prestigious role for a rep-utable organisation within the Banglaßmedia journalists.

Mohammed Belal Ahmed was from Bar-lekha Moulvibazar, Bangladesh lived withhis father Late Abul Khair Mustafa andmother Jahanara Khanam. During the lib-eration war for the independence ofBangladesh, at the age of 6 MohammedBelal Ahmed was exiled, separated from hisfamily for 10 months which to date he de-scribes as was one of the toughest mo-ments in his early life. Upon returning from exile MohammedBelal Ahmed completed his pre-universityeducation at Sylhet and graduated fromthe University of Chittagong.

In 1990, he moved to the United Kingdomand a year later 1991 entered Journalismjoining Weekly Surma as a news-editor towhich now for the last 20 years he has beeninvolved in. In 1995, Mohammed BelalAhmed became the Chief Editor of WeeklySurma and in early 2002 he was involved in

publishing another newspaper Bangla Ex-press, also serving as the Chief Editor whichgenerated a good readership. MohammedBelal Ahmed has long been involved in var-ious social, cultural, educational organisa-tions in addition to being a member ofprofessional bodies. Mohammed BelalAhmed is an active member of the Anti-To-bacco Movement and is one of the steeringgroup members for the Bangladeshi StopTobacco Project in Tower Hamlets.

Mohammed Belal Ahmed and his wifeSadia Ahmed reside in Dartford, Kent, withtheir two sons Nafis and Sami.

Muquim Ahmed came to England at the ageof 19 to study Production Engineering. Hestarted his business career from the age of21 by helping his father to import goodsfrom Britain to Holland to Bangladesh. Hemoved into Electrical Wholesaling as well asexpanding his property portfolio with beingthe owner of Naz Cinema in Brick Lane andvarious properties in and around London.At the age of 26 he became the firstBangladeshi millionaire; since then he has al-ways been on the Asian rich list.

Muquim Ahmed, as acclaimed by EstateGazette, (issue October 2005 and October2007) ‘King of Bricklane’ and ‘Curry King’ byELA (1st November 2007) diversified his in-terests and moved towards the catering in-dustry.

In 1996 he opened Café Naz in Brick Lane-the flagship restaurant and is still the mosthigh profile eatery in the area. As well as thefamous Café Naz in Bricklane, he openedbranches in Cambridge, Cardiff, Horsham,Chelmsford, London and another café styleeatery in Brick Lane. Today among manyother projects his award wining Café Nazchain is going from strength to strength.He also owns a distribution and marketingdivision called the Asian Foods Ltd.

He feature in the Times article in 2006 ‘FocusImmigrant Britain’ which was based onhighly successful Brits of ethnic background.Recently he has successfully bought a cen-tury old manufacturing plant called Rayner’sBakery at 12 Deer Part Road, Merton SW193UQ. The Bakery compromises of 13000sq. ft.of usable space. The company has already setup and dedicated a floor for producing readymeals.He was the chairman of Bangladesh BritishChamber of Commerce for two consecutiveTerms and continues to remain involvedclosely with the Chamber.He has enormous drive and is inspired to im-prove the quality of life for himself and for hisfellow being. He has also dedicated a substantial quantityof his time to the Conservative Party.

MOHAMMED BELALAHMED

SECTOR: Media

Muquim Ahmed

SECTOR: Business and Politics


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Sho� Ahmed is a national award winingand and one of the most talented writersof the Bangladeshi community here in theUK. Mr Ahmed was the founder editor ofBangla Mirror, the first weekly Englishnewspaper for the BritishBangladeshis. Currently he is freelanciangwith English news agencies. While studyingfor a degree in I.T, Mr Ahmed won a bursaryto study at Oxford University. The sameyear his first article on natural science alsowon him a national award. In 1995 he wonthe Daily Telegraph’s National Young Sci-ence Writers Competition.

This award gave the writer an opportunityto meet the nation’s leading science writ-ers, journalists and personalities.In 1995, Shofi Ahmed’s profile rose after therelease of his first poetry book, ‘Reason andThe Origin – the Relativity of Science andPoetry’ which was published by New Mil-lennium Publishers.

The book was praised by leading academ-ics and scholars at a distinguished DailyTelegraph event. The Royal Society of Sci-ence’s SCAN magazine described the bookin a review as “A collection of modern po-

etry combining the arts of literature withthe discipline of science, poems comparethemes such as the physics involved in thecreation of the material world and thoughtprocesses”.

Mr Ahmed’s efforts have been widelyrecognised by the community as he re-ceived an award from Channel S in 2006.The eldest of seven sibling’s, he lives inNorth London and is married to AyeshaAhmed. They have three children who areZohura, Ali and Zubeda. Shofi Ahmed issoon to release another book focusing onhis motherland called Sylhet: ‘The Land ofthe Centre of the Earth’.

Moulana Shuyeb Ahmed is a tireless soldier inthe path of Islamic values. Born in 1963 inSunamganj, Bangladesh, he is a reputed edu-cationalist, social reformer, Islamic thinker andpolitician. His father was Alhaj Rahmat Miah, a sociallyresponsible personality. His mother was Jaha-nara Begum. He went to Saudi Arab in 1985for higher education and completed his re-search studies in Arabic literature fromMakkah Institute. In 1992 he came to the UKand got involved with the Jameya Islamia inKent. Concerned with the deterioration of Islamicvalues among new generation British Mus-lims, Moulana Shuyeb Ahmed chose Dulstontown near Hackney of East London for hiswork. Here he established the Islamic instituteMarkazul Ullom London with help of a few ofwell wishers. He became the principal of theinstitute. The institute became very popular in the Ben-gali Muslim community of London. ManyMuslims admitted their children in the insti-tute. Each year this institute arranges work-shop, seminars and training courses on Islamwhich garnered admiration from Islamicscholars all over the world. Top Ulamas fromBangladesh and Islamic authorities from othercountries take part in those workshops. At present Moulana Shuyeb Ahmed is themember of the London branch of World Mus-

lim Congress. He is also the president of Is-lamic Consolidation UK, senior vice presidentof Jamiyate Ulama UK, secretary of AnjumaneIjahare Haque UK, president the Londonbranch of National Sirat Committee, vice pres-ident of Diai Development Organization andfounding chair of Shomaj Sheba Trust UK. Healso regularly takes part in religious pro-grammes like talk shows, discussions in differ-ent kinds of TV channels in Britain. He hasjoined in International Conference in Jordan,Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arab, Qatar, Malaysia,Kenya, Paris, Germany, Spain and he alsojoined at Jerusalem Baitulmukaddes inJerusalem as the first Muslim delegate fromBritain. His Shomaj Sheba Trust distributed reliefworth three to four million Bangladeshi cur-rency in the flooded area in 2004. Maolana Ahmed got married in 1989. Hiswife’s name is Baharunnesa Shirin. He has oneson and three daughters.

Sho� Ahmed

SECTOR: Media and Literature

Ahmed moulanashuyeb

SECTOR: Community


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Syed Ahmed hit the headlines by reachingthe final five in Series two of BBC TV’s ‘TheApprentice’ – earning himself a National Tel-evision Award nomination in the process.Syed has seven GCSE’s and a BTEC NationalDiploma in Business & Finance. Prior to em-barking on his successful corporate career,Syed was trained as a junior pilot in the AirTraining Corps and also earned his Duke ofEdinburgh Gold standard award.

A successful and dynamic entrepreneurwith a background in IT recruitment, Syedstarted his first business venture in 2004,when he founded IT People Ltd. He played akey role in bringing in the business of nu-merous big accounts, including world-fa-mous corporations such as Morgan Stanley,Reuters and Centrica. This strong perform-ance, coupled with Syed’s careful position-ing of the brand within the marketplace,enabled him to agree a deal with his busi-ness partner for his shares and leave to pur-sue his entrepreneurial instincts and set upa new venture in a growth market.

His energy was channeled into SAVortex Ltd,a UK company that has developed revolu-tionary air-spinning heating technology forhand-dryers. The product has been com-

pared to the game-changing cyclone tech-nology Dyson brought to the vacuumcleaner market. After securing internationalpatents and developing two prototypes,Syed hand-picked a management team andboard of directors to assist the internationallaunch of SAVortex. Syed has also recently masterminded an-other venture, www.getlaunched.co.uk,which enables companies to develop web-sites that project their vision, values and per-sonality via the medium of video.As a dedicated and energetic entrepreneur,with an infectious enthusiasm for business,Syed also found time to develop a sidelinein keynote and motivational speaking – in-cluding appearing as a guest speaker at TheGlobal Management Challenge competitionand presenting awards at The National Finalheld at CIMA headquarters. Syed also rolled-out ‘Pioneering Ambitions’ – an initiativesponsored by Oxford University and hostedThe Edge Competition final at London StockExchange, sponsored by AIGO & SEEDA. Syed actively supports and sponsors severalcharities including CRP – Bangladesh, TheQueen Mary University London, BFA, QMBC,Islamic Relief, Bangladeshi Female Academy,and The Anthony Nolan Trust.

Ali Akbar came to the United Kingdom withhis parents, Mr Al-Haj Alauddin Ahmed andMrs Shafia Khanom, in 1975. He completed both his GCSE education andfurther studies in Scunthorpe. The familythen moved to Cardiff, where he began hisfirst business with his family in the cateringindustry in the early 1980’s, whilst also study-ing part time.Currently Mr Akbar is involved in both therestaurant trade and also the property devel-opment business.

He possesses an impressive portfolio ofproperties. He was one of the recipients ofthe Channel S Community Awards in 2009Ali Akbar is Director and Executive Commit-tee member of Dreamland Amusement Parkin Sylhet and also Director of the Al HamraShopping City also situated in Sylhet.Aside from his business involvement, MrAkbar is very strongly concerned with com-munity organisations and charity projects.He is a Magistrate and also the Managing Di-rector of Alauddin Ahmed Primary SchoolScholarship in Sylhet. Furthermore, he isthe Managing Director of PK Johir UddinAhmed Health Clinic in Sylhet.

In the UK, Mr Akbar is on the Executive Com-mittee of Cardiff City Council Citizen Forumand also Vice President of Penylan Ward

Cardiff Labour Party as well as being and Ex-ecutive Committee member of CardiffLabour Party.

Additionally, he is an Executive Committeemember of Cardiff and Vale Magistrate aswell as being an EC Member of Cardiff Coun-cil Community Department and also theSouth Wales Race and Equality First commit-tee.Ali Akbar is an Adviser for the ImmigrationAdvice Service (Cardiff Branch) and alsoCardiff Police Community Group. He is theGeneral Secretary of Shahjalal Mosque andCultural Centre.

He is also a Member of Bangladesh Associa-tion. As a result of Mr Akbar’s dedicationto community activities and contribution toCardiff he was awarded a certificate recog-nising his hard work, by Her Majesty theQueen in 1992.Mr Ali Akbar is married to Johura Akbar withfour children, namely Shahana, Henna, Javedand Redwanah.

Syed Ahmed

SECTOR: Entrepreneur

Ali Akbar JP

SECTOR: Business and Commu-nity Relations


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Meah Monirul Alam can be described as anindividual who works tirelessly and contin-uously for the community, and much of hisefforts are in the best interests of BritishBangladeshis, which is the reason whymany community members regard him asan outstanding Community leader.Mr Alam was born in the village of Ekatuna,Moulvibazar and has been residing in theUnited Kingdom since 1960. Meah MonirulAlam’s father is late Alhaj Abdul Qader andhis mother late Rabeya Khatun.Monirul Alam completed his intermediateeducation in Bangladesh after which he ar-rived here in the UK where he completed acourse in Business catering management.He established the first Indian restaurant inSoutheast Kent. He currently owns theKashmir Tandoori in Canterbury, Kent aswell as the Chertion Balti Takeaway.He is currently Chairman of North SouthProperty Development Ltd UK.

Mr Alam is the former Chairman ofBangladesh Caterers Association. He is cur-rently the Chairman of Euro BanglaNewsweekly based in London. He is alsoSenior Vice President of the BangladeshNationalist Party. Furthermore he is theChairman of the British Bangladesh Busi-

ness forum UK Ltd and President of theSouth East Kent Islamic Cultural Centre aswell as General Secretary of South East KentWelfare Association. He is also director ofBritish Bangladesh Investment Company.

Mr Meah Monirul Alam is also involved withvarious charity initiatives. He is the Chair-man of Hope for the Needy Foundation,and also a Member of the Bangladesh FloodPrevention International Committee UK.Moreover, he is a life member of JalalabadRotary Orthopaedics Hospital and Rehabil-itation Centre.Mr Alam has contributed generouslyto charities and has helped to develop edu-cational and religious institutions inBangladesh.

Mr Alam is married to Rowshan Ara Alamand they are parents of two sons and twodaughters who are all married. They have six grandchildren in total.

Born on July 23, 1929 Alhaj Md. Tahir Ali hailsfrom the village Karikuna under BishwanathUpazilla in Sylhet district. He left for the UKin 1957 and has been living in this countryfor around 45 years.

During the independence war in 1971 helived in Brick Lane. A big demonstration wasstaged in front of the Pakistan High Commis-sion in London in protest against the crack-down launched by the Pakistani occupationforces on the night of 25 March in 1971. Thisgherao programme was organized under theleadership of the then Awami League leaderTayyabur Rahman. Tahir Ali actively partici-pated in this demonstration. He also tookpart in the fundraising campaign for the free-dom movement. He raised funds by collect-ing money from his friends, relatives andfrom different offices and houses. He de-posited the collected money to the freedommovement fund through late Tayyabur Rah-man. Tahir Ali along with others deposited aquarter of their monthly salaries to this fundfor eight months. To drum up world supportin favour of the Liberation War he distributedleaflets and participated in Hyde Park andCoventry conferences.

He was the vice chairman of the PakistanWelfare Association Bradford for two years

from 1958 to 1960. When a ‘Burial Society’was formed to execute the funeral programof the Muslims in Bradford in 1961 he waselected its president. Through this organiza-tion they used to make the arrangements toexecute funeral programs of the deceased.In 1963 he formed Friends society for thecommercial progress of the BangladeshiCommunity. The members of the societyused to discuss the problems of the commu-nity every week. The organisation alsohelped those who were uneducated. He wasthe treasurer of this society as well.

In 1979 when a communal riot took place inBrick Lane a defence committee was formedthere in protest against this event. He waselected as the president of this committee.He was the parents’ governor of BiglandGreen Primary School in Tower Hamlets fortwelve years. He is the executive committeemember of Collective of Bangladeshi SchoolGovernors’ Association and involved in train-ing and academics.

Meah Monirul Alam


Alhaj Md. Tahir Ali

SECTOR: Community relations


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Alhaz Sukur Ali is the first elected presi-dent of Bangladesh Caterer and Commu-nity Welfare Association based in Carlisle. Born in 1955 in Bishwanath, Sylhet inBangladesh, Mr Ali came to the UK in1969.In 1973 Mr Ali opened his first restaurantin Manchester. By 1981, he opened thefirst Bangladeshi restaurant in StanwixBank Cumbria which was named StanwixTandoori. The success of these two busi-nesses allowed him to open a mutlitute ofcatering establishments in the area. One ofhis most successful restaurants is theViceroy Restaurant in Carlisle establishedin 1991. He experienced struggles includ-ing racist attacks on the Viceroy but thisdid nor deter him.

Sukur Ali has organised a number of com-munity events in Carlisle in collaborationwith Bangladeshi community associationto promote the Bengali culture and food. He was the founder of the BangladeshiMosque in Carlisle.

His outstanding efforts have made animpact on ethnic harmony in the Cumbriaregion. He has done fund-raising forCarlisle air ambulance, Introducing

Bangladeshi cuisine to local School chil-dren and Supporting elderly people inmany ways such as providing free meals.He is a patron for Carlisle United FootballClub. He is also the founder of Jamia Is-lamia Atasan Mollapara Education projectin the Balagonj where hundreds of poorchildren receive free residential education.BBCC member Mr Ali is a trustee of Dosh-gor Probashi education trust and Bish-wanath education trust based in the UK. Inrecognition of his outstanding contribu-tion to the community he has been nomi-nated for the prestigious channel Scommunity award in 2008.

Married to Minara Begum, the couple havefour sons who are all currently studying.Mr Sukur Ali believes through hard workand perseverance anything can beachieved and is a firm believer in givingback to the community.

Amin Ali is the founder of Red Fort. As arestaurant the Red Fort has always been atrailblazer and was voted best restaurant inLondon. It has been winning rapturouspraise for almost 25 years and many politi-cians and celebrities have crossed its thresh-old. Mr Amin Ali was born into a traditionalMuslim family from Jalalpur - Nabigonj,which is a part of Habigonj District inBangladesh.He first arrived to the UK for settlement in1972. Since his arrival to the UK in 1972, hehas been active in the community scene.After completing his studies he got involvedwith setting up community organisationsuch as Bengali Workers Action Group inCamden (London), which he was a foundingGeneral Secretary. He was also member ofCamden’s Community Relations Council(CRC). In the 80’s he was actively involved with theInternational Charity Organisation ‘War onWant.’ He was the Vice – Chair for number ofyears, while Glenys Kinnock (now MEP) wasthe Chair of ‘War on Want.’In the late 70’s he founded a pioneeringco-operative restaurant project ‘The LastDays of the Raj.’Later he set up many successful restaurantssuch as Jamdani, Red Fort and Soho Spice. When The Red Fort opened 25 years ago on

Dean Street in London’s Soho, it was the firstrestaurant that contradicted the stereotypi-cal view of Asian eateries.And it was the first to offer the real cuisines ofIndia. In 1985 BBC television made a specialprogramme on Amin Ali for his achieve-ments in the Indian restaurant business.

Throughout his life in the UK, Amin Ali hasbeen in the forefront to promote Bengalifoods and culture in Britain. In 1987, he or-ganised the first ever exhibition of Jamdani,the hand-woven rugs and textile designs atLondon’s Whitechapel Art Gallery.He was also instrumental for organising thefirst ‘London Festival of Bangladesh’ in 1994.‘The Bangladesh Food Festival’ at the RedFort was another successful event he was re-sponsible for.

Mr Ali is one of the most respected restaura-teurs in Britain. He has taken the British currybusiness to new heights.He is married t o Jobeda Choudhury and to-gether they have four daughters who aregoing through University Education.Away from his businesses and family, AminAli is a keen traveller and enjoys playing andwatching squash and football.

Alhaz Sukur Ali

SECTOR: Catering

Amin Ali

SECTOR: Catering


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Cllr Junab Ali resides in Swindon Wiltshire.He completed his higher education fromSwindon College and qualified as an elec-trician.

Cllr Ali joined the Labour party in 2005 andworked tirelessly to ensure a third term forthe then Prime Minister Tony Blair and thelabour government. He was not only thefirst British Bangladeshi councillor to beelected to Swindon Borough Council, butalso the first Muslim councillor to achievethis feat.

Junab Ali describes himself as a devoutpolitician with the utmost pedigree of de-termination to bring about positivechange. He is an active member of theSouth Swindon Labour Party Executive andthe party’s chief whip for Swindon Council.

Cllr Junab Ali is passionate about commu-nity affairs and as a result he is extensivelyinvolved with numerous charitable organ-isations and initiatives. He has raised hugesums of money for various causes. Further-more, he is a founder member ofBangladeshi Female Academy (BFA).

Aside from politics Cllr Ali is also the propri-etor of various restaurants. His hobbies andinterests include history and travelling.

Cllr Shahed Ali was born in the east end ofLondon in 1970. He went to Sir John CassFoundation school in Stepney in the Londonborough of Tower Hamlets. After completinghis schooling, Cllr Ali studied a BSc in SocialPolicy and Management at London GuildhallUniversity.

He has one older brother and one younger sis-ter. His father is Late Haji Wahab Ullah, and hismother is Somirtha Khanom. They originatedfrom village: Barkat Pur, P.O: Gohor Pur, P.S: Bal-agonj, Dist: Sylhet, Bangladesh.The area of Tower Hamlets is one that Cllr Alihas a great affinity for. He has been a memberof Tower Hamlets council for the ward ofWhitechapel since 2006. Away from politics, Cllr Ali is well knownthroughout the Bangladeshi community fororgansing numerous cultural events.His reputation for staging shows with amazingvisual and aural effects, otherwise known as‘Ekti Shahed Ali Upohaar’, have enabled himto hold unique events at prestigious venuessuch as the London Arena, Wembley Arenaand the Royal Festival Hall. He founded the an-nual Bangladesh International Media Awards(BIMA), an event to give recognition to thefilm, television and music industry, which isbroadcast live around the world via several tel-evision networks.

He has also produced several Television Dra-mas and has become a household name andvery much respected by all celebrity artists ofBangladesh.Cllr Ali also holds the honour of being the firstAsian person to organise an event at HistoricRoyal Palaces – The Tower of London. Thatevent, held in July 2007, proved to be ex-tremely popular as Cllr Ali, ever the shrewd en-trepreneur, brought over the 2006 finalistsof NTV Close Up such as Salma, Nishita, Rontiand Muhin.

Previous to being a councillor, Shahed was ayouth worker, an ethnic arts adviser and a so-cial worker amongst other things. By havingsuch a varied professional background, it iseasy to see why he has been such a success inthe field of local politics, although even thisdoes not present the full picture, as he hasbeen a strong vocal point on issues that affectthe British Bangladeshi community. He be-lieves he is not an opportunist or career politi-cian, but a challenging voice.Away from his life as a councillor and eventsorganiser, Cllr Ali has a number of business in-terests including the popular Brick Lane musicand book shop Sangeeta Ltd, a restaurant inFrinton-on-Sea and a property portfolio.

Cllr Junab Ali

SECTOR: Politics and Business

Cllr Shahed Ali

SECTOR: Politics, Arts andPromotion


www.bbwhoswho.co.uk


Dr Mr Azmal Ali obtained his MBBS Degreein Dhaka University in 1965. He came to theUK with the then Pakistan GovernmentScholarship and went to Belfast in North-ern Ireland for a Post Graduate Training inAnaesthesia in August 1970. He success-fully completed his training under Profes-sor Dundee and obtained his postgraduation qualification from the RoyalCollege of Surgeon, Dublin, Ireland andalso from the Royal College of Anaesthetist,London, England.

After working in various hospitals in North-ern Ireland, he moved to London andworked as a Senior Registrar at the RoyalCollege of Surgeons under Professor Payne.

He was appointed Consultant Anaesthetistat the Central Middlesex Hospital, Londonin November 1977. His main interest is incritical care medicine and he is still workingas a Consultant Intensivist.He would have completed his 40th year inthe UK on 19th of July 2010, inspite of hislong busy stay in the UK, he never forgothis village “Basail” in Vikrampur, where hereceived his primary school education. During his working life in London, he regu-larly visited Bangladesh and worked self-

lessly for his village. He became the proudfounder member of the Charity Organisa-tion “The friends of Bangladesh” in 1982. Hewas involved in community work immedi-ately after he became a doctor. he estab-lished a High School in 1966 in the villagehe grew up in. The Government approvedthe school in 1969 and the school namedas “Basial High School” is running very wellwith 500 students.With the help and co-operation of villagepeople in Bangladesh, he established agraveyard in his village in 1988.

He also built a Vocational Training Centrewith IT facilities in Bangladesh, with thehelping hand of the UK Charity “Friends ofBangladesh”. The Vocational Training Cen-tre also has many other facilities includinga Medical Centre, Kindergarten School anda Sewing School. There are 300 studentssuccessfully studying at the school.

Dr Ali’s last venture was a 50 bedded Mod-ern Hospital built in Mirpur, Dhaka,Bangladesh. The hospital was opened byMr Anwar Chowdhury, the then BritishHigh Commissioner in Bangladesh on the14th of February 2006. The hospital is run-ning extremely well.

Mohammed Monchab Ali is the currentChairman of Greater Sylhet Developmentand Welfare Council in UK (GSC). In 2002, MrAli was appointed Justice of Peace (HonoraryMagistrate) at the Chester & Ellesmere PortBench. Born in 1953 in Shorisha Para, Chat-tak, Sunamganj in Bangladesh, Mr Ali waseducated and employed in Bangladeshbefore coming to the UK in 1982.

Mr. Ali studied Commerce at Madan MohanCollege before completing his Diploma inMechanical Engineering from Sylhet Poly-technic Institute in 1980.

After completing his studies Mr Ali joinedKarim Pipe Mills in Chittagong as an appren-tice engineer in late 1980. During this timehe was also associated with journalism inBangladesh and served as a Sub Editor of the“Purbanchal”, a Khulna based daily until1982.In the UK Monchab Ali established his ownrestaurant in 1985. He then opened anotherrestaurant called the “Bengal Dynasty” inLlandudno, North Wales which proved to bevery popular. In 1991 Mr. Ali opened anotherBengal Dynasty in Deeside, North Wales.His restaurant was honoured as the “Best In-dian Bangladeshi Restaurant” in the regionof Wales by Patak Spices in 1993, and was

named as the “Best Restaurant in Wales byGood Curry Guide 1995-97, 1998-1999 &2000. The British Curry Awards namedBengal Dynasty Restaurant as one of the Top-30 Restaurant in UK and Top-10 Finalist for2005 & 2006 and it won British CurryAwards for Best Restaurant in Wales 2007. In addition to Mr Ali’s business ventures he isalso very active in numerous socio-culturalprojects having set up the Alhaj Mazhar AliWelfare Trust as well as chairing Chester &North Wales Bangladeshi Youth Association.

He is also a member of Restaurant Associa-tion Great Britain, Federation of Small Busi-ness in UK and the Ellesmere Port & NorthWales Chamber of Commerce.Mr. Ali was previously involved withBangladesh Caterers Association as a Re-gional coordinator and Senior Vice President,he served as a General Secretary of ChesterBangladesh Welfare Association and theChester Shahjalal Mosque committee.Moreover, Mr Ali is also an Executive Memberof both the North Wales Racial Equality andthe Chester Asian Council. Mr Ali marriedSophia Ali in 1982 and is blessed with fivechildren and a granddaughter.

Ali Dr mir Azmal

SECTOR: Medicine

MohammedMonchab Ali JP RIPHH

SECTOR: Catering and Community Relations


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Kamru Ali is an accountant boasting a BAHonours degree in Accountancy & Law aswell as the C.A.T and Certificate in Mort-gage Advice and Practice (CeMAP) qualifi-cations. Kamru, who resides in Wanstead,was initially trained in Central London inoneof the top 6 Accountancy Firms in the cityAudit Commission where he was an Audi-tor for some three years.Having gained valuable experience Mr Alithen went onto setting up his own ac-countancy service named ‘Kam Account-ancy Services’. At the same time he alsoestablished numerous property invest-ment companies.

Kamru Ali can be descried as a full timeproperty investor. His numerous propertyinvestment companies include; DistrictOne Estates Ltd, Black Seed InvestmentsLtd, Premier Properties (Stratford)Ltd. Other companies owned by Mr Alicomprise of K&K Developments, Arjee Bha-jee Ltd, Apex Property Services (UK) Ltd.Kamru is a family orientated individual andis married with three children. He is occu-pied with a profusion of charitable initia-tives and community organisations. He

is presently the Treasurer of the NewhamWelfareTrust as well as an active memberof the Newham Youth Link. FurthermoreKamru is the Business Advisor of NewhamBusiness Forum.

In recent years since the inception of Chan-nel S, Kamru has appeared regularly on thetelevision as a Property Expert for the chan-nel. Additionally Kamru organises and de-livers Property Investment seminars, whichhas resulted in his clients and investorsmaking substantial profits to date on theirinvestment Kamru has also featured inother mainstream Who’s Who publication,including being highlighted as a YoungBusiness Leader in the ‘Who’s Who ofBritain’s Business Elite’.

Kamru Ali is clearly a safe pair of handswhen it comes to investing in propertyhere in Britain. He is among a batch ofyoung British Bangladeshis who havetaken huge strides in the fields of propertyinvestment and finance.

Mr Lutfur Ali is currently working as the ChiefExecutive Officer of British Bangladesh Cham-ber of Commerce.

He served in senior positions in the voluntary,public and private sectors at local, regional, na-tional and international levels for last 20 years.Often as an advisor he focused on businesstransformation, equalities, cohesion, regener-ation and development. This includes local au-thorities, the Public Judicial Inquiry into themurder of Zahid Mubbarek; the National Po-lice Training Authority; the Department ofHealth; Foreign and Commonwealth Officeand the Prisons and Probation Services Om-budsman.

Lutfur Ali previously served the post of Assis-tant Chief Executive of London Borough ofTower Hamlets.

Prior to this he was a Director for the TribalGroup Plc, one the largest management con-sultancy and support services provider to thepublic sector in the UK.

He has successfully led service and businessimprovement for a range of organisations andhas extensive experience of leading, equalities,human rights and cohesion work.

Kamru Ali

SECTOR: Property and Finance

Lutfur R. Ali

SECTOR: Local Authority


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Maya Ali was married at the age of 16,mother of three children and is now a qual-ified Solicitor and an established business-woman who owns her own legal practicein Coventry named after her Maya & Co So-licitors.

Daughter of Aftab Ali and Monta Bibi ofBangladesh Residence (Kojakabad, Bish-wanath Sylhet), Maya immigrated in UK atthe age of 10 months with her mother tojoin her father.

Like any regular devoted housewife shewas committed to her three children andher husband, a catering business owner MrSyed Akbar Ali. However at the age of 26with the support of her husband Maya de-cided to study further, she embarked on anAccess course at Tile Hill College, Coventryand then went on to read LLB (Hons) at theUniversity Of Warwick.

To gain some training, Maya first started offby working in a law firm in London for fourmonths, which meant being separatedaway from her family. Maya was trained atJ R Jones Solicitors, and qualified in 2005.She soon progressed herself as the head of

conveyancing department. In 2007 Maya opened a legal practice inpartnership. She then parted the Partner-ship in March 2009 and set up her ownpractice as a sole practitioner. Maya continuously encourages womenaround her to inspire them to follow theirambition.

Maya Ali is a patriotic person. She hasshown interest in the Bangladesh politics.She has been appointed as the legal Exec-utive for the Coventry Awami League Com-mittee. Her aim is to help strengtheningthe party which is currently in power. She isalso part of the “made in Coventry” cam-paign for the Coventry City College in theiraim to influence students to study andachieve their ambitions.

She is seriously considering engaging her-self in British Politics. The British Govern-ment and Politics today is a complex andfast-changing mix of the traditional andthe new. She believes that the British Gov-ernment requires new faces, more AsianWomen representing its community inorder for their voice to be counted.

Mazhar Ali is popular name in catering busi-ness in East London being a partner of theEastern Pride. Catering business has domi-nated his life ever since he immigrated to theUnited Kingdom, and his success continued.He was born in 1958 in Chatak, Bangladesh.Mr Ali is one of 6 brothers and sister in hisfamily and from a young age, he wanted tomake sure his family and neighbours are liv-ing well.

Ali came to the United Kingdom in 1980 andsettled in Oldham and it did not take a longbefore he could become successful in busi-ness..With a very little educational qualifica-tion, Ali went straight into a kitchen andworked his way up to become a chef to de-velop his culinary and management skills.From the experience gained in this job, Alibecame a head chef and this was a sign forhis future success.

His first business venture was a take away inSomerset named Indiana , opened in 1990.This venture took off successfully and be-came a stepping stone in his business life. In-diana influenced Ali’s next venture - Al-Amin,Dorchester, which led to his next challenge.Ali then established a take away restaurant -The Raj - in Shoeburyness. Ali had created arecipe for success and his businesses contin-

ued to thrive.The Raj had risen from theashes and became popular in the localityand to this day it is still providing in the localpeople of Shoeburyness with quality Bengalicuisine.

Following the success of The Raj, Ali chose tomove closer to London. Ali’s London basedventures included, The Spice Tandoori inPlaistow. He has also entered in to propertybusiness and acquired a few properties inand around London trading under Ali RajaProperties Limited.

Ali is engaged in many charitable works andhelp his community in many ways. In 1988,Ali helped fund the Jahidpur Madrasa and awhole new bazaar for this village. He is mar-ried to Husnara Begum, and they have fourchildren. His eldest son, Farbez Uddin has re-cently graduated with a BSc degree in Busi-ness Economics, while his eldest daughter,Lothifa Aktar is still studying BA in Interna-tional Relations. The two youngest childrenFoysal Uddin and Humaira Aktar are still intheir early years of education, in whom Alivested his high aspirations.

Maya Ali

SECTOR: Legal (Solicitor)

Ali Mazhar

SECTOR:Catering


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Md Rahmat Ali, a resident of East London,is an outstanding journalist in the UK. Hehails from the village of Naogaon inDashghar union under Bishwanath Upazilaand has grown up with love and care of hisfather late Cherag Ali and mother AleckjanBibi. Rahmat Ali passed the B.A exam inBangladesh and then left for the UK in1994.

Md. Rahmat Ali worked for some time asthe Bishwanath correspondent of theweekly (presently daily) Jugavery. He wasthe founding president of Bishwanathpress club and was the general secretary ofBangladesh Manabadhikar BashtobayanSangstha’ Bishwanath branch. During thistime he played an active role in the move-ment against the irregularities of land sur-vey in Bishwanath and cooperated with thesufferers. In the early nineties the monthly‘’Bishwanath Dorpan’’ edited by himselfwas published. Subsequently, he came toBritain and there he has been serving asthe editor of the monthly.

Md. Rahmat Ali was the news editor of theweekly Surma published from London. Atpresent he is the president of Bangladesh

journalists association in the UK. He is thepresident of Bangladesh journalists (GSC)and worked as the London Correspondentof a Bangla weekly 'Potrika’ published fromNew York and has worked as a presenter forBangla TV on part time basis. Furthermore,he is also serving as a teacher in the MotherTongue section of Tower Hamlets Council.

Rahmat Ali is married to Afia Khatun andthey are the parents of 6 children.

Ragib Ali is a leading industrialist, tea-planter, and is also associated with bank,Stock exchange, insurance companies,and many other business houses.He has endlessly contributed to establishmany schools, colleges, masjids, madrashasand medical colleges, and universitiesthroughout the country. Born in 1938 inBishawanath, Sylhet in Bangladesh, Mr Aliwas educated there before moving to the UKin 1956.Mr Ali, through his hard work and persever-ance transformed himself from an ordinarywaiter to a leading entrepreneur in the UK.He built up a successful restaurant business,acquired a huge wealth through share mar-ket and real estate business.

Mr Ali’s foresight, exceptional business acu-men and strategic vision, honesty, talentsand energy were the key factors for achieve-ment of these wonderful feats. He soon re-turned to his native country with all his fundsto contribute in national development. Mr Ali is the current Chairman of Sylhet TeaCompany Ltd and several other tea estatesin Sylhet and Chittagong. He is also the Man-aging Director of Kohinoor Industries Ltd.and TLRA Holdings Ltd (owner of KohinoorDetergent Factory) and has served as Chair-man of South-East Bank Limited.

Mr Ragib Ali has an endless contributionin social development. His endeavour in thisfield is diverse in promoting education,healthcare, sports, culture, literary works,journalism, communication etc.

He has contributed towards the develop-ment of many schools, colleges, universitiesand madrashas. One of these is JalalabadRagib-Rabeya Medical College and Hospital,which has become an excellent centre formedical education and healthcare in thecountry. A great philanthropist and a defini-tive patron of the poor, throughout his life MrAli has devoted himself for their well being.His philanthropy extends to every aspect oftheir lives. He has made many roads, bridgeand culverts. In his name there are more than220 projects, which are directly changing lifeof millions.

Mr Ali prefers a simple living and maintainsabsolute simplicity. He is very polite in hisdealings and mixes freely with people ofevery walk of life. he is happily married toBegum Rebeya Khatun Chowdhury who hasbeen an inspiring force for her husbandalso inhibits a big philanthropic personality.The couple is blessed with a son and daugh-ter.

Md. Rahmat Ali

SECTOR: Media

Ragib Ali

SECTOR: Entrepreneur and Philanthropist


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Rois Ali won the Chef of the Year Competi-tion in 1995/1996, a competition promotedby Environmental Heath Departments fromall over Great Britain. This was one of thefirst prestigious competitions held Nation-ally to find the very best curry Chef in GreatBritain.

Rois was born in Bangladesh, but has livedin the UK since he came to Coventry with isfamily at the age of four. From a very earlyage Rois developed a keen interest in thecatering industry, first preparing meals forhis family, and then joining the familyrestaurant business at the tender age offourteen. There he continued to develop hisskills by introducing his own special blendof spices which he now modestly refers toas his “Home cooked Philosophy.”

Having spent all of his working life in restau-rants he opened his own restaurant the ‘Ru-pali’s in Coventry in 1991. His restaurants aswell as himself have recieved many acco-lades including Patak’s Restaurant of theyear, Good Food Guide Award and Guild ofMaster Caterers to name but a few.Since becoming the first ever “Hot Stuff

Chef of the Year” Rois’s talents have been ingrowing demand, with TV appearances on

BBC Network East, Central Television andLocal Radio. Articles in the Guardian, Finan-cial Times, and other National Newspapersplus many features in the specialised EthnicMedia. He has also been recently involvedwith Bangla TV, Zee TV, and Channel East inCook and Chat.

Rois is General Secretary of Shah JalamMosque, Coventry. Executive member ofMuslim Resource Centre as well as Execu-tive Member of Bangladesh CommunityCentre, both situated in Coventry. He is alsoChairman and founder of BangladeshCatering Professional Association.

Previously Rois was School governor forFredrick Bird School and Executive memberfor Racial equality. He also worked closelywith the police as Executive Police Commit-tee member.

Rois is also founder of the ‘Master Chef Pro-motion’, which promotes businesses andculinary skills in the British Catering indus-try.

Rushanara Ali is the first Bangladeshi who putstep in the House of Commons as a Memberod Parliament. In May, 2010 she made this his-tory by winning from Bethnal Green and Bow.Born in Bangladesh, Ali came to the UK at theage of 7 with her family. She grew up in TowerHamlets, studying locally at Mulberry Schooland Tower Hamlets College. She completed adegree in Politics, Philosophy and Economicsfrom Oxford University. She lives and works inthe East End of London.

Rushanara is Associate Director of the YoungFoundation. Previously, she worked at theCommunities Directorate of the Home Office,leading a work programme in response to the2001 disturbances in the north of England.She has also worked on human rights issuesat the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as aResearch Fellow at the Institute for Public Pol-icy Research and as Parliamentary Assistant forformer MP for Bethnal Green and Bow OonaKing.She helped to develop a telephone interpret-ing company called Language Line andhelped set up Tower Hamlets Summer Univer-sity, a pioneering model which has cut youthcrime in the area and has been successfullyreplicated around London.

She is the Chair of Tower Hamlets SummerUniversity and SummerUni London, a Trustee

of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and a memberof the Tate Britain Council. She was a Commissioner for the London ChildPoverty Commission; a Board Member ofTower Hamlets College; a Trustee of the Envi-ronment Trust; and a member of the Home of-fice Working Group on Preventing Extremismestablished after the 7/7 London bombings.

She was selected for the Equality and HumanRights Commission’s Muslim Women’s PowerList 2009.

Rois Ali


Miss Rushanara Ali

SECTOR: Politics


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Shukur Ali was born in village of Bargup inthe Chatak, Sylhet region of Bangladesh.He is the son of Mr Rashid Ali.Shukur Ali moved to London in 1970 andimmediately found work in the Kings Crossarea. Within five years of his arrival in Lon-don, Mr Ali opened a restaurant calledHomeria.

In the mid-1980’s, he moved out of Londonto Oxfordshire. There, Mr Ali opened an-other restaurant called Jaflong. This busi-ness is where Mr Ali works to this day.However, having established himself in thecatering industry, the philanthropic Mr Alidecided to concentrate on helping hiscommunity, both in England and in hisnative Bangladesh. He set up and is thechairman of an organisation called “ShukurAli Education Trust”, the aim of which is tohelp develop levels of education in the areaof Dulabazar where he grew up.Mr Shukur Ali also helped a Madrasa inChatak called the Dulabazar Islamia DhakilMadrasa. In addition to this, he donatesmoney to schools, colleges and otherMadrasas in his hometown in Bangladesh.He has also donated clothing and swingsto the students of a female Madrasa.

Future projects for Mr Ali include the build-ing of a mosque and a maternity clinic,both of which are in great demand by thepeople of Dulabazar and Chatak. Mr Ali is aman who appreciates the support that hisfamily has given him. He is especiallythankful to his wife – Rukeya Ali. Together,Shukur and Rukeya Ali have three sons andtwo daughters.

Their first, Dilwar Ali, completed a BusinessStudies degree at the University of Cardiff.He is now greatly involved in the familybusiness. Their second son, Shahin Ali, is anOptician Engineer; and their third son iscurrently studying Performing Arts atcollege.

Siraj Ali is a pioneering force behind the in-troduction of Indian Cuisine in the Essex re-gion. He also introduced the corporate socialresponsibility element to Indian restaurants inthe county, and as a result has raised close toa million pounds over more than a decade fornumerous charitable causes including theBritish Heart Foundation, NSPCC and CancerResearch.Siraj’s first restaurant the New Curry Centreand focused on both authentic cuisine and afriendly service and slowly established itself asone of the counties most renowned restau-rants. Concurrently, Mr Ali opened four otherIndian restaurants in the region beforeopening the Maharaja Restaurant, which isperhaps his best. Mr Ali transformed the fail-ing business into one of the most successfulin the country with innovative cuisine, aunique atmosphere and dynamic service, re-ceiving recognition by Industry experts in-cluding Pat Chapman, Chair of the Curry Club.

Siraj Ali's Maharaja was even chosen to caterfor the launch of the first nationwideBangladesh Festival of Food and Culture at theHouse of Commons. In 2007, the Maharajawas chosen by MPs to represent the SouthEast in the Tiffin Cup Curry Awards, winningsecond runner up position.In Bangladesh, Mr Ali is one of the Directors of

the Metro Centre, a commercial and residen-tial hotel complex comprising of 300 shopunits, as well as the Chairman andowner of Al Siraj Plaza, a twelve storey multi-purpose building in Goalabazaar, Sylhet,which provides a service to the needy whocannot afford medical aid.

Mr Ali is also very active within theBangladeshi Community in the Essex region.Siraj is the founder Chairman of both the Thur-rock Bangladesh Welfare Associationand Thurrock Islamic Educational CulturalCentre. He has also been the General Secre-tary of the Essex Jamme Masjid in Southen-don-Sea for over four terms.In Benfleet, Mr Ali is also the General Secretaryof the Castlepoint Bangladeshi Education andCultural Centre as well as Governor of the HajiSoyed Primary School.Mr Ali is the Vice Chair of the Advisory Com-mittee of the Essex Bangladesh Welfare Asso-ciation.

Mr Muhammed Siraj Ali is marriedto Begum Momtaj Khanom and they have oneson and three daughters, who are all veryhighly educated having attended university.

Shukur Ali

SECTOR: Catering

Siraj Ali

SECTOR: Catering


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Sunahwar Ali got actively involved in theanti-racist struggles of the 1970’s. He was in-strumental in setting up a number of youthorganisations and initiatives in Tower Ham-lets (London). He served on the managementcommittee of a number of key bodies and ini-tiatives such as General Secretary, Federationof Bangladeshi Youth Organisations (FBYO),Member of the Inner London Education Au-thority (ILEA) Area Youth Committee under21 members; Member of the Grater LondonCouncil (GLC) Asian Youth representative,Anti-Racist Programme Sub-Committee,Governor of the City and East London College& Hackney College, Governor of Adult Edu-cation Institute (AEL), & Governors of variousschools. Sunahwar Ali also initiated and pio-neered the Micro Credit Programme forwomen in Tower Hamlets (London). This wasan innovative programme, as part of an anti-poverty strategy for the socially excluded res-ident of London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

He was Sport Secretary of the BangladeshYouth Front (BYF) in 1978, Chairman ofBangladesh Cyclone & Flood Disaster Com-mittee between1986-88, and has been in-volved with a host of other organisations. He is an active member of the Labour Party

in Tower Hamlets (London) since 1983 and a

campaigner for local people on health, hous-ing, education and community redevelop-ment (regeneration). During this timeSunahwar Ali has held a number of positionswithin the local party structure includingWard Membership Secretary and Chairman,delegate to General Management Commit-tee (Constituency party) and Local Govern-ment Committee (LGC) (Two Constituencyparty) & Assistant Secretary. Sunahwar Aliwas elected as a Councillor from 1994 to1998from Weavers Ward.

Sunahwar Ali was one of the lead Councillorsfor LBTH (UK) naming and launching ofBanglatown in East London and also involvedin naming Osmani and BhangobanduSchools, UK.He was part of the Labour Group Executive

Committee from 1994 to 96. He later becameChief Whip. He is also member of the Editorial board of

Bengali Informer, Bengali Info and Jubo Barta.

Mr Ali has made appearances on Channel 4TV (Dispatches Programme) and also BBC 2Newsnight as a guest. Mr Ali has attended UN Human Rights Sub-Commission in 2003 and did submitted andaddressed on human rights in Bangladesh.

Sunahwar Ali

SECTOR: Politics and Community Relations

Mr Shumon Alom is the current owner andthe director of Thames Management GroupLtd trading as Thames Management SolutionsLtd and Thames Credit Hire Ltd. He works inpartnership with Joshim Uddin.

Shumon was born in Bangladesh, village ofAmertol in Chattak, in 1985 and is the son ofMr Hajji Md Nurul Haque and Mrs JoytunNessa. He came to the UK when he was 10years. He has been brought up in London andacquired his entire academic qualifications.

He started living an independent life at a veryyoung age by engaging himself in occupa-tions. He owned his grocery shop, which wason Hassel Street, named Best food and thenopened his own restaurant in Swansea.He joined Thames Management Solutions in2006 and since then he has been working incollaboration with his partner to flourish thebusiness.

Shumon is a proactive person and commitshimself to the improvement of the company.He is an articulate and persuasive negotiatorwith dynamic influencing skills. He always hasthe best ways of promoting the companyproducts and services and a degree ofshrewdness.He is a good decision maker and knows how

to plan for the long term to keep the marketshare and to promote revenue growth. Hepossesses an excellent time managementskills.

Other than being a director, Shumon is en-gaged in other form of businesses and invest-ments. He is very devoted and hard workingperson and always contributes for the chari-ties associations.

Shumon Alom

SECTOR: Accident Management


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Abul Kalam Azad

SECTOR: Information Technology

Abul Kalam Azad was born in 1963 at thevillage Sultanpur, Begumgonj, Noakhali.His father is Moulana Mujib Ullah andmother is Ayesha Begum.

He passed his SSC Examination in 1978from Gopalpur High School, HSC andB.Com from Choumuhani College in 1980and 1982 and M. Com from Dhaka Univer-sity in 1986.Mr Azad worked with United Traders Ltd inDhaka from 1985 to 1989. In July 1989 heleft for United Kingdom.

Mr Azad started his professional life in theUK by joining the Department of Health &Social Services (DHSS). In 1990 he joinedSonali Bank UK and worked in this Bank indifferent branches including Kings Cross,Bradford and Birmingham. He started hisown restaurant business in 1998 in London.In 2001 he started another business in thefield of IT named 'Inter Link' at ValanceRoad, Whitechapel, which still is running.He established a college named 'St. PetersCollege of London' in East London in 2005.Mr Azad is actively involved in differentsocio cultural and political activities. In1978 he established Sultanpur SamajKallyan Samity and he was the founderGeneral Secretary of this organisation in

1980. The organisation provides educationand helps orphans.

He was also one of the founder membersof the Sultanpur Hanif Bhuiyan High Schoolin 1983 and he served there as a teacherfor sometime. In 1984 he establishedthe Dhaka based Beguingonj UpazillaChhatra Kallyan Samity in cooperation withAdvocate Azhar Ullah and others.

During his college life Mr Azad was theJoint Secretary of the Begumgonj ThanaChhatra League. He was one of theFounder Members of the Enfield WelfareAssociation UK and has served as AssistantSecretary. He became one of the two Jointconveners of its first convening committeewith Mr. Nurul Haque. In 1995 he becamethe Secretary General of this Association.He was re-elected in this position 2003 to2005. He established Azad Foundation in 2006.Through this foundation he has been sup-porting disadvantaged and needy people.He is married and has two sons.

Councillor ChaudhuryMohammed AnwarMBE

SECTOR: Politics and Community Relations

Mr Anwar was born in April 1937. He has along list of qualifications that he has ob-tained over the years. This includes an MAin Political Science from Dhaka Universityin 1959, and full membership of British In-stitute of Public Relations (MIPR) from theBritish Institute of Public Relations in 1977.

Mr Anwar served as a Social Welfare Officerin Bangladesh in the 1960’s, Senior PoliticalAssistant to the American Consulate Gen-eral in 1964, lecturer in Area Studies inSouth East Asia and Language informant inthe University of Minnesota in USA. In UKhe worked as assistant Labour attache withthe Pakistan High Commission and re-signed from the post in 1971 to take up ajob in Oxford as a senior community rela-tions officer until 1980. He continued as theDirector of Race Relations in Croydon, En-field and Waltham Forest stretching overthe following twenty years before retiring.

After taking early retirement he worked asNon Executive Director NHS Trust of NorthMiddlesex Hospital between 1995and1998. Furthermore Mr Anwar has beenthe member and appraiser of ‘Towards Em-ployability Partnership’ in Waltham Forestand the project has had an allocation of

£7.5 million under SRB between 1997 and2002.

In relation to voluntary work Mr Anwar hasheld many responsible positions. Thesehave included Chair of Complaints ReviewPanel of Social Services Department of theLondon Borough of Enfield, Chair of theEthnic Community Services UK Ltd in TowerHamlets, Chair of Enfield Bangladesh Wel-fare Association, Chair of Enfield Asian Car-ers Consortium, Director/Trustee of EnfieldVoluntary Action, member of police andcommunity consultative group in Enfield,and Director of Ponders End DevelopmentTrust.

Most noticeably Mr Anwar received an MBEin 2002 in Her Majesty the Queen’s NewYears Honours List for his outstanding con-tribution to community relations. CurrentlyMr Anwar is a Councillor for the LondonBorough of Enfield, Chief Executive for theEnfield Asian Carers Consortium and Chair-man of Enfield Bangladesh Welfare Associ-ation, which he has held for the last sixteenyears.


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Mr Ali Azhar was born in Sirajganj,Bangladesh, and he completed his MA atDhaka University in 1958. During his studentlife, Mr Azhar was deeply involved in studentpolitics.

He became the General Secretary of the entireEast Pakistan students’ League and sufferedimprisonment on a number of occasions. Hewas called to the bar by the Honourable Soci-ety of Gray’s Inn in 1962, and since then he hasbeen a huge success within the field of law.

Currently, he is the Head of Chambers at 9Kings Bench Walk in Temple, London. Mr Azhar began practising law alongside hisbrother, the late Ali M Abbas, in 1962. At thetime, Asian barristers were few and far be-tween, although the two brothers quickly im-posed their expertise onto the legal sector.Both brothers conducted several cases eithertogether or opposed to each other, whichhave set milestones in the British legal systemand are reported in the English legal booksand studied by all students of law. Many lawswere passed by the British Parliament as a fol-low-up of the outcome of these cases.

In the years since, Mr Azhar has become a spe-cialist in many of the various legal areas suchas criminal law, family law, claims for damages

and also human rights.Mr Azhar is a deeply religious man, and it isthis which initially helped to lead him to hischosen profession.

Mr Azhar led the prosecution of the infamouswriter Salman Rusdie. Mr Azhar tookthe case to the British High Court, then to theCourt of Appeal and then to the highest Courtof the land, the House of Lords. Away from his work, Mr Azhar is a proud fam-ily man. He married Mrs Farhat Azhar in 1970,and they have two daughters –Shabeena Mahmuda and Rubeena Mahmuda.Both Shabeena and Rubeena are also barris-ters, are tenants of their father’s chambers.

Mr Azhar can be seen as a pioneer in the legalarena for British Bangladeshis.

Shamim Azad

SECTOR: Arts, Culture & Education

Shamim Azad is an active bilingual poet,storyteller and a writer. Her repertoire as astoryteller ranges from Bangladeshi to Eu-ropean folktales. Her performance fusesthe lines between education and entertain-ment and her workshops are rooted in oraltraditions,and heritage.

Azad’s residencies have included TowerHamlets Summer University, SunderlandCity Library & Arts Centre, East Side Arts,Poetry Society, Magic Me, Rich Mix,Kinetika, Bromley By Bow Centre, HalfMoon Theatre and Apples & Snakes.

Azad has published 14 books includingnovels, collections of short stories, essaysand poems in both English and Bangla andhas been included in various anthologiesincluding British South Asian Poetry, MyBirth Was Not In Vain, Velocity, Emlit Projectand Mother Tongues. She wrote two paysfor Half Moon Theatre.

She has performed at a wide variety of ven-ues including the Museum of London,Cambridge Water Stone, Liberty Radio, Bat-tersea Arts Centre, Lauderdale House, theCommonwealth Institute, British Library,

British Council of Bangladesh, Takshila inPakistan and New York. She has workedwith well known composer Richard Black-ford, Kerry Andrews, choreographer Rose-mary Lee, visual artist Robin Whitemoreand playwright Mary Cooper.

She is a trustee of well known charity OneWorld Action, a school Governor andChairperson of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro(World Literature Centre) London. Azad re-ceived the Bichitra Award in 1994 fromBangladesh ,Year of the Artist 2000 Awardfrom London Arts, Sonjojon- A Rouf Award2004 & Civic Awad in 2004 in UK.

Ali M Azhar



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Shahin Badar is an Award winning and Dy-namic leading British Asian Singer/Song-writer, who is well known internationallythrough some of her breathtaking collabra-tions. A consummate professional, rolemodel and inspiration to many young andmature people. She is certainly one of theUK based female South Asian front runnersof innovative musical collaborations withher blend of powerful Arabic/Indian/Ben-gali vocal resonance in music in its variousgenres which blends nicely within themainstream and Asian music fields.

Shahin scored chart success with theProdigy’s ‘Smack My Bitch Up’, which fea-tured her unique spine tingling chant ontheir multi-selling ‘Fat Of The Land’ albumgiving them and Shahin Billboard and UKNo. 1 chart positions and entry into theGuinness Book of Records as the fastestselling album at the time. For this she re-ceived a double platinum disc and a placein music history.Prodigy's ‘Fat Of The Land’album also reached number 1 in over 23countries.Shahin's collabration with TimDeluxe on the House Stomper ' Mundaya'was chosen as ‘Essential tune of the week’by BBC Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong.

Her collaborations include the likes oscarwinner AR Rahman(yuva), Indian Rope-man(66 meter's), Jah Wobble(Hayati),TimDeluxe(Mundaya), Twista and Juliet Lewis(Get up Get Off ). Her vocals have alreadyfeatured in more than 30 Hollywood andBollywood films including Academy, BAFTAand Golden Globe Award nominatedCloser and Academy Award nominatedCharlie’s Angels; US sitcoms North Shoreand Kevin Hill as well as Shyam Bengal’sZubeidaa.

shahin badar supported US rapper 50 Centand worked with director Ang Lee on TheHulk (Eric Bana).Shahin badar headlined many festivals ,launched special events, endorsed charita-ble causes,was described by one main-stream magazine as " one of the mostoriginal artistes around".

She was nominted for the UKAMA awardsfor the best female alternative act this year.Her fantastic Album -'LAILA' is out now inHMV/i-tunes

Khodker Aminul Haq, better known as Badshais the Executive Member of BangladeshJournalist Association as well as the Common-wealth Journalist Association UK. Born inKushtia, Bangladesh, he completed his educa-tion in Bangladesh before he was forced tocome to England after the assassination ofBangobhaundhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Mr Aminul Haq Badsha completed his MA inSociology from Dhaka University and gradu-ated from Prison. He was arrested for hisinvolvement in student politics. In England MrHaq completed a Masters and a Diploma inSocial Work. During his student life, Badshawas actively involved in student politics. Bad-sha spent time in various prisons due to his in-volvement in politics.After his release from Jessore Jail, Badsha tookadmission in Law and Sociology at Dhaka Uni-versity in 1963. During his prison life Badshacame into contact with prominent politicaland intellectual personalities.

Aminul Haq Badsha believes in Social Justice.He was organising secretary of the then EastPakistan Student League and General Secre-tary of Iqbal Hall of Dhaka University. He ac-tively participated in the anti Ayub struggle.Furthermore, he was a freedom fighter in 1971.Badsha was founder of Bangladesh Liberation

Radio Shadin Bangla Beter Kendro in MujibNagar. He was also director of External Public-ity of Bangladesh Mission, Mujib Nagar. Hewas appointed as press secretary to the fatherof the nation in 1969 after he was releasedfrom Agartala Mamla.After arriving in the UK, Badsha continues hisinvolvement in journalism.

He is the correspondent of a number of na-tional daily newspapers in India, Bangladeshand England, Including ATN Bangla, which isan international TV channel.

Mr Haq is married with two children, a son anda daughter. He is committed to honest jour-nalism and stands up for what he believes in.He will be remembered for his role in journal-ism and politics. He has suffered at the handsof the Pakistan military and was also tried ab-sentia in October 1971 and given 14 years im-prisonment.

Badsha has worked for the British Civil Service,Asian Unemployment project, and also as aSocial Worker in the London Borough of TowerHamlets.He has written four books and has acted inseveral Bengali films.

Shahin Badar

SECTOR: Arts and Entertainment

Aminul Haq Badsha

SECTOR: Media (Journalism)


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Having had a thriving property and restau-rant business, idea of business diversifica-tion propelled to make a timely move tobid for a better future investments, whichwas realized during the tenure of Head ofChannel S Sales and Marketing Depart-ment in 2005.

An astute business venture opened an av-enue for a new challenge: ATN BanglaUK.This was, of course, owing to previousentrepreneurial skills and the experienceachieved during his Channel S days be-came very useful in establishing ATNBangla UK as one of the most profitableand viewed satellite television throughoutthe UK and Europe within a very short spanof time.

ATN Bangla UK is growing from strength tostrength and this is attributed to diligenceand determination of Hafiz Alam Bakhsh,who has set an example of accomplish-ment for other Bangladeshi people both inthe UK and elsewhere.

In spite of his busy schedule, he is a pas-sionate producer and actor with vision andglamour; despite limitations, working with-

out compromise on a professional front,earned reputation for persistence owing torelentless stage practice, improvisation anddetermination to promote Bangladeshifilms globally and is now a chiseled actoras well as producer of distinct caliber.

He has firsthand experience of freelancefilmmaking, producing and acting; pro-duced for many televisions and private sec-tor media companies, driven by intenseenthusiasm and passion for creative work.Hafiz Alam Bakhsh is undoubtedly one ofthe youngest British- Bangladeshi entre-preneurs, who precipitated and maximisedthe Bangladeshi presence in the UK andEuropean electronic media, particularly bypromoting the Bangladeshi social, culturaland economic contributions through hissatellite television channel.

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari studied both a PhDand a PGCE teacher training course at KingsCollege, University of London. He also has adegree in Management from the Open Uni-versity. He was awarded his MBE in 2003 forneighbourhood renewal work.Dr Bari has been an officer in the BangladeshAir Force, but trained in Royal Air Force Col-lege, a science teacher, a physics researcherand an SEN specialist in London. He is now theSecretary General of the Muslim Council ofBritain, and has held the position since June2006.

He is the former President of Islamic Forum Eu-rope and is also the Chair of the East LondonMosque Trust. He is a Trustee of Muslim Aid.He is also on the London Organising Commit-tee for the 2012 Olympic Games as a non-Executive member. Dr Bari is a man with a phil-anthropic nature. He is a patron of the Na-tional Youth Agency and the Ramphal Centre.Mr Bari is politically non-partisan, but consid-ered to be instrumental in encouraging peo-ple to be involved in political and socialactivities in the mainstream society.

This might have indirectly helped RESPECT MPGeorge Galloway secure his parliamentaryseat for Bethnal Green and Bow during thein 2005 General Election. He did the same for

the recent mayoral elections.Dr Bari is also a keen behavioural specialist,and has written a number of books, as well asarticles in newspapers, journals and commu-nity publications on the subject.

His books tend to specialise on family and par-enting, as well as issues of identity amongstyouths. These books include the titles ‘BuildingMuslim Families’, ‘A Guide to Parenting’ and‘Race, Religion and Muslim Identity in Britain’.

Ha�z Alam Bakhsh

SECTOR: Media

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari MBE FRSA

SECTOR: Islamic A�airs and Community Relations


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Shofna Begum was born in Mohammod-pur, Sunamgonj, Bangladesh and came toEngland at an early age. She was raised inLancashire. She is one of the six children ofLate Alhaj Asoddar Ali.

Shofna is a partner with Punatar and Co So-licitors’ and the managing partner of theirEast London office. She is a Criminal DutySolicitor currently participating in LocalLondon schemes, both for police stationsand courts. Over the years Shofna hasbeen instructed in a number of complexand serious cases. To name just one, shewas the solicitor instructed in the Bengalihonour killing case in Oxford in 2005. Cur-rently, She is involved in a number of highprofile murder, rape and terrorism cases. Punatar and Co. feature in the Legal 500and Shofna’s profile is published as a rec-ommended practitioner in crime.

Prior to Shofna joining Punatar and Co So-licitors, she graduated with an LLB (Hons)from the University of Leeds and com-pleted her Legal Practice Course at the Col-lege of Law in York.Shofna lives in London and undertakeswork nationally also. She is actively sought

through recommendation and referrals.She is a proficient Bengali speaker and hasan excellent professional reputation withinthe Criminal Justice System and within herfield.

Shofna plays netball on a weekly basis inthe Commonwealth Netball UK (CNUK)league in a team with other legal profes-sionals.

Mr Abdul Hai Khalique (Junel), Mr AbdulQuayum Khalique (Jamal) and Mr AbdulMuhith (Joynal) are the three brothers behindthe internationally renowned grocers Taj Storesat Brick Lane. They took over the business from their late fa-ther Alhaj Abdul Khalique who came from BaurBagh, Moulvibazar, Bangladesh Abdul Hai,Abdul Quayum and Abdul Muhith all grew upin Brick Lane, East London. Abdul Hai Khaliqueand Abdul Quayum Khalique then progressedto Milestone Preparatory School which is a pri-vate school situated in Bond Street, West Lon-don.Meanwhile their youngest brother AbdulMuhith went to Daneford School near BethnalGreen.Meanwhile Abdul Hai Khalique advanced to anArchitectural college where he completed hisfirst year before joining the family business.Abdul Quayum Khalique on the other hand at-tended the private American International Col-lege where he completed a Diploma in Businessafter which he too joined the business. AbdulMuhith also gradually joined the family businessafter completing his education.Besides running the very successful and ex-tremely well known Taj Stores, the brothers alsohave other business interests. The three ‘Taj’brothers hold a very healthy portfolio of prop-erties located across the capital as well as sev-

eral properties abroad, including in Dubai. Theyalso have a vast amount of land and propertiesin Bangladesh which their family have ownedfor generations. They also own a restaurant inBrick Lane called ‘Le Taj’.The brothers remain closely associated with do-nating to charity and these include supportinga Cancer Research Charity in honour of their latemother, and also a Charity which specialise intreating problems and illnesses related to kid-neys, in honour of their late father.Additionally the brothers have also supportedthe victims of the Sidr Cyclone and have do-nated some 17 tube wells to 17 different vil-lages in Moulvibazar.Moreover, their charitable activities have con-sisted of funding the development and con-struction of many houses for the poor to residein within the vicinity of their village, as well as fi-nancing and building a whole Mosque, and anIslamic School, where over 300 students are ed-ucated for free.The Brothers also have a sister in this countrycalled Rashida Rahman. They are all marriedwith Abdul Hai Khalique having four children;one daughter and three sons. Abdul QuayumKhalique has two sons and Abdul Muhith hav-ing two daughters. All their children are in ed-ucation.The Taj businesses are well acknowledgedbrands within British Bangladeshi households.

Shofna Begum


Taj Brothers

SECTOR: Business and Property


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Abdul Ga�ar Choudhury is a famous Bengaliauthor and columnist. He is perhaps bestknown for his lyric Amar Bhaier RokteRangano ekushe February-- which has be-come the main song commemorating theLanguage Movement, the touchy music hav-ing been composed by Shaheed Altaf Mah-mud. His lyric Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano is recog-nised as the most influential song of the Lan-guage Movement. The song is sung everyyear in the probhat feri, the march in barefoottowards the Shaheed Minar to pay homageto the martyrs. It is regarded by the listenersof BBC Bengali Service as the third best songin Bengali.He was born in 1934 in Barishal and came toEngland on October 5, 1974. He did his Grad-uation from Dhaka University in 1959. His fa-ther Hazi Wahed Reza Choudhury was aninfluential land lord and freedom fighter ofundivided India. He was the president of Bar-ishal District Congress and a member of theAll India Congress Working Committee. MrReza Choudhury was imprisoned in 1942 Au-gust Movement. He served as secretary ofMotilal Neheru.Zohra Khatun was Gaffar Choudhury’smother. Before coming to this country, GaffarChoudhury worked as a journalist in differentnational newspapers in Dhaka. During the1971 War he was in Kolkata working for theMujib Nagar government’s mouthpiece Joy

Bangla and for Kolkata dailies like Jugantarand Anandabazar Patrika. He came to Eng-land for the treatment of his wife, and initiallyled a life of struggle. He could not return toBangladesh for 22 years after the assassina-tion of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In UK, he established the newspaper NatunDin during Ershad reign in Bangladesh, andwas the founder editor. He has written thirtyfive books. Some of them are Shesh RajanirChand , Chandrodwiper Upakhyan etcetera.He visited different countries like Japan, Aus-tralia, New Zealand and Algeria. Abdul Gaffar Choudhury has been showeredwith numerous awards like Bangla AcademyAward in 1967, Ekushey Padak, UNESCO liter-ary Award, Bangabandhu Award, SadhinotaPadak in 2009 etc. In the same year, the DailyIttefaq honoured him with Manik MiahPadak. He is producing the film "The Poet ofPolitics (film)" on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Healready produced a film on the assassinationof Mujibur Rahman called ‘Polashi thekeDhanmondi’.He, at the present, is living with his wife She-lima Choudhury. He has a son, Anupam,working in Rueters, and four daughters Tan-ima, Chinmoyee, Binita and Indira. He cur-rently lives in London from where heregularly writes columns in nationalBangladeshi dailies, in Bengali newspapers ofBangladeshi community and in a daily paperin Kolkata.

Akhlaq Choudhury is a barrister specialisingin employment law and public law. Akhlaqgraduated in physics from University of Glas-gow before deciding to study Law at the Uni-versity of London where he obtained a firstclass honours degree. He was called to the Barin 1992 and started practising at 11 King’sBench Walk Chambers (now known as “11KBW”), which is the premier employment lawchambers in the country. Akhlaq’s practice developed rapidly and he isconsistently ranked by his peers as a leader inhis areas of expertise making him the leadingBritish Bangladeshi practitioner in employ-ment law.

Akhlaq was a long-standing member of theAttorney General’s panel of approved Counselin which capacity he acted for and advised theForeign & Commonwealth Office, the MoD,HMRC and various other Government depart-ments in relation to matters ranging fromhuman rights and discrimination in the armedforces to the right to detain persons with men-tal incapacity.

He is one of the standing counsel for the Infor-mation Commissioner and has recently ap-peared in many of the ground-breaking casesin the developing area of Freedom of Informa-tion and Data Protection law.

Akhlaq was born in Hampshire but grew up inGlasgow where his father, the late Mr AzizurRahman Choudhury, ran a successful restau-rant business and was a leading member ofthe Bangladeshi community in Scotland.Akhlaq now lives in London with his wife, Sa-fina, and their three children

Abdul Ga�ar Choudhury

SECTOR: Media, Arts and Literature

Akhlaq Choudhury



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Akil Choudhury was born in 1951 in the vil-lage of Kanishail, Gulapgonj, Sylhet inBangladesh. He is the son of Mr IqbalChoudhury and Mrs Momana Choudhury.Mr Choudhury completed his educationin Bangladesh, and moved to the UK in1975. Soon after his arrival, he opened arestaurant called Akash Tandoori in Red-ditch in Warwickshire. This restaurant hasnow been successfully running for over 25years, and has allowed Mr Choudhury tomove into other areas of business.

He has a stake in a hotel in Uttara Dhakacalled The Blue Bell, and he is also one ofthe Directors for United Airlines.Away from his business interests, AkilChoudhury is well known for his commit-ment in helping his community, both in theMidlands and in Bangladesh. He has heldnumerous charity events at his restaurant,including many in support of the cyclonevictims in Bangladesh. For one of theevents, he was able to attract MP JacquiSmith as a guest speaker.

In addition to this, Mr Choudhury is widelyrespected for being a freedom fighter dur-ing the war to liberate Bangladesh in 1971.

Akil Choudhury is married to Mrs SanaraChoudhury, Mrs Choudhury works as ateam manager for Worcestershire SocialServices. Together, Mr and Mrs Choudhuryhave two children one son and one daugh-ter. Their son, Wasif Choudhury, has a BAfrom the Chartered Institute of Marketing,and their daughter, Rifat Choudhury, is cur-rently in her second year of study for a de-gree in Economics.

Amirul Choudhury was born in Khashila (BoroBari) in Jagonnathpur. His father is MrAbdul Gafur Choudhury. He came to the UK in1977 with his parents.

He attended Ambler Primary and HollowaySecondary School in North London. He thenwent onto Hackney College from where heobtained a National Diploma in Business andFinance.

On leaving college, he joined Tower Hamletsyouth service as a School Link Project Officer.He had been involved in youth work sinceschool days. This position provided him theperfect opportunity to continue in this line ofwork providing guidance and support to thegrowing number of Bangladeshiyouths in the area.

He is the owner and Managing Director ofChytel Communications, which is one ofthe top ten T-Mobile dealers in the country. Heentered the telecom industry in 1994, when T-mobile (then known as One to One)introduced mobile phones to the mass mar-ket. Chytel became the first generation oftraders given licence by T-mobile to trade di-rectly with the general public.Branches were opened throughout the UK. MrChoudhury’s unique sales and marketing skills

helped both Chytel and T-mobile maintaina strong retail and distribution presence in theconsumer market, in particular the Asian com-munity.

Today Chytel is a household name in theBangladeshi community and with Mr Choud-hury’s long-term involvement in theBangladeshi media, Chytel brand remainsamongst the top of the Bangladeshi brands inBritain.

He is the Managing Director of Janomot Ben-gali Newsweekly (Britain’s first Bengali news-paper) and a major shareholder.He is also the Vice President of the LondonBangla Press Club, an organisation of BritishBangladeshi journalists in Britain.He has a portfolio of residential and commer-cial properties.

Mr Choudhury has supported various smallorganisations that promoted arts and cultureand has been a generous donor to all typesof charitable organisations for decades, andhas donated well in excess of 50k in the last 14years.

Akil Choudhury

SECTOR: Business

Amirul Choudhury

SECTOR: Telecom/Media/Property


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Atique Islam Choudhury is the son ofDabirul Islam Choudhury and KhaledaChoudhury. He is property developer, in-dustrialist and social entrepreneur. Born inSt Albans Hertfordshire in 1963.

Owner and Managing Director of theaward winning restaurant Yum Yum, Eu-rope’s largest Thai restaurant with seatingfor up to 500 covers and owner of MercadoMexican Restaurant. In 2009 Atique’s latestventure Oishiii Japanese Eatery, is a newrevolution in Japanese dining. With over 26years experience in the restaurant sectorAtique has been at the fore front of inno-vative practice in the restaurant trade andprovides a service second to none. He haswon many accolades and awards, featuredin the media throughout his career.

Atique is a very strong supporter of YouthEmployment, to that end he created theAsian Oriental School of Catering whichspecialized in training and finding employ-ment for young people and providing ahigh level quality chefs throughout Lon-don and the UK. He is an avid supporter of local and na-tional charities and supporting his Com-munity through sponsorship and awards

by creating opportunities for creative andtalented people alike. An ex internationalbadminton player also one his favouritepastimes is as an avid supporter of the Ar-senal Football Club.

His many personal and business awards in-clude; Caterer & Hotelkeeper Healthy MenuAward 1986, 1999, Winner of the Thai FoodFestival, Egon Rhonay Oriental Chef of theYear 1999, Hackney Chamber of Commerceaward for the best service in business 1999,Presented with the Thai Select Award forThai Cuisine, UK Food Service award win-ner 2000, received an Arts & Businessaward in 2001, Thai Trade & CommerceAward for ‘Chef of the Year 2003, LBC 2003Oriental Restaurant of The Year, ArchantLondon Restaurant Award, Best ThaiRestaurant 2007, Mayor of Hackney Busi-ness Awards, Best Business in Hackney2009, 2006 presented by the Royal ThaiEmbassy and Buddhapadipa Temple anHonorary Certificate in recognition of hiswork for the Thai community in the UK,1997 Finalist Best Thai Restaurant in Lon-don (Carlton TV)

Anwar Choudhury (BSc, MBA) was HerMajesty’s High Commissioner to Bangladeshfrom 2004 to 2008. Mr Choudhury has had a unique and distin-guished career having served in British Indus-try, The Royal Air Force, The Ministry ofDefence and The Cabinet Office. He is thefirst senior British Ambassador from a BritishAsian background and also one of theyoungest to achieve this level of posting.He started his career in Industry as a DesignEngineer. This was followed by the Royal AirForce and the Ministry of Defence where hemanaged a large team of civilian scientists andsenior military personnel. As Assistant Direc-tor, he was responsible for developingMinistry of Defence’s strategies and policiesaimed to bring about the integration of De-fence systems within the MOD, NATO and Al-lies.Mr Choudhury then moved from the MOD tothe Cabinet Office where he was Director ofPolicy in the Office of the e-Envoy. He wasresponsible for leading the vision and policyfor UK Government’s ambition to become aleading knowledge economy and the bestplace for e-government. He left the CabinetOffice to join the Foreign and CommonwealthOffice and initially worked on strategy andpolicy issues before taking up his posting asHigh Commissioner

to Bangladesh in May 2004.Mr Choudhury completed his assignment asHigh Commissioner to Bangladesh in May2008 and has taken up his new role as Directorof International Institutions, Foreign andCommonwealth Office.Mr Choudhury’s main interests are in policy forradical change in government and the poten-tial of the information revolution for the de-veloping world economies. On a personalnote, he is married with three children (oneson aged 14, and two daughters, one aged 5and one aged 1). His hobbies include Cricket,Bridge, Bengali Folk music and anaddiction for Bangladeshi cuisine.

Atique Islam Choudhury

SECTOR: Catering

Anwar Choudhury

SECTOR: Civil Service (Foreign O�ce)


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Aziz Choudhury is the Director of Monte-fiore Centre under which thirteen organi-sations are based providing training andother important services to the commu-nity. He has held this post since 2001.

Prior to his current position, Mr Choudhurywas Managing Director of Otherwords Ltd,and from 1995 to 1999 he was Chief Exec-utive of Bengali Workers Association. Hewas responsible for overseeing the runningof several local projects in Camden, includ-ing the Surma community centre.

In the mid eighties, Aziz Choudhury was Fi-nance Director for Spitalfields Housing As-sociation, a position he maintained for adecade. In his early career he was an ac-countant and worked for various accred-ited accountancy firms.

Mr Choudhury has a host of qualifications.He obtained his BSc in Physics, Chemistry& Mathematics from Dhaka University in1967. He Studied Accountancy at the Lon-don School of Accountancy.1972—73.Moreover, he is an Associate member of In-stitute of Financial Accountants and hasFellow Membership of Institute of Financial

Accountants as well as achieving CommonPurpose Community Leadership Gradua-tion in 1992.

Mr Choudhury has been involved in severalcommunity and voluntary initiatives bothin the United Kingdom and in Bangladesh.These include being involved with Spital-fields Small Business Association, East Lon-don Small Business Centre, East LondonBusiness Alliance and he has been a PMGmember of the Tower Hamlets Partnership.Other involvement includes being activelyenagaged with Bangla Housing Associa-tion.

In Bangladesh Aziz Choudhury foundedthe Jalalpur College in Sylhet and he is atrustee and General Secretary of RosaeTrust, which raises funds to support a hos-pital in Dhaka.

Mr Aziz Choudhury is married to HeimaChoudhury. They have two sons, the eldestson Ashike is a Doctor for the NHS andyoungest son Siraj is a Solicitor doe LocalGovernment, with a Masters Degree intown planning.

United Airways (BD) Ltd, a public limitedcompany by shares, is founded by an expatri-ate airline pilot, Capt. Tasbirul AhmedChoudhury along with a group of profes-sionals, business people, entrepreneursunited together for a shared vision to de-velop a world class airline in Bangladesh. Thecompany formed in early 2005 was issuedwith Air Transport Operating License (ATOL)No. 35 from Civil Aviation Authority ofBangladesh to operate passenger and cargoservice in the international and domesticsectors.

Capt. Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury was bornin 1966 at Biswanath in Sylhet. His father isLate Kamaruddin Choudhury and mother isLate Begum Jahanara Choudhury. His Child-hood passed in a very picturesque, beautiful,natural scenic land. He went to London at theage of 11 with his parents. He finished hissecondary school, college and university lifethere. After he got admission into the Lon-don Southern Aero Club and got the BritishFlying License (BCPL) by completing hiscourses. Then he went to USA in 1991 andgot his graduation degree from commercialCA academy (Multi Engine) and started hiscareer from this organization.

He is a highest rated flight instructor and ex-

aminer of Civil Aviation Authority ofBangladesh for airline pilot. He joined theaero Bengal Airlines (first Private Airlines inBangladesh) as captain when he returnedBangladesh in 1996. Then he served as chiefpilot, flight safety officer of Air Parabat, SouthAsia Airways and GMG Airlines. He has en-riched his professional skills by obtainingtraining from abroad such as the US, CzechRepublic, Sweden and Spain. He is now theChairman and Managing Director of his owncreated organization, United Airways (BD)Ltd, the first listed airline company in thecapital market in Bangladesh.

Aziz Choudhury

SECTOR: Community Relations andVoluntary

Capt. Tasbirul AhmedChoudhury

SECTOR: Aviation


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Cllr Prince Sadik Choudhury is the first Lib-eral Democrat British Bangladeshi Council-lor in Northamptonshire. Heis currently completing a Law degree at theUniversity of Northampton, and it was dur-ing his years of study that he first becameinterested in politics. He joined the LiberalDemocrats and was successful in winninghis seat in the Borough Council elections inMay of 2007. He is presently the Councillorfor the Thorplands Ward.

Cllr Sadik has had the benefit of a full Educa-tion here in England, having completed aHND in Business and Finance. Although hismain forte remains to be politics, Cllr Choud-hury is also involved with property manage-ment; a family run business comprising ofbuying, selling and letting property.Prince Sadik Choudhury is also strongly oc-cupied with numerous community activitiesand initiatives.

Moreover he is a trustee of Northampton-shire Muslim Council. He is Executive Mem-ber of Northampton Liberal DemocratsPolitical Party and trustee of Corby Mosque.He has made various contributions to hislocal community and is deeply associatedwith countless charity programmes.

He has also raised money for the NHS.Sadik’s excellent work in politics and for thecommunity has led him to work with nu-merous renowned individuals.Cllr Prince Sadik Choudhury has also writtenseveral articles for the local Chronicle & Echonewspaper as well as the NorthamptonshireBBC website, presenting his views towardssome very important issues. His articles forthe Northamptonshire BBC still remain inexistence on the website.Sadik has been described by his party as vi-brant, energetic and hardworking.

This is evident in his participation within thelocal community, as well as through hiswork as a Councillor. At the present time heis working for the Council in providing be-spoke services for Muslim burials inNorthamptonshire. He is also working onthe future development of Northampton,which is schedule to take place in 2012.

Sadik’s commitment to politics and enthu-siasm has made him one of the recognisedBritish Bangladeshi individuals inNorthamptonshire.

In 1975, at the age of 9, Sanawar, the first sonof a headmaster, came to the UK under a set-tlement VISA to join his father (Late) Al-HajjMohammed Shafiqul Islam Choudhury, ac-companied by his mother Shamsun Neharand brother Soiful.

Since then Sanawar has earned an upper sec-ond BD (Hons) Degree in Accounting and Fi-nance (1989), qualified as a CharteredAccountants with Price Waterhouse Coopers(1992) and has been awarded a PhD in Ac-counting from the University (2005) – aftersubmitting a doctoral thesis entitled ‘ CashFlow Reporting in the UK: Perceptions, Prac-tices and Problems’, the culmination of sixyears research on the topic.

In 2001 Sanawar settled his young family inDhaka and joined Bangladesh Bank as an In-ternational Consultant advising on corporatereporting, financial risk management and in-ternal control. Sanawar worked with and forthe Governor of Bangladesh Bank, DrFakhruddin Ahmed and Dr SallehuddinAhmed until 2006 when he returned to theUK with his wife Nasima, daughter Nazmaand sons Shaheenur, Shajahan and Shafiul.

During his Career Sanawar has undertakenconsultancy assignments both in the UK, Eu-

rope and the Middle East, working mainly infinancial risk management and corporate re-porting.

Sanawar currently runs a number of success-ful businesses that extend from ProfessionalTraining to Property to the largest CharteredAccountancy firm of Bangladeshi origin inthe UK, RCi Chartered Accountants and Reg-istered Auditors.

In 2008 Sanawar with other notable mem-bers of the NRB community in Europelaunched the European Bangladesh Federa-tion of Commerce and Industry (EBF) and be-came one of its seven founding executivedirectors. EBF is a multi-lateral trade federa-tion established to promote and encouragetrade, investment and business relations be-tween Europe and Bangladesh and betweenNRB’s within the European Union.

Cllr Prince SadikChoudhury

SECTOR: Politics

Dr Sanawar Choudhury BA (Hons), FCA, PhD(Exon)

SECTOR: Finance and Community Relations


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Kalam Mahmud Abu Taher Choudhurywas born in a traditional Moulana family inIta Sinkapon at Moulvibazar district inGreater Sylhet. He is the youngest son ofHafiz Moulana Abdul Kader ChoudhurySinkaponi who was a Saint and IslamicScholar in Bangladesh.Mr Choudhury was an elected general sec-retary of Moulvibazar Kashinath AlauddinHigh School branch of Chattra League in1969. As a young promising student leaderhe played an active role in the Liberation Warof Bangladesh in 1971.

Whilst in Bangladesh Mr Choudhury held theposition of General secretary of BangladeshKarigari Chhatra Parishad for Sylhet. He wasawarded a Diploma in engineering degreefrom Sylhet Polytechnic College.Mr Choudhury is well known for his Journal-ism work. As a journalist Mr Choudhury wasspecial correspondent and staff reporter re-spectively for the weekly Jugaberiand Deshbatra, two of the oldest Newspa-pers published from Sylhet. He also workedfor Weekly Amod and Weekly Fasal pub-lished from Comilla and Dhaka, furthermorehe led the Amra Nobin Programme on Sylhetradio for a long period.As an established journalist in the UK MrChoudhury was the Chief Editor and Chair-man of the first ever bilingual weekly news-paper, Euro-Bangla, and is currently a

director. At this moment in time he is theChief Editor of the weekly Bangla Post news-paper. Amongst his achievements and suc-cess he has been a President of theBangladesh Journalist Association UK, addi-tionally a member of National Union of Jour-nalists in Britain and Vice President of BritishBangladesh Press Club. He is also an ex-Chairperson & General Secretary of theGreater Sylhet Development and WelfareCouncil in UK. He is a community RelationsDirector of the airline Air Sylhet.

He is the Secretary of the Voice for Justiceand President of the Renaissance SahityaMojlish UK. He is a Chairman of the Advisoryboard of the first English Newsweekly BanglaMirror. He is also an Advisory Editor of theDhaka Post which is published from Dhaka.Mr Choudhury is the parent’s governor forStepney Green Maths and Computing Col-lege. He served as a General Secretary of theTower Hamlets Bilingual Parents and Gover-nors Centre. In May 2003 he was awardedthe Civic Award from Tower Hamlets councilfor his invaluable contribution towards thedevelopment of the community.He was offered Columnist of the Year Awardby Great Britain Journalist Association UK atthe House of Lords and in July 1997 PrinceCharles invited him to a reception at StJames Palace. He has also been invited to theRoyal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Mohibuddin Choudhury came to the UnitedKingdom with his parents at the age of four-teen in 1973.

Mr Mohibuddin Choudhury opened his firstbusiness in 1977, a restaurant named ‘Akash’in Maida Vale, West London. He subsequentlybecame involved with the media and is one ofthe Founding Directors of Notun Din. He iscurrently the Editor of the weekly Notun Dina Bengali language newspaper based in Lon-don.

Moreover, Mr Choudhury is the Founder Pres-ident of the London Bangla Press Club, whichwas inaugurated in 1994. This organisationrepresents most of the Bangladeshi media inthe United Kingdom. Mr Choudhury has alsobeen recently elected as President of theBritish Bangla Chamber of Commerce- Lon-don region.

Mohibuddin Choudhury has been involved inseveral other community and charity organi-sations. He is one of the Founder Trustees ofBritish Bangla Jaggannathpur Education Trustbased in the UK, which is one of the most suc-cessful organisations, that financially supportsand encourages poor students in relation toadvancing their education. Furthermore, he isone of the Founder Trustee of Kolkoli Shahjalal

College, Syedpur College and Bibiana Collegein Bangladesh.

Mr Choudhury is a well-known andrespected media personality and business-man and has supported many organisationsworking for the greater interest of the BritishBangladeshi community.He is married with six children all of whom re-side in the family home in Redbridge.

K M Abu Taher Choudhury

SECTOR: Media and Community Relations

Mohibuddin Choudhury

SECTOR: Media


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Shetu Choudhury has been involved inperforming arts for a major period of hislife. He has performed on a voluntary andprofessional level with the UK play groupsand has played a key role in performingand shaping live stage Bengali drama.

Shetu completed both his secondary andhigher education in Bangladesh beforecompleting a Diploma in English Languageand IT here in the UK. He is currently theproprietor and director of Creation Mediabased in Green Street, London.

Shetu’s repertoire of work includes beingpresenter of Betar Bangla Radio, in additionto being a presenter for Channel S andbeing a model. He has also played parts innumerous short films which have beenshown on Channel 4, and has appeared inseveral Tele films for various Bengali Chan-nels, as well as being a voice-over for theHeart Foundation, Childcare and more.

He prefers directing stage plays. Besides heis also the cultural secretary for theBangladesh Cricket Forum UK and theChairman for Desh Theatre. He is also afreelance journalist. He was also a ParentGovernor of John Scurr Primary School.

Shetu’s notable achievements include theATN Bangla Media Award for the best Ben-gali actor in the UK 2004 alongside the bestTV advert personality award in the UK2006. Shetu represents the modern dayBritish Bangla grassroots ambassador. Hisunique achievement is in his ability to com-bine his media work with a phenomenalcontribution to Bengali cultural develop-ment in Tower Hamlets- where a largeBangladeshi population exist.

Mr Choudhury remains dedicated andcommitted to promoting multi-culturalismin the UK and on a personal level is an indi-vidual filled with integrity. He is a familyman with children but still finds time tohelp those people who come to him for as-sistance in whatever way he can. He is a re-lentless community worker.

Shetu has made more than a valid contri-bution through his arts and communitywork, and is one of the shining beacons inthe British Bangladeshi performing artsarena.

Shetu Choudhury

SECTOR: Arts


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Abdul Kadir Choudhury is well known inthe Bangladeshi community in the UK as asuccessful businessman, educationalistand industrialist. Mr Choudhury, eldest ofthree brothers and two sisters, was born atDori Khunjonpur of Jaggannathpur Up-ozila in greater Sylhet in 1926. His fatherwas well known businessman.

In 1953 Mr. Choudhury came to London.He entered the catering industry in 1956 byestablishing a restaurant named New Cal-cutta Restaurant. In 1969, he started an-other restaurant, Himalaya, in Coventryonly to sell it later on, and then went backto Bangladesh to start his own business.After an unsuccessful attempt he returnedto the UK in 1978.

He later established ‘Jhorna Tanduri Restu-rant’ in Opington. As his business was thriv-ing he also opened ''Rajdoot'', ''Mughal'',and ''Bengal Luncer'', ''Bombay Butler'' inChiselhurst, and ''Bengal Clipper'' nearTower Bridge.

From a very young age Mr Kadir is workingtowards the betterment of the community

and the society; sometimes as an individualand sometimes as a part of a collective. Heis a Founding Trustee of JagannathpurBritish Bangla Education. He had also setup a school, Abdul Kadir - Meherun NesaHigh School, to ensure that the local peo-ple have access to education, and has beenbearing all the expenses of the school sincethen. He had also built a bridge in his fa-ther's name in Rasulpur - Kunchonpur road,and built a Building for Rasulpur Madrasa.

He built Al Hamra Shopping Complex witha view to encourage the Bangladeshi com-munity in the UK to invest in Bangladesh,and is planning to expand his business intothe cement industry. He is a part of TheJalalabad, a Sylheti newspaper, and is thedirector of both Sylhet Trade Centre, and AlHamra Bangladesh Ltd.

Mr Choudhury got married to MeherunNesa Choudhury. His two sons Sohail KadirChoudhury and Pavel Kadir Choudhury arealso established businessman in Britain.

One of Britain’s most respected personalities ofBangladeshi origin is Ahmed Us Samad Chowd-hury who came to Britain in 1972 to further hiseducation. He was the first Asian Origin StudentUnion President in Bristol. In business, commu-nity development and media Mr Chowdhury hasbeen a driving force for which he is much loved.

Mr Chowdhury was the Editor and Publisher of“Potrika”, Britain’s popular Bengali newspaper -published from London. Mr Chowdhury is alsothe Chairman of Channel S Television; a Bengalilanguage broadcast media and one of the mostwatched ethnic channels in Europe.A Fellow of the Institute of Sales Marketing Man-agement, Fellow of the Chartered Institute ofManagement, and Fellow of the Institute of Hos-pitality Mr Chowdhury is the owner of the Awardwinning restaurant Rajpoot in Bath and a num-ber of other restaurants in Bath and Bristol. MrChowdhury is also in the property business andtrades as “London Property Partnership”. InBangladesh Mr Chowdhury is also a property de-veloper (Paragon Property Ltd.) and currentlybuilding 500 apartments for the ex-patriots inSylhet. Also he is co owner of Kushiara CompsiteKnit Industries in Dhaka, Bangladesh.A 100% export orientated industry earning vitalforeign currency for Bangladesh.In 1988 as the Head of the Bangladesh Associa-tion (Bristol, Bath & West) and CommunityIntegration in mind, Mr Chowdhury founded theBangladesh Women’s Group in Bristol and thenin 1990 founded the Bangladesh House.This building is used as a drop in centre to get ad-vice and information on housing, welfare etc. In

1993 he founded Bangladesh Centre in Bristol;this was aimed to cater for the needs of theWomen’s Group and Youth activities. In 1998 MrChowdhury started the project to establish SouthWest’s only purpose built mosque. Today Shah-jalal Jame Mosque is complete, costing £1million.Mr Chowdhury serves as the Trustee ofBangladesh Association and Shahjalal JameMosque Trust. Locally Mr Chowdhury raisedfunds for the Royal United Hospital and hashelped numerous charities. He has served as aGovernor at City of Bath College, National Steer-ing Committee Member for Hospitality TrainingFoundation to make NVQ/SVQ qualificationsmore accessible, National Advisor New Deal (Eth-nic Minority Group). Mr Chowdhury is one of theFounders and Regional President of BangladeshBritish Chamber of Commerce. He played a vitalpart in establishing UK Bangladesh EducationTrust, Founder Chairman of Britain- BangladeshFriendship Society and is also involved with manynational and International organisations, with anumber of them he acts as an advisor. He is alsoa life member of The Commonwealth Judges andMagistrates Association.

In year 2000, Mr Chowdhury was the drivingforce in establishing the Immigration AdvisoryService (IAS) office in Sylhet, Bangladesh (theonly office outside Britain). Mr Chowdhury servesas the Chairman of the IAS – Sylhet AdvisoryCommittee. He helped to establish a Children’sHospital, Cyclone Shelter, Orphanage and a Hos-pital for the Disabled and Paralysed and manyeducational institutions in Bangladesh.

Abdul Kadir Chowdhury

SECTOR: Business

Ahmed Us SamadChowdhuryJP, FISMM, FCMI, FIH

SECTOR: Media, Charity, Business


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Mr Anamul Hoque Chowdhury was born inthe village of Raykhali, under South SurmaUpazilla in sylhet District. His father is lateShafiqul Hoque Chowdhury and hismother, Foyzun Nessa Khanom Chowd-hury.

Anamul Hoque Chowdhury first came tothe UK in 1997 where he started his busi-ness career with his uncle. He comes froma family of 9 brothers and 4 sisters,amongst which he is 8th. His siblings arescattered around the world, with five in theUSA, 2 in Bangladesh and 2 in the UK.

Anamul is 43 years old and holds a Mastersof Arts degree. He runs fast food takeawayrestaurants in the UK and is the director ofa number of well known companies inBangladesh. He is the managing director of3G printing company in Bangladesh, aswell as a director of well known Nondonpark in Dhaka and a CNG refuelling busi-ness.

Outside of his business life, he is the Chair-man of Aberdeen Bangla Mela and par-takes in a number of community andvoluntary organisations. He is very well

known amongst the British Bangladeshcommunity in Aberdeen in particular.

Mr Chowdhury is married to ShamimaKhatun and they have two daughters. Eld-est daughter Jannet Chowdhury is 13 andyoungest daughter Nishat Chowdhury is 8.

Mr Enam-Ul Haque Chowdhury was born andstudied in Bangladesh before arriving to the UKin 1986 to study Business Management at LutonUniversity. After completing his studies hemoved to Swindon to gain business experiencewith his father in law at his restaurant (The Khy-ber Est.1962).

Realising his ambitions within the catering in-dustry Mr Chowdhury opened his first restau-rant in 1991, the Ganges Indian takeaway, whichbecame an instant hit within the locals in thearea. This gave him the inspiration and confi-dence to open his second business, the GangesIndian Restaurant in 1993.The business has wonmany awards and accolades.Mr Chowdhury’s varied business interests in-clude catering, investment and property devel-opment in the United Kingdom and Bangladesh.He is the founder of MIJ group which businessincludes MIJ International Investment, MIJ Cater-ing and MIJ Properties. He is one of the Directorsof the five stars hotel Dhaka Regency located inDhaka, Bangladesh.

He is the founder of Thahiria Mohila Academy(Titel) in Shahbagh, Zakigonj, Sylhet,Bangladesh. An Executive member of WoottonBassett Chamber of Comererce, A member ofWiltshire Business club, an Executive Director ofUK-Bangladesh Business Council (UKBBC), Thelife member of London Bangla Press Club, Na-tional Executive Member of Bangladesh Cater-ing Association, active member of Conservativeparty, member of conservative Muslim forum

and a member of British Asian Conservative Link.He is a member and actively involved in the in-ternational Rotary Club, he has assisted in vari-ous charitable project in U.K and Bangladesh.Before moving to the U.K he was joint secretaryand actively involved in the Rotary club of Sylhetand Dhaka in Bangladesh.He is a member of William J. Clinton PresidentialFoundation Millennium Network. He is a civiliansponsor for International student of DEFENCEACADEMY of The United Kingdom since 1999.

In 2009 Enam with other high profile membersof the Non Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) commu-nity from UK, Europe, Canada, USA, Africa andMiddleast created the NRB Worldwide Founda-tion (nrbwf.org) which is a non-profit, non-parti-san organisation focused on the developmentand promotion of the knowledge and skills as acommon base for intellectual exchange to sup-port the enrichment of Bangladesh.

Mr Chowdhury has been awarded the SpecialCitizen Privilege Category” A” (CIP) from the Gov-ernment of Bangladesh. He has attended manyinternational seminars and conferences includ-ing one in October 2009 titled ‘IDEAS and INNO-VATION for the Development of Bangladesh: THENEXT DECADE’ at HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Boston,USA. He met various head of states, leaders andacademics including USA president Bill Clinton.He is a member of the Wiltshire Golf Club. Mr Chowdhury has been married for 22 years toJasmin Chowdhury the couple have beenblessed with three sons.

Anamul HoqueChowdhury

SECTOR: Business

Mr Enam-Ul HaqueChowdhury

SECTOR: Business/Philanthropist


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China Chowdhury is an established danceartist and choreographer for more than 20years. She has an extensive knowledge inIndian classical, modern and Bengali Folkdance. China has not only worked inBangladesh but has worked in the UK andwith her dance expertise has travelledacross the world to many countries such asJapan, Italy, Sweden, Thailand, Egypt andPakistan to name but a few. She gained herdance expertise in Bangladesh and was thegovernment staff artist with theBangladesh Shilpa Kala Academy.

China has worked in numerous Londonschools as a dance instructor and also as adance teacher in primary schools such asBlue Gate Field Junior School, Thomas Bux-ton School and has worked as a part timedance instructor for the Asian Art Organi-sation in Newham and at the Indian Com-munity Centre in London.

Since the formation of the Boishaki MelaCommittee she has been involved withthem and helped and supported the initia-tive. She continues to work with children oflocal communities all over the UK. She hasbeen delivering training facilities on Cho-

reography to the young people in TowerHamlets. Over the last seven years she hasbeen working with the Bangladeshi HighCommission in different ways. Adding tothis she has been involved in the Edin-burgh Festival in Scotland and Choreogra-pher to the Indian Movie ‘Golapi AkhonBilete’.

China Chowdhury is the founder and Man-aging director of ‘Taal Torongo’, anorganisation whose members give wide-spread and varied performances all overthe UK and Europe and have performed atthe Boisaki Mela for the last decade.

She is a regular face on the Bangladeshi TVchannels and is now performing on the UKBengali language Channels, and this hasled her to take part in several prestigiousinternational events showcasing her danceand performing talents.

Cllr Salim Chowdhury resides in Harrow, Mid-dlesex. He hails from the village of No-grikhapon, Goala Bazar, Sylhet. He is the sonof Abdul Motin Chowdhury and HafsaChowdhury.

Cllr Salim completed his A-Levels in theUnited Kingdom before achieving a B.A de-gree in Hospitality and Management. He hasan illustrious record of business ownership,which includes being the proprietor or vari-ous restaurants and also being Director ofGeneral Auto Services.

Cllr Chowdhury also served as a Police Officerfor the Metropolitan Police for a period of fiveyears from 1995.

Cllr Chowdhury was elected as a Councillor forHarrow Council in 2006. he is the Founder Ex-ecutive Member of Conservative Friends ofBangladesh as well as being a Member ofboth the Conservative Muslim Forum andBritish Asian Conservative link. He is well con-nected with the Conservative party and vari-ous organisations affiliated to the party.

Moreover, Salim Chowdhury served as ChiefWhip of Harrow Council from 2006 to 2008and was a deputy cabinet member from 2007to 2009.

Aside from his association with politcs, CllrChowdhury remains closely connected withlocal and community based initiatives. He wasElected Senior Vice Chair of Probashi BalagonjEducation Trust until 2007. He is an Executivemember of the Bangladesh Caterers Associa-tion (BCA) and Co-ordinator of Guild ofBangladeshi Restaurateurs. Furthermore, CllrChowdhury serves as President of MiddlesexJubo League and is a Trustee of HarrowBangladeshi Association.

There are numerous other organisations withwhich Cllr Salim Chowdhury takes an activerole in. he has also donated to several chari-ties, which he continues to do so on a regularbasis, and has funded a school hall in his vil-lage in Bangladesh.

Salim is married to Jasmine Chowdhury whohas a BSc Honours degree. The couple havetwo children.

China Chowdhury

SECTOR: Arts and Entertainment

Cllr Salim Chowdhury

SECTOR: Politics and various businesses


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Cllr Sherwan Chowdhury moved to Lon-don at the end of 1976. He has been in-volved in many organisations that help tofurther it. His strong belief in the impor-tance of education has seen manyBangladeshi youths listen to his advice andcontinue their studies into higher and fur-ther education.

Cllr Chowdhury has done an incredibleamount of work for the Bangladeshi com-munity. This can be seen in the number ofvarious organisations and the dealings thathe has with them. For example, Cllr Chowd-hury is a trustee, founder and life memberof the Bangladesh Welfare AssociationCroydon (BWAC). He has had involvementswith BWAC since 1982, and been an inte-gral part of how the organisation has de-veloped, he was at one stage President ofthe organisation. Mr Chowdhury has been BWAC’s GeneralSecretary on a number of occasions.

Cllr Sherwan Chowdhury has held the rolesof both Treasurer and Vice-Chair of the Pro-gressive Youth Organisation in Tower Ham-lets, and has been a ManagementCommittee Member, Treasurer, Board

Member and Secretary of the CroydonRace Equality Council. He was also a mem-ber of the Management Committee for theCroydon Citizen Advice Bureau and theGeneral Secretary of the Shahjalal Mosqueand Islmaic Centre for 2004 to 2005.

Mr Chowdhury has been involved with theLabour party since 1992, and has alsoworked relentlessly to establish the rightsof Ethnic Minority People within the party.

He has helped organisations that work inBangladesh as well, and this can be seen inhis dealings with the Zakijong BangladeshWelfare Association and as a founder mem-ber of the AG Foundation UK.

Away from his charitable and businesswork, Mr Chowdhury was the FounderChief Editor of Curry Life Magazine.

Cllr Sherwan Chowdhury is a married man,and his wife works for a local school as ateaching assistant. He has one daughterwho is a pharmacist, and two sons. The eld-est son is studying medicine at university,while the other is still at high school.

Maruf Ahmed Chowdhury was born and ed-ucated in Bangladesh. He attended Govern-ment High School in Sylhet where heobtained a Secondary School Certificate,going on to M.C College where he gained hisHSC. Mr. Chowdhury later went to Dhaka Uni-versity achieving a Bachelor of Commercewith Honours from the years 1979 to 1982, aMaster of Commerce the following year and aBachelor of Law (LLB) in 1984.

On finishing his education he joined the familybusiness ‘M Ahmed Construction Ltd’. He alsowas a partner of E H Enterprise and a propri-etor of an import/export firm called Maruf En-terprise. In 1987 he came to the UK, prior towhich he resided in USA for a year. In the UKhe became a partner of Enfield TandooriRestaurant. In 1990 Mr Chowdhury obtainedthe necessary qualifications to become a Fi-nancial Consultant for American Life InsuranceCompany.

A few years later he moved on to LaurentianLife Plc as a Senior Financial Consultant. Mr.Chowdhury currently holds the position ofSenior Loans Counselor for the East LondonSmall Business Centre, in East London; wherehe has special responsibilities for manage-ment of the Muslim Loan Fund and acts as aspecialist to the catering sector.

Besides his career Mr Chowdhury has beenactively involved with voluntary work. He is currently the Honorary Presidium Mem-ber of Beanibazar Welfare Trust, BeanibazarJonokollan Somittee and Beanibazar PouroUnnoyon Songstha in the UK. Moreover, he isthe organising secretary of UK Awami League,the General Secretary of Bangladesh CricketAssociation in the UK. He is also the Vice Pres-ident of Majlish Home Care Services , ViceChair of Sir William Beveridge Foundation, Vicepresident of Dhaka University Jalalabad stu-dents union.

Mr. Chowdhury is married to Mrs. SamanthaChowdhury, who is a Senior Business Devel-opment Manager for NatWest Bank. (RBSGroup); together they have 2 children; Nishatand Rafat who are students.

Cllr Sherwan Chowdhury

SECTOR: Housing and Politics

Maruf Ahmed Chowdhury

SECTOR: Business and Community relations


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Matiar Rahman Chowdhury, a journalistand a researcher, was born in Sylhet. His isfrom Noorgaon (Puradia), Upazila Nabiganj,Hobiganj district. He completed his primaryeducation in the Maktab of his village. Hestudied MA in Islamic History at the Univer-sity of Rajshahi following the completion ofSSC and HSC from Sylhet Model HighSchool and Modon Mohon College respec-tively.

He started his career in journalism as a cor-respondent of Jugoveri. Since then, heworked with various newspapers, maga-zines and periodicals both in Bangladeshand the UK. He is currently working as theUK correspondent of NNB, a news agency ofBangladesh.Matiar Chowdhury regularly writes columnsand articles for the newspapers of the UK,America, India and Bangladesh. Matiar Chowdhury is the pioneer of devel-oping the Sylheti language in the UK. He hasa good contribution in inventing the SylhetiNagri font for computer.He established Sylheti Research and Trans-lation Centre in the UK. He presented his findings on Sylheti lan-guage in several seminars in Bangladesh,India, France, Germany, United States, Swe-den, Switzerland and in the Middle East. Hetranslated the scripts of films i.e. Jesus, Ren-

son and Bedel from English to Sylheti Lan-guage. A United States based Organisation‘Interact’ awarded Mr. Matiar in 1997 for hisoutstanding contributions in translation.

Books he has published are NabiganjerItikatha (1985), Noupothe Nabik (1983),Kushiarar Baake (1981), Sylhet Bichitra(1990), Sylhet Guide(1989), Sylhet O SylhetiBhasha(1999), Sylheti Bhasha Shikshar Boi(1998- 2000), Ten Sylheti Poem (1998-Trans-lated), Yuktorajye Sylhetbashi (Yet to bepublished) References from the books ofMatiar Chowdhury have been mentioned inmore then fifty books of Bangla Academy,Islamic Foundation and other publishingcompanies. Mr. Chowdhury is closely en-gaged with Social activities. He used to bethe Publicity and Publication Secretary ofYuktorajya Gonodabi Parishad (1995-1997).He is engaged with Greater Sylhet Develop-ment and Welfare Council, Habiganj Associ-ation, founder chairman of Sylhet AcademyUK and Europe, Founder Trustee and vicepresident of Nabiganj Education Trust, JointConvenor of Inatganj Thana BastabayanCommittee andSarba Europeo Bangabandhu Parishad. Heis also a life member of Bangladesh RedCrescent Society and Muslim SahityaSangsad, Sylhet.He is married to Junia Begum with four sons.

Matiur Rahman Chowdhury is an executivemember of the London Bangla Press Club. TheNews Editor for Euro Bangla Newspaper hasquickly established himself as a valuablemember of the organisation since arrivingfrom Bangladesh. Born in Kulaura, Moul-vibazar district of Bangladesh, Mr Chowdhurycompleted his education in Bangladesh be-fore moving to the UK.

Mr Chowdhury came from Kulaura,Moulovibazar. He attended the local highschool in Kulaura, Moulvibazar where he com-pleted his S.S.C examinations and progressedon to Moulvibazar’s Komolgonj College tocomplete his H.S.C studies. He completedboth his BSS and MSS in Political Science fromDhaka University.

After completing his masters, Mr Chowdhuryjoined BRAC’s research evaluation departmentand was based at the organisations head of-fice in Mohakali- Dhaka. Later he was em-ployed as a Regional Sales Manager for theMeghna Group and predominately based inSylhet, Dhaka and Chittagong. Mr Chowdhurywas a lecturer of Political Science at Moul-vibazar’s Bhatera College in Kulaura beforemoving to the UK.

Once in the UK, Mr Chowdhury worked in the

marketing industry and was recruited by theEuro Bangla Newspaper to helpimprove their sales and soon worked his wayup through consistently working hard andlearning new skills to the position of NewsEditor. Presently, he is working in WeeklyPotrika as a sub editor. In addition to his fulltime role in print media, Mr Chowdhury is en-gaged in various non-profit social welfare or-ganisations. Hewas the founder Secretary of UdoyacholJonokollan Songsta project in Kulaura, Moulz-ibazar, Bangladesh, as well as a Joint Secretaryof Kulaura Chatro Kollyan Songsta in Dhaka.Mr Chowdhury was also a member of Dhaka’sJalalabad Association.

Mr Chowdhury has two brothers and five sis-ters and is married with one son. For the fore-seeable future, the Euro Bangla News Editorwants to continue helping the poor as well asdeveloping more educational projects inBangladesh.

Matiar Chowdhury


Matiur RahmanChowdhury

SECTOR: Media


www.bbwhoswho.co.uk


At the age of 16 Mamun co founded a foot-ball team Beaumont Athletic FC. Mamunstarted his career with Beaumont as thesecretary of the club, later he took on themanager’s role and became one of theyoungest Bangladeshi managers in Towerhamlets. He led the club to many successesas a manager, winning league titles, com-petitions and various cups, most notablythe UK Bangladeshi championship in 2005.He still manages the 1st team and is one ofthe most experienced managers around inthe borough. He has his coaching badgewith the FA. Mamun also took on addi-tional roles within the club to steer it to-wards more success, most notable ones in2001 when he got the club intermediatestatus and in 2006 getting the charter stan-dard mark and senior club status allowingthe club to play at senior level football andthe FA cup.

Mamun remarkable work as a volunteercontinues outside his club as he is the onlyindividual to have carried out years of vol-unteer services to all the managers to allmajor volunteer organization in the bor-ough from 2001 to present.Mamun still does work with other organi-

zations to organize events and also organ-izes regular tours abroad for his club.

Mamun, in March 2009, was appointedmanager of Kent senior league team Sport-ing Bengal the senior club in the borough.Mamun will also managed his beloved clubBeaumont FC in the tournaments and thesummer league.

Mamun’s work has not gone unnoticed ashe has received many awards for his hardwork. In 2001 he was awarded the Volun-teer Award by Stepney Voice newspaper, in2005 he won the Jack Petchey LeadersAward, in 2006 he won the Canary Wharfvolunteer award and in 2008 he wasawarded the Tower Hamlets Civic Awardand now a MBE.

Sayed Chowdhury is a renowned journalistand novelist, and a successful organizer. He was born in Noagaon village of HatkholaUnion Parishad under Sylhet Sadar Thana.His father Dr M M Serajul Islam Chowdhurywas an eminent social and religious personal-ity in Bangladesh and his mother Begum Kam-runnessa was a social worker. His wife AfiaChowdhury is an accountant. He is a father oftwo sons. Sayed Chowdhury started MediaMohol, a media company and marketing so-lution provider in London in 2002. He is the editor of bilingual monthly Shomoy.He is instrumental in publishing some time-demanding and unique directories in the UK,these include: UK Bangla Directory – a cele-brated index and Britain’s first one-stop an-nual guide to Bangladeshi businesses andeducational, religious and social organisationsin Britain. As well as the UK Asian RestaurantDirectory - Britain’s first Asian restaurant direc-tory that captures all the Asian cuisines basedin the UK.He also publishes the Muslim Index. MrChowdhury is the Founder-Director of UnitedAirways. He is also one of the important mem-bers of the organizing committee for ExpoBangladesh 2005 in the UK.He is a member-secretary of the civic recep-tion committee for Nobel Peace Prize winnerDr. Muhammad Yunus, played the leadingrole in organising this unique reception event

in London in 2006.Sayed Chowdhury is founder Director of EuroBangla, the first bilingual (Bangla-English)newsweekly in the UK. It was a brainchild ofSayed Chowdhury. He was also the ManagingEditor of this newspaper. He has also presented and appeared on RadioBangladesh, Betar Bangla, Muslim CommunityRadio as well as Bangla TV and Channel S.Furthermore; he has in the past been involvedwith numerous newspapers in Bangladesh, in-cluding the Daily Sangram, Inqilab, Jalalabad.He also edited several magazines such asDurbar, Sylhet Guide and Shuniket.

Sayed Chowdhury is the Founder Rector andDirector of British Bangladesh InternationalSchool (BBIS), which is one of the prominentEnglish medium schools in Bangladesh.Sayed Chowdhury was a member of the Exec-utive Committee of Sylhet Press Club. He waselected twice in the Committee (1993-94,1995-96). He has been elected an ExecutiveMember of London Bangla Press Club.

Sayed Chowdhury has received many awardswhich include Mayor Awards of Tower Ham-lets Council of Great Britain. He is among thefew who have been included in the eighthedition of the International Directory of Dis-tinguished Leadership by the American Biog-raphical Institute.

Mamun RashidChowdhury MBE

SECTOR: Community Relations andVoluntary

Sayed Chowdhury

SECTOR: Media and Publishing


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Shamim is a seasoned television and printjournalist, currently working for therenowned international broadcaster, AlJazeera English, where she performs anumber of prominent roles, including newsediting, producing and occasional report-ing. Her previous television experience in-cludes work at the BBC, ITN and Sky News.She has also written for many of Britain’snational newspapers, including The DailyExpress, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraphand, most recently, comment and opinionfor The Independent. The prestigious polit-ical journal, The New Statesman, has alsorecently expressed interest in her as a con-tributing writer.Shamim has a BSc from Queen Mary Uni-versity, an MSc from Birkbeck College and apost-graduate diploma in newspaper jour-nalist from City University, London.Aside from her work, Shamim has a num-ber of passions. She has training inshotokan karate for a number of years andenjoys cooking, literature and the arts. Buther greatest passion is travelling and shehas travelled to many parts of the world, in-cluding relatively unexplored parts Cam-bodia, Syria, the Middle East and Africa. She has been involved in a number of lead-

ing charities, and on one occasion herfund-raising efforts resulted in her helpingbuild a community centre for villagers in aremote part of Cambodia. She is fiercely proud of her Bangladeshi,and more especially Sylheti, heritage andpreviously had her own column at the Eng-lish-medium newspaper for theBangladeshi community, The Bangla Mir-ror.

Tareq Chowdhury is well known in theBangladeshi Community as a Journalist. He isalso an immigration expert and a Barrister. Heis the editor of weekly Bangla Post, the firstBengali newspaper in the UK newsagent.

Born in Sylhet and brought up in Habigonj. Hisancestral home is in Zakiganj upozilla in Sylhetdistrict. Fifth son of Mr. Muhamed Abdun NurChowdhury, the retired Head Master ofShaistaganj High School and former centralpresident of Bangladesh Teachers association.His father was also head examiner of physicsof Comilla Education Board for around 20years.

Tareq Chowdhury took his Secondary andhigher secondary education at Shaistaganj. Hemigrated to United Kingdom to study. Hecompleted LLB honours at WolverhamptonUniversity in 2002 followed by the Bar Voca-tional Course in 2003 from Northumbria Uni-versity and was called to the Bar fromHonorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.

He has been involved with the media since1991 with Dainik Janata and he worked withdaily star as University correspondent andcontributor. He was the senior reporter of re-cently defunct Daily Bangladesh in UK andalso contributed in various weekly in UK in-

cluding Bangla Mirror. He contributed in al-most all newspapers in Rajshahi in the 1990sand many dailies and weeklies in Dhaka.He was also a dedicated scout since he was atschool and carried on after he went to univer-sity. He attended many scouts camps andJamboree. In order to receive the presidentscout award, he took part in the 100 mile ram-bling from Rajshahi to Sirajgonj.

He has also earned reputation as a TV presen-ter with Local TV Channels on Legal and polit-ical programmes in London.He has leadership abilities as he was the pres-ident of Rajshahi University Press club Presi-dent, Secretary of University Rotaract club andhe was the elected student representative tothe honourable society of Lincoln’s Inn fromNorthumbria University during his Bar Voca-tional Course.

He is married to Rezia Choudhury who isworking as Intelligence Researcher in BritishTransport Police in London.

Shamim Chowdhury

SECTOR: media.

Tareq Chowdhury

SECTOR: Legal and Media


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Golam Mostafa Faruk MA (MM) is Son of MTaru Boksh a retired police officer, villagePathan Para, Sylhet City Corporation Hestarted his journalism career in 1987 whilehe was a student at MC College in Sylhet. While in college he entered a government-arranged competition, which was the na-tional week of teaching and became thefirst in the Sylhet region and gained achance to be part of the Chittagong Divi-sion.

Apart from studying he was also involvedwith charity work and work involving socialeconomic development in Bangladesh. Hewas also the Chair of the central body forone of Sylhet’s wellknown organization‘Dhakin Surma Shomaj Kollan Shomity’. Hewas the editor of the magazine for the stu-dent union in his college and has editedten different magazines for different organ-izations in the UK and in Bangladesh. Alsowas the Secretary General for JalalabadJubo Forum Sylhet Sodor and was the Pressand Publicity Secretary for Sylhet Sodor As-sociation UK. Has worked in several papersin Sylhet and Dhaka. Arrived in London in1991. Also worked as senior staff reporterat Weekly Janamot for five years. Brieflyworked for Weekly Surma newspaper prior

to working for weekly Janamot.He was the presenter for ‘Shuprobat Britain’on Bangla TV London, which was a weeklyBengali newspaper review programme forfive years, and was involved with specialoccasional reporting from London for wellknown TV channels Ekushey TV, NTV andATN Bangla in Bangladesh.

He is the London correspondent for thewell-known Daily Jugantor newspaper inBangladesh since 2001, also is the Londoncorrespondent of the Weekly Probashinewspaper of America and Austria’s Eu-roshongbad. He has been the treasurer forBangladesh Journalist Association UK andwas also the Social Welfare and Entertain-ment Secretary for London Bangla PressClub for the first elected committee andreceived the majority votes amongst thecompetitors.He is also the Bengali section’s editor of thewell-known Spice Business magazine in theUK.

He currently teaching at Kingsford Com-munity Secondary School & Language Col-lege in East London as a Bengali and Urduteacher. He is married with two children.

Shahagir Bakth Faruk was born in Sunamganj,Bangladesh. His late father Alhaj Shah Bakth,was a retired Bank Officer, his younger brotherHumayun is a Brigadier General in theBangladesh Army, and his eldest sister, DrSaleha Khatun was the first women medicaldoctor in her home town of Sunamganj.Faruk was a lecturer of Physics in SunamganjCollege before arriving in London in 1973.Heestablished the Shahnan Employment & Train-ing Bureau, which was the first Bangladeshiemployment and training centre in the EastEnd of London.

Faruk is also the first Bangladeshi trainer whoprovides food hygiene training, health andsafety training and HACCP training for all sortsof food handlers in a diverse range of prem-ises. He is also an accredited trainer of the in-ternationally recognised Chartered Institute ofEnvironmental Health (CIEH), Royal Society ofPublic Health (RSPH), Meat and LivestockCommission (MLC) and Welcome Host. He isan author of the book called “Food Hygiene”.Apart from entrepreneurship, Faruk has madea considerable political contribution to themainstream of British politics. He is involvedwith the Conservative party, having been thelocal Conservative Association Chairman forfive consecutive years. During his leadership he arranged visits in his

local constituency from many leading Conser-vative figures.Faruk was the only Bangladeshi who was se-lected as an official Conservative Parliamen-tary Candidate in 2001 and achieved anexcellent second place against Oona King. Hewas also a Conservative candidate for thesame constituency and fought a hard cam-paign against Oona King and George Gal-loway in 2005.

Faruk is the former President of the London re-gion of Bangladesh-British Chamber of Com-merce. Heis the Deputy Chairman of “ConservativeFriends of Bangladesh”.

He is the founder member of the London Mil-lennium Bridge Club and his name is engravedon this famous bridge, which was opened byHer Majesty the Queen. Faruk is also a trusteeof Bangladesh Female Academy, founder ofSunamganj Association, “SUPROBASH” & a“Freeman of the City of London”. He lives ineast end of London with wife Sherina and fourchildren Shahnan, Eva, Safwan and Zayn.

Gulam Mostafa Faruk


Shahagir Bakth FarukMSc. MRIPH

SECTOR: Politics, Business and Community Relations


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Born in 1944, Bangladesh, Mr Saad Ghazimoved to England (1962) where he en-tered the catering profession in Coventrythrough studying a Catering Higher Man-agement Course at the Henley College ofFurther Education, Coventry, U.K. In 1985he used this training by coordinating apilot course in Indo Bangla Catering for theLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets, whichreceived national recognition and wascopied throughout the country.

Specialising in Authentic Indian Cuisine, heopened his first restaurant ' Taj Mahal' backin 1965, in 1969 he opened his secondrestaurant ‘Naz Curry Centre’, Croydon, Sur-rey. In 1986 he opened his third restaurant‘Sunderban Tandoori’ which was one of thelargest restaurants in Surrey. Finally in 1989he opened the Khyber Pass TandooriRestaurant.

Married with three daughters, Mr Ghazi hasalways played a keen role in BangladeshiWelfare and Catering. He has raised fundsby hosting charity events as well as pro-moting Bangladeshi Cuisine to a Nationaland International level. During his time asSecretary General of Bangladesh Caterers

Association, he worked to provide welfare& cultural activities to the local community.

As a director and ex Senior Vice Chairmanof the BBCC he helps to provide investmenttrading, research and development be-tween traders in Bangladesh & U.K. MrGhazi has been in this post since 2000 andhas relentlessly attended all the trade del-egations and is forever present during theirInternational Seminars.

Mr Ghazi has provided a selfless service tohis community for well over 35 years.

Abdul Haque was born in Moulvibazar,Bangladesh in 1976 , and currently resides inMaida Vale, West London.

Mr Haque studied a BSc in Maths and Com-puting at Brunel University, and due to com-plete an MSc in Advance SoftwareEngineering at the University of Westminsterin 2009. As a civil servant, he used to work asa specialist software engineer on flight dataprocesses for National Air Traffic Services[NATS].

However, he has now set up his own companyand is the Founder & Managing Director ofPurple I Technologies, which specializes inIT software and has played an integral part inpromoting the EPOS system to the Ban-galdeshi/Indian Restaurant industry. He is alsothe Vice- Chairman of Channel S, the televisionstation for Bangladeshis in Britain and Europe,which was founded by his brother MaheeFerdhous Jalil - where his technological ex-pertise means that he oversees the busy IT de-partment there.

Away from his successful career, Mr Haque en-joys nothing more than travelling the globe.This seems only natural considering his previ-ous career in aviation technology. He has beento many different countries around the world,

but feels that Malaysia is his favourite. He citesthe friendly nature of the Malaysian people,the cuisine, the value and the fact that it is astrong Islamic nation as reasons why he findsit so favourable. However, he has also comeaway from places such as the Maldives andCanada with glowing reports.

Aside from travelling, Mr Haque indulges hishobbies of badminton, going to the gym andwatching films, although with such a scheduleit must be hard for him to fit these in. MrHaque is married to Mary Rahman who runsher own successful London based PR com-pany, which specializes in promoting clientshailing from the arts, theatre, film and fashionindustries.

A.T.M.W. SAAD GHAZI


Abdul Haque

SECTOR: : Information Technology and Media


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Ahmadul Haque served Deputy Mayor ofSandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. Hewas the first Bangladeshi Councillor electedin the Midland region in 1995 and has beenreelected ever since. In 2006 Cllr Haque re-ceived an award from Channel S for his serv-ices to the community. Cllr Haque arrived inthe UK in July 1963 and initially became amember of the Pakistan Welfare Associationin Birmingham.

Whilst working in various different compa-nies, Cllr Haque was always keen to get intopolitics and in 1965 became a member of theold Labour party. With friction simmeringin East Pakistan and West Pakistan, Cllr Haqueset up the first Bangladesh Action Committeeoutside of Birmingham in 1971. In the sameyear Cllr Haque helped raise close to £1500from contributions made by the residents ofNorth Birmingham for the Bangladesh ActionCommittee movement as well as settingMidlands Awami League.

Cllr Haque is a very active member of theBangladeshi community always campaignedfor equality and as a result in 1976 receivedan award from the Bangladeshi High Com-mission. Through effort and having to over-come numerous obstacles, Cllr Haque also

helped set up the Tipton Muslim TrustAssociation which is now referredto as Al-Islah Trust and a community centrefor local Muslims in Tipton. Clearly evidentfrom his involvement with the BangladeshWomen’s Association and his executive posi-tion with the Tipton Action Group, Cllr Haquetries to serve all members of the community.In the mid eighties, Cllr Haquepurchased aterraced house via the trust and later set upthe Sandwell Confederation of BangladeshiMuslim Organisation (SCOBMO).

Cllr Haque is also a founder member of theCity Challenge Project as well as BangladeshYouth Movement. Through over twenty yearsof persistence and hard work campaigningfor level crossings in Tipton a 2.2 millionpound project finally commenced lastyear. Cllr Haque also played a pivotal role dur-ing Ms Syeda Khatun’s election campaignwho later became the first Bangladeshi fe-male councillor in the Midlands area in 1999.

Cllr Sha�qul Haque was born in 1960 inBahubal. His education began at the BahubalUpazilla Primary School before passing hisSSC at Dinanath High School in 1976. When heleft high school, he completed his HSC at theSylhet Government College. This was followedby both a BA and an LLB to become a lawyerin the Habigonj Judge Court.

Cllr Haque moved to the UK in 1991, andquickly became involved in the catering in-dustry. He owned a restaurant from 1991 to2003. He also enrolled at Guildhall Universityto complete an LLB.

However, in 1992 Shafiqul Haque, as he wasthen known, joined the Labour party. Thismove would prove to have a great impact onhis life only a decade later. This was also hisfirst participation with politics in the UK.In May 2002, Shafiqul Haque became CllrShafiqul Haque as he was elected the Council-lor for the ward of St. Katharine's and Wappingin the London borough of Tower Hamlets.Since this initial election, Cllr Haque hasproven to be an integral member of TowerHamlet’s Borough Council. He was chosen tobe the Vice-Chairman for the Council’s Devel-opment Panel and also the Vice-Chairman ofthe Excellence of Public Service Committeeamong other important positions.

However, it was in 2004 that Shafiqul Haque’sprominence in Tower Hamlets’ Council reallycame to the fore as he was chosen to be theBorough’s Deputy Mayor. Only two years later,in June 2006, the man from Bahubal’s ascen-sion into politics would reach its highest pointas he was elected the Mayorof Tower Hamlets.

Cllr Shafiqul Haque served as a successfulMayor whilst he held that position and repre-sented the community very well. Currently Mr Haque is still a Labour partycouncillor for St. Katharine's and Wapping. He qualified as solicitor in 2009 and is basedat a firm in East London.

Additionally Cllr Haque is involved with vari-ous community initiatives.Cllr Haque is married and has three children –two sons and a daughter.

Cllr Ahmadul Haque

SECTOR: Politics

Cllr Sha�qul Haque

SECTOR: Legal and Politics


www.bbwhoswho.co.uk


Ehsan Haque was born in MoulvibazarBangladesh and was initially educated inBangladesh. His father was a retired profes-sor and his Grandfather was a renownedCriminal Advocate. Ehsan’s mother was anhousewife who still has an huge impact onhim. He completed my LLB (Hons) and LLMfrom Dhaka University and then came tothe UK for higher studies. He was called tothe Bar in 2002 by Lincoln's Inn and workedas an in-house Barrister for a north Londonbased solicitor's firm. He worked there until2006 and opened up Haque and Haus-mann in 2006. In 2005 He qualified as a So-licitor. He is now senior partner of thispractice and working within the Bengalicommunity. He specialises in Conveyanc-ing, Immigration and civil disputes.

Ehsan’s wife Amena Haque, is the otherpartner at Haque and Hausmann. She wasborn in Dhaka, Bangladesh and was edu-cated there. Her father was a renownedbusinessman in Dhaka. Amena completedher LLB(Hons) from the Dhaka Universityand later moved to the UK for higher stud-ies. She completed her LLB(Hons) in 2000and completed the Bar Vocational Coursein 2002, before being called to the Bar by

Lincoln's Inn. She worked as an in houseBarrister with an East London solicitor'sfirm and later qualified as a solicitor in2006. She joined Ehsan’s practice as a part-ner in early 2007 and since then she hasbeen working at that practice. She is spe-cialised in Family Law and ImmigrationLaw. Together they have two boys, Afnanand Aryann who are 5 and 2 years old re-spectively.Ehsan has recently opened a branch officein New Castle.

Councillor M A Harid was born in Kamal BazarSylhet. Born to Late Alhaj Yakub Ali and MrsKhyrun Nessa, Cllr Harid came to the UK in1972. M A Harid resided in Oldham, where heattended the local Oldham College.

In 1993 Cllr Harid moved to Carlisle where heestablished his own business. He now hasthree restaurants in that area. Moreover, in2000 he worked very closely with the CityCouncil and arranged the first curry competi-tion in Cumbria. Cllr Harid’s restaurants havewon numerous awards including the firstCurry Chef of the year competition to be held.Furthermore, his restaurant has appeared inthe Good Curry Guide.

After joining the Labour party, in 2003 CllrHarid was nominated to stand in the City elec-tions and he became the first Asian Councilcandidate to stand for election. In 2007 CllrHarid was elected as a Councillor defeating aBNP candidate in the process and becomingCumbria’s first and only Asian Councillor.

In 2008 a thirty minute documentary wasmade by Border TV highlighting Cllr Harid’sfirst year as Councillor.

Cllr Harid was nominated in 2009 for theChannel S Award. He has worked relentlessly

with numerous community initiatives andcharities. He helped build the first and onlyMosque in Cumbria and serves on the man-agement committee for the local Communitycentre and is also a Trustee.

As councillor M A Harid serves on the Devel-opment Control Committee and CommunityOverview Scrutiny Committee. He is also agovernor of Bishop Harvey Goodwin School.

Cllr Harid is married to Nasima Akther who hasa BA degree. The couple have three children.

Ehsan Haque


Cllr M A Harid

SECTOR: Politics and Catering


www.bbwhoswho.co.uk


Ra�que Hayder is the Director of BanglaTown Cash and Carry and Bangla City lo-cated in Brick Lane, which are theBangladeshi community’s most popularbusinesses based in London. Bangla Townwas established in 1994 along with otherpartners. He comes from the village of Hay-der Pur, Chattak, Sunamganj and comesfrom a prominent family; his father is HajiAltab Ali. Mr Rafique Hayder graduated in Bangladesh,having completed his degree from MC Col-lege. His degree was in Social Welfare. Hethen arrived here in the United Kingdomwhere he initially entered into the familybusiness ‘Greenline’. He worked at Greenlinefor one year before embarking on his ownbusiness venture.Besides being a director of Bangla Town Cashand Carry, Mr Hayder also has numerousother investments and business interests. Heis a Director of Bangla Town Housing, Lon-don as well as a Director of another wellknown large cash and carry, namely BanglaCity, which too is situated in the heart of BrickLane. In addition Mr Hayder has severalproperties to his name here in the UK as wellas land in Bangladesh and is the Chairman ofan export/import business based in the UK.He is closely connected to the ‘Simply aPound’ charity, and is a well-wisher of the

Ibrahim College near East London Mosque.Furthermore he has donated hugely to thevictims and sufferers of the Sidr Cyclone.He has also donated in Sylhet and hashelped establish Schools, colleges andMadrasas in Sylhet.Rafique Hayder is also London Regional Di-rector of the Bangladesh British Chamber ofCommerce and a member of the Greater Syl-het Welfare and Development Council. He isa member of the Bangladesh Welfare Associ-ation as well as being former Secretary of theTower Hamlets Parent’s Association. Moreimportantly he is the Chairman of theBangladeshi export/import organisation inthe UK and also one of the eleven strongcommittee members for a taskforce for busi-ness set up here in the UK by theBangladeshi government.Mr Hayder is married to Asma Hayder andthey have three children who are Adnan,Abidah and Akifah, who are all studying atschool. His interests and pastimes includetravelling, and he has been fortunate in vis-iting many countries in Europe and Asia, in-cluding Thailand and Malaysian to name afew. He also enjoys helping others.My Rafique Hayder is a distinguished busi-nessman and philanthropist, who boastssome very successful businesses and a verystrong and positive link with the community.

Parveen Hassan is the Crown ProsecutionService (West Midlands Region) strategic leadfor Equality, Diversity and Community Engage-ment with 17 years experience in the field ofequalities within the public sector. She is theChair of West Midlands Strategic MigrationPartnership Regional Women’s Issues Group;an Honorary member for West Midlands Asso-ciation of Muslim Police and served as FaithAdvisor for Government Office for London; de-veloping the Faith Alliance Grants programme.

Parveen is also the Trustee for BirminghamCommunity Integration Partnership; an organ-isation supporting employment and trainingfor new migrant women and Director of Mus-lim Women’s Network UK (MWN-UK) as Treas-urer; the national platform advisingGovernment on Muslim Women issues.Parveen graduated in Professional Studies B(Phil) at the University of Birmingham and hasa DLA Advance accreditation in EmploymentLaw at the University of Oxford SummerSchool.

Her career is dedicated to public service whereshe gained exceptional public recognition forher commitment & results. She was finalist atthe GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards 2009for Civil Servant of the Year and Asian Achiev-ers Awards 2009 AAA Gold Woman of the Year.

She has commendations for outstanding con-tributions for Community Engagement and Di-versity at the West Midlands Local CriminalJustice Board 2009 Inside Justice Awards; indeveloping service provision and policies tosupport diverse communities in addressing vi-olence against women. Her accolades also include winner for the ‘BestFemale Employee of the Year’ at the BritishAsian Hafta Awards in October 2009.

Parveen’s civic engagement programmes andpolitical aspirations received recognition byOperation Black Vote (OBV) and GovernmentEqualities Office (GEO); partisan of Conserva-tive Women Organisation (CWO), she was re-cently elected vice chairman for West MidlandsCWO; the first female Bangladeshi to hold sucha position.

Furthermore, Parveen actively supportsBangladeshi professional networks and charityevents for social purpose. An Ambassador forher professional work in the community; shewas recently interviewed on Brit Asia TV onSuccessful Asian Women. Parveen is a regularcolumnist in the women section of LondonBangla; commenting on women empower-ment, gender, and politics.

Ra�que Hayder

SECTOR: Business

Parveen Hassan

SECTOR: Legal (LPS)


www.bbwhoswho.co.uk


Mr Atiqul Hoque is the son of LumranulHoque. Born in Siramishi Jagannathpur, MrHoque came to the UK in 1986 and at-tended Danford School and proceeded toTower Hamlets College where he com-pleted his education in business studies.

In 1997 Atiqul Hoque opened his first busi-ness at the tender age of 21, which was theChutneys Indian takeaway in Salisbury,Wiltshire. However, from the opening of hisfirst catering establishment, Mr Hoque hasgone from strength to strength and man-aged to open several more establishedeateries such as Chutney Restaurant inShaftsbury, Tandoori Nights in Amesburyand Hox Brasserie.

Mr Hoque has always had a passion forfood and has recently opened a Thairestaurant in Andover and an ItalianRestaurant in Salisbury. Mr Hoque is also in-volved with a number of charitable organ-isations in Salisbury. He is the Vicechairman of the southwest BangladeshCaterers Association, Joint cashier of theMuslim Association of Salisbury.

Mr Hoque’s long term plans are to set up a

charity fund under his grandparent’s name.Furthermore, he seeks to build a mosqueand madrasha and settle near these insti-tutes when he eventually retires.

Mr Hoque is married with three children:two sons and one daughter.

Mr Ra�qul Hoque was born in Bangladesh inthe district of Sylhet, and came to Englandwith his family at a young age. He grew up inTower Hamlets, a Borough that has an acuteshortage of housing, severe overcrowding andsocial deprivation.Mr Hoque obtained his professional qualifica-tion in Housing from Westminster Universityin 1996. He has worked tirelessly using his in-depth housing knowledge, determination,professionalism, innovative thinking, opera-tional and strategic management, and leader-ship skills to shape and improve the Housingand Allocations service over the last 20 yearsin the East End. He is currently the only seniorBangladeshi Manager within Housing in TowerHamlets, leading and managing a large work-force; reviewing and implementing new poli-cies. As a member of the Allocations Action Learn-ing Group set up by the Communities andLocal Government (CLG), and Chartered Insti-tute of Housing looking at best practices, heplays a critical and an advisory role within thisGroup, shaping future policy and guidance onHousing Allocation at a national level.Mr Hoque is a skilful, industrious, conscien-tious, caring, diligent and determined individ-ual who is passionate about what he does. Heis unwavering in his desire to build a better fu-ture for his family and make a positive differ-

ence to people within his community in theUK and Bangladesh.Shipbuilding is an emerging market inBangladesh with huge potential. Mr Hoque isa Director of Maritimus Ltd, which is one of theleading international shipbuilding companiesin Bangladesh. Over the next few years theCompany will play a major role in improvingthe local infrastructure and creating hundredsof jobs in Bangladesh. Mr Hoque is eager toensure the Company fulfils its corporate re-sponsibility by setting up a Marine Academy,which will be the first of its kind in Bangladesh,offering formal qualification to students in thisfield. He passionately believes that Maritimusprovides him the platform as a Non-residentBangladeshi to give something back to hismotherland, contribute to the national econ-omy and change the lives of people inBangladesh.

Amongst his peers, friends, relatives and localcommunity he is well respected and admireddue to his kind nature and willingness to helpthose in need.

He is happily married to his devoted wife Parv-inara Hoque Chowdhury and has threeadorable children named Mohammed, Samiraand Amanah. He likes spending quality timewith his family.

Atiqul Hoque

SECTOR: Catering

Ra�qul Hoque

SECTOR: Local Government


www.bbwhoswho.co.uk


Mozammel Hossain is a Criminal Barristerpracticing from 187 Fleet Street, Chambersof Andrew Trollope QC. The Chambers are aleading specialist criminal set with a largenumber of Queen’s Counsel and Judges.Mr Hossain was described in one legal pub-lication as ‘a fearless and passionate courtroom advocate with magical charm’.He is the only non- British, Bangladeshipracticing in the UK.

Mr. Hossain was born in Bangladesh in thevillage of Mollarhowla in Barisal. He com-pleted his school education at MotijheelModel High School in Dhaka, before em-barking on Higher Secondary education atDhaka College.Mr. Hossain then began the LLB (Hons)course at the University of Dhaka, after oneyear of this degree he came to UK, whereat the University of Liverpool he enrolledfor the LLB (Hons). He then continued topursue his legal career by obtaining the BarVocational Qualification from the Inns ofCourt School of Law.He was called to the Bar by the HonourableSociety of Inner Temple. Subsequently heobtained a pupillage with the chambers heis currently with, and went onto obtain histenancy. He has been involved in numer-

ous high profile cases.Mr. Hossain has held a number of key posi-tions whilst at the Inns of Court School ofLaw. He was a member of the GoverningBody of the Inns of Court School of Law aswell as President of the student’s union,being the first ever student from abroad tohold these prestigious positions.His father, Ali Akbar Howlader and hismother, Ayesha Howlader are farmers. Theylive in their village in Barisal.

Mr. Hossain’s siblings like himself are allhighly successful. His brother Dr Moham-mad Hossain Howlader is a surgeon in Eng-land and a Fellow of the Royal College ofSurgeons. His eldest brother Mokbul Hos-sain is also a graduate and is currentlyChairman of the ‘Aksha Food Industry Ltd’.A third brother, Mr Altaf Hossain Masud isa FCA Chartered Accountant inBangladesh; he is also the Managing Direc-tor of the ‘Aksha’.His only surviving sister, a university grad-uate, is married to an eye surgeon.Mr. Hossain has dedicated a lot of his timeto charitable initiatives and community or-ganisations. Mozammel Hossain is fond ofpoetry, Russian literature, theatre, rain andmost of all Bengali food.

Ajmalul Hossain QC practices law since he wasenrolled at the Bar of England and Wales backin 1978. He is the very first and only Queen’sCounsel in England of Bangladeshi origin anda Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court ofBangladesh. He regularly practices in bothEngland and Bangladeshi jurisdiction.

Ajmalul specialises in trans-national banking,trading supply and financial contracts at Sel-borne Chambers of UK. He is the senior part-ner of A Hossain & Associates, Law Offices, aleading commercial law firm of Bangladeshbased in Dhaka. Ajmalul and A Hossain & As-sociates have also been registered with the At-torney-General’s Chambers in Singapore asInternational Arbitration Practitioners. Ajmalulhas acted for several hundred ex-employeesof the Bank of Credit and Commerce Interna-tional in the multi-million pound liquidationof the bank in England, Luxembourg and theCayman Islands, which has now been settledin their favour.

He has represented Bangladesh and severalclients as Leading Counsel in several ICC, ICSIDand ad-hoc arbitrations. He was the Chairmanof Employment Tribunals, dealing with com-plex cases of sex, race and disability discrimi-nation, unfair and wrongful dismissal. He alsoacts as an arbitrator in commercial matters

and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Ar-bitrators of England and regularly chairs arbi-trations held under the auspices of ICC andother bodies. He is a Fellow of the Society forAdvanced Legal Studies and a member of theStandards Panel of the London Borough ofTower Hamlets. Since January 2006, Ajmalulhas been a member of the ICC InternationalCourt of Arbitration in Paris and a member ofthe International Cricket Council, Code of Con-duct Commission.

Mozammel Hossain


Ajmalul Hossain QC



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Dr. Hasanat Husain was born in Sunumgonj,Sylhet in 1949; his father was a VeterinaryCivil Surgeon in the Assam Civil Service ofBritish India. Dr. Husain has a prolific aca-demic background; he obtained a First ClassHonours degree in Physics withMathematics in 1969 as well as a First ClassM.Sc. degree in 1970 from the prestigiousUniversity of Dhaka. Dr. Husain then went onto complete a Ph.D. from the University of Ex-eter and was appointed as a Royal SocietyPost Doctoral Fellow at the University of Sus-sex. He has further completed the PGCE atthe University of Greenwich obtaining aGrade A.

Dr. Hasanat due to his elongated academiccredentials and experience has held manyesteemed positions at home and abroad. Hewas Associate Professor at the University ofDhaka, as well as at the University of Zambiaand an Associate at the International Centrefor Theoretical Physics atTrieste, Italy. He was also the Head of SolarEnergy at the University of Sebha in Libya.Dr. Hasanat Husain then moved back to theUK, where during the early 1990s he was alecturer at Tower Hamlets College for somefive years. From 1995 to 2002 he was theHead of Bilingualism and Bilingual SupportServices for the Tower Hamlets Local Educa-tion Authority. Currently Dr. Husainholds numerous coveted positions;

he is a Consultant to the DfES Standards Unitin the UK, as well as an Observer and Inspec-tor for Colleges in the UK and anAssociate Advisor to the Birmingham andBradford LEAs.Dr. Husain’s family has reflected the highlyqualified and academic brackground of him-self. His wife Mrs. Shahida Husain, a Fellow ofRoyal Society of Arts, has a BA inEconomics and an MA in Social Welfare alsofrom the University of Dhaka. She currentlyworks as a Key Stage 1 Leader and aCoordinator of Science at a Primary Schoolin London. Dr. Hasanat’s eldest daughter is aDentist, whilst his son has graduated in Neu-roscience from the University of Sussex andis presently completing a MD at the Medi-cine Faculty of Charles University in theCzech Republic.

His youngest daughter is also a student ofMedicine at the University of Sussex.Dr. Hasanat Husain has made a significantcontribution to Ethnic Minority Education inGreat Britain and as a recognition, wasawarded Member of the Order of the BritishEmpire by Her Majesty the Queenin 2003. He was also awarded an Asian FilmAcademy Award in 1995 for ‘communityservices in the UK’.His work outside of his vocation has includedinvolvement with the ‘Working Group: Inclu-sive Policy and Practices in the UK’.

Mrs. Shahida Hasanat Husain, Fellow of RoyalSociety of Arts; is an Academician, a Teacher,an Artist, and a Social worker. An MA from Uni-versity of Dhaka in Social Welfare, Mrs. Husainwas appointed as a Lecturer at the Common-wealth Institute of Lusaka in Zambia in 1981-83. She then accompanied her husband to theUniversity of Sebha in the Sebha Province ofLibya where she opened up Sebha’s first Inter-national School and served it as its founderPrincipal from 1985 – 1989.

She returned to London to join Blue Gate FieldInfants School as a Class teacher and a Human-ities and RE Co-ordinator from 1990 til 2000.She was appointed as the Key Stage 1 leaderand the Science Co-ordinator in NightingalePrimary School of London Borough of Red-bridge in 2000 and is serving the school com-munity since then. While at the LondonBorough of Tower Hamlets, she was also ateacher governor for long ten years and con-tributed nationally by taking part in the pro-duction of the DFES audio cassette on‘Improving School Attendance’ and the book-let ‘It’s Good to be School Governor’.Mrs. Husain was known for her dancing andsinging aptitude from childhood and has per-formed in various state functions . An ace de-bater, she was the Cultural Secretary of ComillaWomens College before the start of the Liber-ation war of Bangladesh. She was a well knownTV drama artist and a presenter in post inde-pendence Bangladesh Radio and TV.

In Zambia, she produced the Bangladesh Inde-pendence night which created front pageheadlines in Times of Zambia. In Libya, she or-ganized International Cultural events for theSebha International Congress. And, back inLondon, she was the founder Cultural Secre-tary of the Greater Sylhet Council, UK and or-ganized memorable cultural nights in Britanniaand Hilton Hotels (London), in Empress Hotel(Isle of Mann) in Aston University (Birming-ham), in Riverside (Cardiff) and in Edinburgh.As a social worker she was associated with theBirdem Diabetes Hospital of Bangladesh anddid projects with its founder late Dr. Ibrahimduring 1977-81. In London, while working atthe Borough of Tower Hamlets in the earlyyears of the Nineties when there was little so-cial service support available , Mrs. Husain pro-vided the much needed one to one homesupport for many households in Shadwell area.When Blue Gate Field School was burnt downby racists Mrs. Husain as a teacher Governor ofthat school provided the much needed moralsupport for parents and children and helpedthe rebuilding of the school. Mrs. ShahidaHasanat Husain is known for her relentless so-cial, educational and cultural work in raisingachievement of British Bangladeshi women,men and children.

She is the Founder Secretary of Womens Affairsof the World Forum of Voice For Justice. She iswell respected and revered as an icon for theBritish Asian women in the UK.

Dr. Hasanat M. Husain MBE

SECTOR: Academia

Husain ShahidaHasanat MA, FRSA

SECTOR: Academia


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Cllr Ahmed Hussain has been a councillorsince 2006. Prior to that he was involved invarious community projects and cam-paigns. He is a conservative Councillor forthe Mile End east ward.

Cllr Hussain has resided in the United King-dom since 1973, however took a ten yearbreak during which he lived in Bangladesh.

Ahmed Hussain is a Business Graduate withfurther education in construction manage-ment, housing and politics from SouthBank University

He is married with three children who re-side in the family home in London. Cllr Hus-sain’s father who was a bank employee alsoresides at the family home.

It is also worthy to note that Cllr AhmedHussain’s grandfather was a doctor andChairman of the Upizilla (Thana) Parishadfor 35 years from the time of Indian govern-ment entering into the independentBangladesh

Agifted and talented individual, Dr Babul Hussainwas born in 1965 into a noble Muslim family in Tat-ley Uttor Para village in South Surma, Sylhet. DrBabul Hussain is the second son of Muhammad LalMiah and Subera Khatun, who had two sons andseven daughters.Dr Babul Hussain started his primary education inTelibazar Primary School. In 1982 he achieved gradeA in his secondary qualification from RamshundorHigh School.Whilst completing his secondary education he alsoattended evening classes to memorize the HolyQur'aan, which he completed in 1982, and attainedthe tile of hifz from Boroikhandi Sultania HafiziaMadrasa.

He then came to the UK in 1982 to further his edu-cation, with the ambition of becoming a doctor.Once he arrived - realising that he had to improvehis English to achieve his goal - he went to South-wark College in London in September 1982 andpassed the ESOL course in 1983. He was then ad-mitted to Westminster Kingsway College andachieved A grades in Biology and Chemistry in1985. He gained the FRCS qualification from theRoyal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgowin 2002. He is currently serving as a surgeon at GreatOrmond Street Children's Hospital.Dr Babul is a role model for the young generationof British Bangladeshis. Dr Babul was very focusedwith his aims and ambitions. Dr Babul has shownthat anyone committed to their dreams can be suc-cessful in achieving their goals.Dr Babul Hussain is a music lover and patron of

many musical institutes. As a committed follower offolk music, he has provided financial support to pay

tribute to legendary folk musicians such as FakirLalon Shah. Believing that he has the responsibilityto keep the memory of folk poets alive, he has con-tributed to the refurbishment of the Lalon Acad-emy, and has also researched and collectedevidence from reliable sources of Lalon Shah's mosthistoric moments in folk music history. Moreover,through Dr Babul's generous contribution the acad-emy was able to publish an 'Aroshi Nogor' souvenirin 2008/09. Dr Babul himself has PHD in Baul folksongs and the music of Lalon Shah from Kolkata,India and Bangladesh, and has successfully passedexams in classical and Baul folk music in January2008.

Dr Babul is both a founder member and donor toBaul Kollam Shomitee Sylhet; founder and chair-man of Lalon Shah Foundation UK and Interna-tional, the only organisation to promote the workthe work of Lalon Shah Foundation UK and Inter-national, the only organisation to promote the workin Lalon Shah in Europe; Cultural advisor of the Ben-gal Association in Berlin, Germany, and foundermember of Sufi Shah Arkum Shah Urus Progotti.Over the years Dr Babul Hussain has helped manypoor and needy people to build houses, and hasprovided financial help to talented poor pupils inBangladesh. In addition, he provides regular finan-cial support to a number of high schools and pri-mary schools in South Surma Sylhet.

He married Noorjahan Hussain in 1991 and isblessed with eight children: Tasslima Hussain, Tah-mima Hussain, Tahead Hussain, Rahead Hussain,Tangima Hussain, Tahmida Hussain, Rashead Hus-sain and Raseal Hussain.

Cllr Ahmed Hussain

SECTOR: Politics

Dr Babul Hussain

SECTOR: Medicine


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Shelim Hussain MBE was born in 1973. Heis best described as an entrepreneur hav-ing started his first business in 1991 at theage of 18 while working part-time as awaiter and studying at college for his A Lev-els. Mr Hussain saw an opportunity in the mar-ket for prawn supply and started off by sell-ing a few boxes of frozen prawns with hisfriend, delivering them at night while con-tinuing with his education during the day.His business had an initial capital of only £20. Currently, the annual turnover of hisbusiness is around £40 million.He formed Eurofoods UK in 1993 and thecompany has grown rapidly since. He em-ploys over 200 staff and has food process-ing units in Newport, South Wales and inBarking. He also has a new plant and fourfactories in Bangladesh, and has started asubsidiary in New York.

Aside from Eurofoods he has also investedin the property development business inWales. He is founder, chairman and manag-ing director of several well reputed compa-nies, these include Euro Foods (UK) Ltd, S &

B Developments Ltd, SRS Poultry Ltd whichcommeneced in 2003, Eurasia Food Pro-cessing (BD) Ltd situated in Bangladesh,Euro Linen Service (UK) Ltd, HorizonSeafood Ltd, Saidowla Enterprise and EuroFoods (BD) Ltd.

He has won the Eastern Eye YoungAchiever Award that was presented byPrince Charles, The Prince of Wales, and wasnominated for Young Achiever at the AsianJewel Awards 2003.

Mr. Sheikh Md. Ishtiaque Hussain has a mixededucational background, having passed hisS.S.C exams in Bangladesh, and subsequentlycompleting his BSc (Hons) degree in SoftwareEngineering in the UK. He began his career in ITwithin the Financial sector, working for CreditSuisse, a major multi-national investment bank,architecting bespoke, multi-user Portfolio andRisk Management applications for Financial De-rivative products. Having gained substantialknowledge and experience in his chosen fieldover the years, he proceeded to form his own ITConsultancy firm, Soft Projects Limited, of whichhe is the Managing Director. He has since pro-vided consultancy services to most of the majormulti-national investment banks through hisfirm, including Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital, JPMorgan, BNP Paribas, and others, maintaininggood networking links within the Financial sec-tor in Canary Wharf and the City of London.

Mr. Hussain possesses strong project manage-ment, marketing and entrepreneurial skills, pro-moting his services and delivering global ITsolutions with multi-million pound budgets tothe top-most investment banks in the world.Mr. Hussain is also among the new generationof entrepreneurs who believe in the emergingeconomic strength of Bangladesh, and are pas-sionate about contributing to the developmentof Bangladesh as a nation through large-scale,collaborative commerce. In this regard, Mr. Hus-sain is Director of PR & IT (UK) of Maritimus Lim-ited, an export-oriented internationalshipbuilding company, with its shipyard facili-

ties located in Bangladesh. The internationalshipbuilding industry is globally worth around$400 billion, and in the next 5 years, Bangladeshis expected to bring in around $10 billion worthof foreign currency through its thriving ship-building sector. Maritimus aims to be at theforefront of heavily contributing to the econ-omy of Bangladesh through this hugely reward-ing and prestigious sector, and in the processpropelling Bangladesh into a middle-incomecountry. Mr. Hussain is the driving force behindthe marketing strategy for Maritimus in the UK,and enthusiastically plays an active and crucialpart in promoting the company to a wide-rang-ing and often global audience.

Mr. Hussain has a passion for literature and forplaying music. He plays the electric lap steel gui-tar (also known as the Hawaiian guitar), and haspreviously performed on-stage at the BaishakhiMela. He is known for his sincerity and determi-nation, and maintains a very high level of pro-fessionalism in all his dealings. He is also knownto have a very warm and amicable personality.Mr. Hussain was born in the village of Ludorpur(Hakim Bari), in Jagannathpur, and is theyoungest son of Late Alhaj Kalandor Ali (FazlulHaque) and Syeda Shirazun Nahar Haque. Hisfamily have been permanently settled at Muni-shipara, Sylhet Sadar, from the early 1980s.Mr. Hussain currently resides in Canary Wharf,with his wife Shabnaj Tasnia Hussain (daughterof Late Dr. Abdul Munim, Amberkhana, Sylhet)and their daughter (Rifaat Walia Hussain) andson (Wadi Muntasir Hussain).

Shelim Hussain MBE

SECTOR: Entrepreneur

Sheikh Md. IshtiaqueHussain

SECTOR: IT & Shipbuilding


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Cllr Sirajul Islam is a Labour Councillor rep-resenting Bethnal Green South Ward. He isalso Deputy Leader of the council. His port-folio currently includes responsibilityfor Overview and scrutiny as well as beingon the Audit panel. He was born in 1967 in greater Sylhet inBangladesh. Councillor Islam moved withhis parents to the UK in 1972 and upon ar-rival attended primary and secondaryschool and completed his Post GraduateCertificate in Community Developmentfrom the University of Westminster in 1999.Councillor Sirajul Islam has served as theCommunity Relations Coordinator for Bartsand London NHS Trust from 1997. From1990 to 1994 he worked as a CommunityDevelopment Officer for Tower HamletsCouncil as well as at Bethnal Green CityChallenge from 1994 to 1995. Between1995 and 1996 he moved into the area ofhousing where he became a Tenant Man-agement Development Officer and thenbecame a Community Consultation Officerfor the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.He joined the Labour party in 1996 andhas been a Labour Councillor in Tower Ham-lets since 2001. He was Leading CabinetMember for Social Services and Health from2002 to 2005 and during which time the

service achieved three star rating from theCommission for Social Care Inspections andwas recognised as one of the best in thecountry.He has also served as Labour Group ChiefWhip from 2005 to 2006.He has actively been involved in many vol-untary organisations, and is now a Governorof John Scurr Primary School in East London.In addition he is the Treasurer of Bengali Ed-ucational Society, as well as Director ofTower Hamlets Community Housing.

Councillor Islam is also Trustee of SpitafieldsMarket Community Trust. Previously he wasVice Chairman of Tower Hamlets Local Gov-ernment Committee in year 2000.

Cllr Sirajul has worked tirelessly to bring fun-damental change to the Bangladeshi Com-munity in Tower Hamlets and is one of thebiggest voices in the Council today workinghard to fight against crime, reduce poorhousing and bring in regeneration to theBorough. Mr Islam is married with four children.Shiraj was one of the seven Mayoral Candi-dates chosen by his party.

Ifty Islam is the founder and Managing Part-ner of AT Capital. The commitment to de-velop the Asian Tiger platform reflects hisoptimism on Bangladesh's potential as an in-vestment destination having been a regularparticipant in capital markets events there fora number of years. His objective is to leveragehis long-term relationships with many of theworld's largest investors developed over an18 year Wall Street career to attract substan-tial overseas funds to the country.

Prior to moving to Dhaka, Ifty was a Manag-ing Director at Citigroup, London from 2004-2007 where he was Head of Macro Strategyand Hedge Fund Research. From 1997-2004Ifty spent 8 years at Deutsche Bank Securitiesin London and New York, latterly as Manag-ing Director and Chief US Strategist. Ifty hasalso worked as a European Strategist at Mer-rill Lynch and began his career in 1989 in thecorporate finance group at BZW Securities fo-cusing on privatisations in Eastern Europe.

He graduated from the Queen's College, Ox-ford with a BA/MA (First Class) in Politics, Phi-losophy and Economics.

Cllr Sirajul Islam

SECTOR: Politics

Ifty Islam

SECTOR: Finance


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International entrepreneur MohamedFakhrul Islam is the founder and Chairmanof Zanco Plc and its subsidiaries. The grouphas over 1,000 employees across three con-tinents and operates in several market sec-tors, Banking, Pharmaceuticals, Retail andSteel.

Born in 1953 in Sylhet, Bangladesh, he is anextraordinarily dynamic, self-made busi-nessman. His drive to champion the devel-opment of democracy throughoutBangladesh has, through his foundation,provided many under-privileged studentsin Bangladesh with the opportunity tostudy in top universities in Europe andaround the world.

With a combined asset value in excess of$300million, the Zanco Plc Group of busi-nesses have grown over the past 30 yearsinto major international companies withtheir chairman taking a hands-on ap-proach and working relentlessly at thehelm.

In 1982, he established his first major en-deavour in Bangladesh where he foundedInvenio Pharmaceuticals Group. By posi-tioning the quality of the pharmaceuticalscompounds to a far higher standard to thatof competitors, he was able to take the lead

in a specialised and highly competitivemarket. Within twelve years his tenacitywas rewarded when was Invenio Pharma-ceuticals Group ranked 21st largest pri-vately owned company in the country.

Bangla Bank Plc was established in 2007 inthe United Kingdom the first privatelyowned retail banking group outside ofBangladesh. Bangla Bank Plc was con-cieved with a view to provide regulated fi-nancial business to the growingBangladeshi community living in theUnited Kingdom, once full permission isobtained from the FSA Bangla Bank plc willhave 3 branches to start with, London,Birmingham and Manchester.

Zanco Group for Agro and Food Industriescommenced operations in 1992 followingthe construction at Jeddah Islamic Port ofwhat was and still is the largest rice storageand processing facility in Saudi Arabia. Thefood group now owns many factories inBangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal. Cambodia,USA, UK and Saudi Arabia, processing anddistributing a variety of produce from riceand grains, edible oil and ghee, to frozenfoods including vegetables, fruits andbreaded products and exports to the Mid-dle East, Africa, Asia, USA and parts of Eu-rope.

Mujib Islam is one UK’s most talented and suc-cessful business and media entrepreneur,whose main current activity is running one ofUK’s leading ethnic media agencies, Medi-alink. Also a director and trustee of two largeasset based organizations, Mr. Islam plays alarge part in their development.

Mr. Mujibul Islam is the Managing Director ofMedialink, a leading ethnic media and com-munication agency. His company’s clientsrange from Tilda to BBC to many local govern-ments. Working within the media industry forover 14 years, his last position was the editorof the Eastern Eye newspaper, UK's largest na-tional Asian paper, owned by the Trinity MirrorGroup. Mr. Islam is a BA Honours graduatewho has won numerous prestigious awards inthe field of design and media.

As chairman of Inventure Investment Ltd, MrIslam and his team are involved in commercialand residential property development here inthe UK and abroad.One of his projects include the developmentof a popular five star hotel in Bangladesh,‘Dhaka Regency’, which was founded by MrIslam and three other directors, now runningsuccessfully. He is also a trustee for two sub-stantial grade two listed buildings based inLondon.

Mr. Islam is multi-skilled and hugely talentedBritish Bangladeshi and one of the few real ex-perts in the field of ethnicmedia communication. Mr Islam’s distinctivestrength is his multimedia skills in innovativeconcept development and meeting specificmarketing and promotional objectives in allmedia.

A generous patron to many good causes, Mr.Islam is a well-known and respected figurewithin the British Bangladeshi community. MrIslam is passionate about community prosper-ity; he has actively worked, trained and helpedto develop the skill base of local young peoplein the field of design, web and TV production,on a voluntary basis. One of his ambitionsis to create opportunities for innovative andcreative projects that empower young people,supporting them at key transition pointsand during extracurricular periods of the year,through media related, arts education, train-ing and personal development activities.

Mohamed FakhrulIslam

SECTOR: Business

Mujib Islam

SECTOR: Media and Business


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Mr Mohammed Shah Jahan is behind oneof the Bangladeshi community’s most suc-cessful companies: Star Group. He wasborn in the village of Shaldiga in Jagan-nathpur. Mr Shah Jahan’s father is Haji MdAfiz Ullah and his mother Mrs MairaKhatun.

Shah Jahan has been involved in the busi-ness arena for 15 years, having moved tothe United Kingdom in 1982.

Mohammed Shah Jahan in the Chairmanof Star Group, who have under their controlStar Furnishing a leading supplier of do-mestic furniture. Moreover, the Star Groupalso own Star Catering Equipments whooffer a commercial catering supply servicenationally to the catering industry. Thegroup also own Star Construction who de-sign and build and also Carpet Bazaarwhich is a flooring specialist. Star Group isalso occupied with the catering industrybeing the owners of Lime Restaurant inDocklands.

Star Group are based in London and havenumerous showrooms and offices acrossthe breadth of the capital. They have be-

come a well recognised group of compa-nies and their service is second to none.The success of Star Group has inevitably ledto the success of Mohammed Shah Jahan.

Star Group continuously support numer-ous community initiatives and organisa-tions and often sponsor different events.

Mohammed Shah Jahan has personallycontributed to several charitable causesboth in Bangladesh and here in this coun-try. He has helped those who are povertystricken, and also towards various institu-tions such as mosques, schools and otherlike establishments.

Mohammed Shah Jahan is married to MrsAyesha Jahan, and they have two sons andtwo daughters. Their sons are MohammedNasim Jahan and Mohammed NazmulJahan, whilst their daughters are HabibaJahan and Nazifa Jahan. They are all in ed-ucation and reside in the family home inDocklands, London.

Mohammed Abdul Munim Jahedi was born inthe village of Hilal Pur, in the Sylhet district ofBangladesh.He is the son of the late Mr Moulana AbdurRahim Jahedi, who moved to England in 1959.Mohammed Abdul Munim Jahedi’s mother isthe late Mrs Razia Khanom. Mr Jahedi is oneof four children.

Mr Jahedi completed his secondary schoolcertificate in Athriya at Lateral High School in1983. He moved to the UK with his family in1984, and then studied a BTEC NationalDiploma in Business and Finance at TowerHamlets College in East London. He also com-pleted a Higher National Diploma in Businessand Finance.

Currently, he is the chairman of a real estatebusiness called Madina Apartment Ltd andalso a fast food outlet called London FriedChicken. Mr Jahedi is also the director of Al-Hamra Int. Limited, Sylhet Women’s MedicalCollege & Hospital, Ibn Sina Hospital, UnipexTrade & Cooperation Ltd, Halal Taste &Hamadan Restaurant, Madina Tower, BarakahHousing Ltd and Bonolota Greeho NirmanShomobay Shomittee.He is a life member of Sylhet Muslim SahittoShongshod, Sylhet Mobile Patagar and HillfulFujul Somaj Kallan Songsta. He is the chairman

of Real Estate and Housing Group of SylhetUK, as well as theeditor and Managing Director of the Eu-robangla newspaper. He is an executive mem-ber of Bangla Sahitto Porisohd and ReneshaSahitto Majlish. He was the president of theLondon branches of the Young Muslim Organ-isation and Islamic Forum Europe, and is cur-rently a trustee of London Muslim Centre, EastLondon Mosque and South Sylhet Develop-ment Project. He is also the secretary of theGreater Sylhet Islamic Society.

Mr Jahedi has done a lot of work for charitiesin the UK and Bangladesh, and has establishedan Islamic school in his homeland for girls whocannot afford a basic education.Mr Jahedi is married to Abeda Sultana Lucky,and they have three children – two daughtersand a son. Their eldest child is Muneema Sul-tana Rafaa, their other daughter is calledMaymunah Munim Riyah. Their Son is calledM.A. Muhaimen Rafe.

Mohammed ShahJahan

SECTOR: Business

Mohammed AbdulMunim Jahedi

SECTOR: Media


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Rajonuddin Jalal is prominent in theBangladeshi Community for his Commu-nity work. Mr Jalal has been a communitydevelopment specialist in the London Bor-ough of Tower Hamlets for the past 30years. He has opened up many pathways inthe field of community relations, empow-erment and neighbourhood renewal andset up numerous large community culturalcentres and premises including; BernerYouth and Tenants Centre, Kobi Nazrul cen-tre, Tower Hamlets Association for RacialEquality and more recently theWhitechapel Centre.

Mr Jalal has been a pioneering Youth andCommunity leader and established manyorganisations to benefit the Bengali Com-munity and to fulfil some needs and aspira-tions of the community. He is the founderof the Bangladeshi Youth Movement (BYM)and founder of the Federation ofBangladeshi Youth Organisation (FYBO).His support and hard work for the commu-nity did not stop there, Mr Jalal was vital inhelping to establish Ford Square Mosque,Shadwell Mosque, Brick Lane JammeMosque which are all still operating suc-cessfully in East London.

In the public domain Rajonuddin Jalal wasa member of the Board of the LondonDocklands Development Corporation andCouncillor and deputy leader of TowerHamlets Municipality as well as chairper-son for the Regeneration Team.

He has been the driving force behind theestablishment of Banglatown in TowerHamlets, and also the Soheed Minar, andthe structuring of the Social and Economicaccord between Tower Hamlets and Sylhet.Throughout his professional life Mr Jalalhas served in many positions, in the past hehas been a director in the Housing andWelfare Organisation which was part of StMary’s Welfare Project as well as being in-volved with other organisations.

He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Politics,Sociology and Economics from LondonGuildhall University and a post graduateDiploma in Management Studies from thesame institution.At present Mr Rajonuddin Jalal is an Exter-nal Funding Officer for the Regenerationand Strategy Team for the London Boroughof Havering.Mr Jalal is married with three children.

Misbahul Jamal was born in Subhanighat inSylhet in 1962. he was born to Mr NasirUddin Ahmed and Mrs Husney Ara Begum.His career began with him being a DramaArtist both on the stage and on radio. Hethen progressed onto becoming a pro-gramme announcer and conductor for RadioBangladesh from 1980 until 1986, whilstcompleting a B.Com (Hons) in Managementfrom the prestigious University of Dhaka in1984.

At the present time Mr Jamal is a presenterand producer for the coveted Sunrise Radioas well as Kismat Radio Bangla. Misbahul is the director of his own produc-tion companies called Misbah Jamal Produc-tions and Misbah Nahida Productions,running Kismat Radio Bangla from the Sun-rise Radio station in Southall, Middlessex.

Mr Misbah Jamal is married to Nahida Mis-bah and they have five daughters and a son.His daughters are Farhana, Rezwana, Nabi-hah, Shaeka and Labiba, andhis son is Nahmad. Mr Jamal has contributed enormously to the British Bangladeshi com-munity; he is involved with several commu-nity organisations working for thedevelopment and progression of communitymembers. He is a Director of Weekly Notun

Din, a Bengali newspaper. He also holds theposition of Press and Publicity secretary for theLondon Bangla Press Club, and Cultural Secre-tary for the Bangladesh Centre in London.

Mr Misbah Jamal is also a journalist and free-lance radio and television presenter. More-over he is a Bengali cultural programmepromoter, having organised many culturalprogrammes bringing over the best musi-cians and artists from Bangladesh.He is closely connected with the Bangladeshientertainment industry here in Britain, andas a result he is very a popular BritishBangladeshi amongst radio listeners.

Rajonuddin Jalal

SECTOR: Politics

Misbahul Jamal

SECTOR: Media and Arts


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Sheikh Nurul Islam Jeetu Tarun is a real es-tate businessman. He was born in 1974 inBoaljur Union in the Balaganj Thana of Syl-het. Sheikh Jeetu arrived in London in1986. At first he got involved in the restau-rant business, but then started real estatebusiness. He has been serving as a found-ing director of his development companyRoyal City.

He established the SN Property in the latenineties which has been serving since thenwith repute and honour. In 2007 he starteda business development organizationPrabasi Palli. He is a chairman of the organ-ization. Presently the organization is goingon with three projects for the non residentsBangladeshis near Dhaka, the ownershipPrabasi, Prabasi Palli and Purbachal PrabasiPalli. Also the Prabasi Palli owned hotelBlack Rose and Hotel Fahim Internationalset up in Sector 9 of Dhaka are going onwith repute. Prabasi Palli has investmentplan of around three billion rupees in dif-ferent sectors of Bangladesh. It has alsoplanned to establish a TV channel in Dhaka,mainly for the non residents.

Sheikh Jeetu has also been serving as the

founding director of White Lilly Propertyand Shopping Mall in Mile End Road, EastLondon.

Sheikh Jeetu got married in 2006 to ShahRumana Islam, the sister of the Euro Foodowner Selim Hossain MBE. He is the fatherof a girl, Sheikh Najifa Islam.

Apart from business, he also served as rtheTreasurer of Balaganj Education Trust. He isnow the treasurer of Boaljur UP Develop-ment Trust. He is also the president ofSheikh Batir Miah Welfare Trust which hasbeen providing monthly old age benefit toaround two hundred persons in Sylhet.

Sheikh Jeetu has also planned to set up theSheikh Nurul Islam Jeetu Model School inBanigram. The process of building thisschool has been complete.

Mrs Mahmuda Kabir is a retired Local Gov-ernment Official. She holds numorous de-grees. Mrs Kabir completed be BA and MAdegrees from the University of Dhaka beforecompleting Masters in Science from the Uni-versity of Glasgow in 1971. She went on toobtain a PhD from Strathclyde University in1971 and a CQSW qualification from the Uni-versity of London three years later.

Mahmuda kabir is married to Dr HumayunKabir, and they have two sons Jahangir andAlamgir who are both doctors specialising inCardiology.

Mahmuda Kabir was an elected member toILEA Educational Consultative Committeeand also founder of South East LondonBangladeshi Women and Children in the UK,which was instigated for the benefit ofBangladeshi Women and Children in the UK,through this organisation various cultural ini-tiatives were implemented. She also re-ceived an award as a longstanding schoolgovernor.

Mrs Kabir has been involved with a host ofcharitable and community organisations andwas a Labour Party Councillor in Lewishamin 1990. She was involved with Race Rela-tions, Anti Racism, Education and other sec-

tors with a view to making a difference. Sheis a member of Community Police ExecutiveConsultative and also Executive CommitteeMember of Strip and Search.

In recognition of her hard work, Mrs Kabirhas won several awards including the “Codeof Arms” from Lewisham Council as well asthe channel S Award.

Mrs Kabir’s profile appears in Who’s Whopublication including Asian Who’s Who andInternational Who’s Who of Asian Achievers.

Mahmuda Kabir resides in London. Her in-terests include writing, listening to music,reciting poetry and taking part in debates.

Sheikh Nurul IslamJeetu

SECTOR: Real estate

Mahmuda Kabir

SECTOR: Community and Voluntary


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Sandra Kabir has worked in internationaldevelopment since 1976, predominantly inthe area of women’s development andhealth.

She has vast experience in poverty allevia-tion and people’s empowerment pro-gramme design and implementation, fundraising and advocacy, spanning Asia, Africaand the UK.

In Bangladesh Sandra began her career asa Programme Officer for the south westAsia regional office of FPIA, established anational women’s NGO, played a leadingrole in the NGO movement and worked onthe boards of several NGOs.

She then helped set up EL TALLER a worldwide NGO movement initially based inSpain and then in Tunisia.

Following this in 1995 Sandra moved to theUK where she worked in senior capacitieswith Interact Worldwide, ReproductiveHealth Alliance and ICOMP. From 2006 shehas established BRAC UK a member of theworld renowned NGO, BRAC. BRAC UKworks both locally and internationally and

has gained recognition for its work onmoney management and international de-velopment education in East London.

Sandra Kabir joined the Labour Party in1994. She was a London Borough of BrentCouncillor from 2002 to 2006 and was re-elected in 2010. She is very active in com-munity issues and has considerable casework ranging from immigration to schoolplaces to housing and beyond. As a coun-cilor, Sandra’s particular areas of interest arehealth, women’s issues and citizenship. Sheis a school governor and a member of sev-eral Council committees.

Sandra has been on several Bangladeshand UK Government delegations to inter-national UN conferences.

She is of British-Bangladeshi heritage, iswidowed, has three adult children and twogrand children.

Muhammad Abul Kalam was born inBangladesh in 1966. His village is in Sadipur,Osmani Nagar Upazilla, District-Sylhet. His fa-ther is businessman Alhaj Mr MohammedMokbul Hussain. His mother is Alhajja MrsSyeda Khanom.

Mr Kalam obtained his Higher SecondarySchool Certificate (HSC) at Madan MohanCollege in Sylhet, where he studied for twoyears. His first major accomplishment camein 1988 when he completed his Bachelor ofLaws (LL.B. Hons) course at the University ofDhaka. This led to the completion of the Mas-ter of Laws (LL.M.) course the following year.

He then continued to pursue his legal careerAs an Advocate of the Supreme Court ofBangladesh since November 1992 by obtain-ing the Bar Vocational Qualification from theBangladesh Bar Council. Having completedthe academic and vocational stages of histraining, in the year 2000, Mr Kalam wasawarded with a certificate of eligibility to be-come a Solicitor of the Supreme Court ofEngland and Wales in September 2001.

Mr Kalam came to the UK as a student in1995 to study Law at the University of Lon-don. He then gained experience as a clerk,adviser, consultant and assistant solicitor at

Barrister’ Common Law Chambers’, StratfordAdvice Arcade, J Coopers Solicitors and SJSolicitors respectively. These were all situatedin East London.

Ever Since November 2004, Mr Kalam hasbeen part of the very successful solicitor’sfirm; AK Solicitors in East London. There heheld the position of Principal/Senior Partner.He has now set up his own firm called KalamSolicitors.

He is the Secretary General of the Society ofBangladeshi Solicitors in UK, which is a prac-ticing solicitors organisation in UK. He alsothe Secretary General of the Dhaka Univer-sity Jalalabad Ex Student Society UK .He is amember of the Probashi Balagonj EducationTrust in UK. He is also members of the Bal-agonj Samitte UK and Greater Sylhet Councilin UK.

Mr Kalam lives in Redbridge, Ilford with hiswife Mrs Shahanara Kalam and three chil-dren; Sabiha, Yeasin and Tayyibah two ofthem students. Mrs Kalam achieved BA(Hons) in Sociology, which she achieved atthe University of East London.

Sandra M Kabir

SECTOR: International Development & Community Relations

Muhammad AbulKalam



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Ayub Khan was born in 1959 in Dawrai inJagannathpur Upazilla under Sunamgonjdistrict of Bangladesh. He settled in the UKin 1975.

Khan has a long history of community in-volvement and civil engagement in Britain.He was one of the founding members ofthe influential Bangladeshi Youth Move-ment (BYM), where he served as an Execu-tive Member until 1978 when joinedBritain’s first nationwide Muslim youth or-ganisation, the Young Muslim OrganisationUK (YMO UK). Between 1982 to 1985 heserved as the Central President of the or-ganisation. Khan became a Trustee of Lon-don’s oldest mosque, The East LondonMosque in 1982 and served the Mosque atvarious capacities, including Assistant Sec-retary, Treasurer, and Secretary.

He was the Treasurer and led the fundrais-ing campaign for the London Muslim Cen-tre. An elected member of the CentralExecutive of the Islamic Forum of Europe(IFE), Khan is responsible for the organisa-tion’s finances. As part of his voluntary andsocial work, Khan has travelled far andwide, including Turkey, Cyprus, Italy,

France, Germany, Netherlands, Finland,Sweden, Austria, USA and was part of aBritish Muslim delegation to Bosnia-Herze-govina in 2007.

Khan was active in numerous other organ-isations and forums including being amember of the Bengali Housing ActionGroup (BHAG); elected Assistant GeneralSecretary of the Bangladesh Welfare Asso-ciation in 1981 and a prominent youthleader in the fight against racism and fas-cism, chiefly the British National Front(BNP).

Khan qualified as a Youth and CommunityWorker from Goldsmith College, Universityof London in 1991. He currently works as aHousing Manager for a large housing asso-ciation in South London.Khan lives in Mile End, London, marriedwith two sons and four daughters.

Azom Khan is an internationally recognisedchef who has devoted much of his life to helpdevelop the Bangladeshi Curry Industry towhat it is today. Born in 1962 in Jaganathpur,Sunamgonj in Bangladesh, Mr Khan arrived inthe UK in 1980.

The East London based chef is looked upon asa pioneer in the Bangladeshi culinary industryand throughout his life Mr Khan’s workhas been widely appreciated by several foodfood critics. Over the last twenty years MrKhan has been awarded with major honoursin the Industry such as the International CurryChef of the Year, National Curry Chef of theYear, Tesco Spinach Master Chef, SouthwarkCurry Chef of the Year as well as the TowerHamlets Curry Chef of the Year in 1999.At present, Mr Azom Khan is Director of two ofLondon’s most famous restaurants called theBengal Clippers and Bengal Traders whosereputation has enhanced dramatically overthe last decade for their combination of styleand modernity.

In addition to his work, Mr Khan is very closelyassociated with charities and organisations inBangladesh having helped set up the BritishBangla Education Trust where he is currentlyserving as Vice Chairman as well as a memberof the Sylhet Academy. Mr Khan has also set

up his own Educational Trust fund, known as“Azom Khan Education Trust” and is also amember of the Shahjalal College Institute.One of six siblings, Mr Khan is married to Sul-tana Aktar Chowdhury and has been blessedwith one son and two daughters whom arestudying in schools and university.

Ayub Khan

SECTOR: Public Sector

Azom Khan

SECTOR: Catering


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Dr Sha� Khan, a Croydon Councillor for 15years was selected to stand for parliamentat the next General Election by the Carshal-ton and Wallington Constituency LabourParty at its Annual General Meeting on 26thFebruary 2008. The meeting included dele-gates from all wards in the constituencywho voted unanimously for Dr Khan. DrKhan was the GLA candidate (London As-sembly election - 1st of May 2008) for theseat of Croydon and Sutton constituency,got about 35thousand votes and becamesecond, overtaking the Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Dr Shafi Khan has lived in Croydon since1989. He was elected to Croydon Council byNorbury ward in 1994, where he has beeninfluential in education and community re-lations. He has been lead member on Edu-cation, Shadow Cabinet member forCommunity Cohesion. He became the firstAsian Mayor of Croydon in 1999-2000. Dur-ing his Mayoral year he carried out morethan 1000 public engagements includingthe ceremonial opening of Tram Link, lead-ing the borough to the New Millenniumand visiting various business, faith, volun-tary and community groups in Croydon. He used his Mayoral year to strengthencommunity spirit, to reach out to all com-munities and to bring faiths, cultures andbusiness together with a common purposeto empower people. In 1998, he started the

“Norbury Mela” in Norbury Park, which be-cause of its success later moved to LloydsPark and evolved as “Croydon Mela”, whichis an envy of South London. He has also se-cured “Muslim Burial Ground” in GreenLawn Memorial Park for Croydon’s Muslimresidents.

He is actively involved in Croydon’s widercommunity life, well known and respected.For his support and contribution to thebusiness community, he was elected Hon.Vice President of the Croydon Chamber ofCommerce in 2001 and was also awardedthe “World Peace Ambassador” by the faithcommunity. Shafi was born in Comilla, passed his SSCfrom Comilla Zila School and HSC fromComilla Victoria College both with somedistinctions. He studied economics atDhaka University. In 1969 he got involvedin students politics and was involved in thefreedom movement of Bangladesh as a stu-dent leader.

He acquired a Masters degree and a PhD inmathematical physics at Moscow Civil En-gineering University. He gained a teachingcertificate at the Institute of Education, Uni-versity of London and now works as a math-ematics lecturer at Tower Hamlets Collegein East London. He lives in Norbury with hiswife Irina and their daughter Masha.

Helal Uddin Khan came to The UK in 1986. In1990 Mr. Khan started his first business alongwith a partner. He established an EstateAgency business named ‘Class Property Serv-ices’ in Katherine Road, London.

Just after two years he developed a very goodrelationship and reputation among theBangladeshi community. He started his TravelAgency business in the same location during1992. Due to his sincerity, honesty, intelli-gence, strong determination and dedicationhe became a very good Travel agency busi-nessman within the shortest possible time.Now he is maintaining two independentestablished offices, one is in Green Street andanother in Whitechapel. Mr. Helal Khan is avery popular person among the Asian com-munity due to his amiable personality.

Mr. Khan did his H.S.C in Bangladesh in 1985.He also participates in different training(Reservation and Ticketing) courses in connec-tion with the Travel Agency business. He alsovisited many countries around the worldunder the education tour programme spon-sored by different Airlines.Presently twelve skilled and unskilled employ-ees are working in his two establishments.Mr. Helal Uddin Khan is married. He has twodaughters and two sons. His eldest daughter

is now seventeen and reading law at QueenMary University. His second daughter is study-ing in year nine, eldest son is in year five andthe last child is in year two.

Mr. Kahn is an associate member of GreaterSylhet Association since 1995 as well as an ac-tive member of Bangladesh Welfare Associa-tion since 1990. He has been an executivemember of Nurul Haq Education TrustFenchugong since 1993. He is the executivemember of Fenchugong Shamite (oldest As-sociation in UK) since 1986 and an executivemember and former Treasurer/Joint Secretaryof UK Travel Agents Association. Mr. HelalUddin Khan is very much interested aboutBangladeshi Culture. He has participated inandsponsored various different Bangladeshicultural activities.

He is very sympathetic to the poorBangladeshi people. He always extends hishands to support them. He has continuedbeing involved with fund raising initiatives.

Dr Sha� Khan

SECTOR: Academia and Politics

Helal Uddin Khan

SECTOR: Travel


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Hussain Ahmed Khan was born in 1956 inDaripaton Upozilla, Golapgonj, in Sylhet,were he lived throughout his childhoodyears. He is the third child oflate Mr Noor Uddin Ahmed Khan and MrsNurun Nessa Khanom. By 1976 Mr. Khansuccessfully obtained his degree in Sylhet.Soon after this achievement, he left hishomeland to move to the Middle East,where Mr. Hussain Ahmed Khan was em-ployed by different companies.

Mr. Hussain Ahmed Khan left the MiddleEast for the UK in the year 1986. He spentthe first few years, educating himself on theskill and techniques needed in order to sur-vive in the tough Indian Restaurant busi-ness. Little did he know that these newskills that he had been taught, combinedwith his entrepreneurial expertise, he wasgoing to have a great visible impact onthe Indian Restaurant industry.

Mr Hussain Ahmed Khan’s first proper jobwas when he bought and took over the In-dian restaurant Festival Balti, which was lo-cated in the heart of Birmingham. He andhis partner had a great impact on thechange of business of this restaurant. Theyhad turned the restaurant over from a reg-

ular restaurant, to an extremely popularplace to dine in, with a newly preparedmenu admired byall. He then moved on to opening his sec-ond South Indian Restaurant in Walsall,West midlands. Passage to India was thethird restaurant Mr. Khan opened whichwas also situated in the heart of Birming-ham. Hussain Ahmed Khan has played aconstant and active role in charity eventsnot only in the UK but also in Bangladesh.

Today, Mr. Ahmed Khan is an admired busi-nessman and looked up to by many othersdue to his hard work and determination tosucceed in life. His outstanding achieve-ments have resulted in him receiving theprestigious BBL award for best continuoussuccessful restaurant 2008, earlier this year.Currently he is playing an important role asa Secretary of the Guild of BangladeshiRestauranters. He resides with wife SalmaKhan and two children; Zilhan and Subhan.

Islam has an illustrious career. He started hiscareer working in leather and belt factories inhis youth, worked in the catering industry formany years. As a waiter moving onto becomea chef and then managing his own businessesin South London and Kent.

As a result of compassionate family reason,Islam was unable to complete his primary ed-ucation yet later on his career, he started asmature student to read for an LL.B, subse-quently completing his Bar Vocational Courseat the ICSL law school and called to the Bar ofEngland and Wales by the Inner Templeachieving good results. Recently, he has com-pleted an LL.M in Public Law and HumanRights from the University of London andplans to read for a PhD at Birkbeck College.

Islam also sits on a number of panels in TowerHamlets, namely the LBTH’s, Can do Grants,Stifford Board of Trustees and is the legal ad-viser to the Council of Mosques. He has a pas-sion for community work and has strong linksto that community. He regularly advises onlegal issues on TV and works pro-bono withStifford Legal Advice Centre, Bail for Immigra-tion Detainees, Fair Trials International and theHackney Law Centre.

He has recently secured a scholarship to go to

America to work on capital punishment at theArizona capital punishment project with Am-icus. Islam has a keen interest in public lawand human rights. His published articles todate are: The legality of the flotilla raid by Is-rael; indirect discrimination by raising the mar-riage age rule to 21; religious implications forHindu pyres in the UK (Ghai and others); FGM–an Islamic practice or modern fashion andMediation in practice.

He is the father of one girl and one boy andmost recently is the proud father of twins brin-ing this up to four children.

Hussain Ahmed Khan

SECTOR: Catering

Islam Khan

SECTOR: Legal


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M A Mannan Khan was born in 1953 in KhanBari, Kismoth Maizbhag in Golapginj, Sylhet.Whilst being a student at Modhon MohanCollege in Sylhet Mr Khan became a freedomfighter, and also a cabinet member of theChatroleague in Bangladesh.

At Jogonnath College under University ofDhaka in 1977 Mannan Khan completed hisBA degree. After graduating he worked as anassistant teacher and later went on to com-plete his B Ed teacher-training course in1978.Mr Khan became the chairman of ‘ProvateeShahitto Porishod’, commanding officer of‘Shurjo Shena Shishu Shongo’ and later ajournalist for ‘Sylhet Shomachar’ a localnewspaper in Sylhet.

In 1982 Mr Khan moved to UAE where he setup a business. He then migrated to Englandin 1986 where he worked at Burleigh Collegein Loughborough as a modern languagesteacher. Mr Khan also was appointed as amodern languages teacher in Moat Collegein Leicester. Subsequently he was a GCSEBengali language teacher at Bengali Com-munity Education and an examiner underthe University of London (EdExcel).Mr Khan has been working for the commu-

nity since 1986, and was the committeemember of the Bengali Community Educa-tion Project and secretary of languageTeacher Association in Leicester. For threeyears Mr Khan was a radio presenter for Sun-rise Radio.

Mr Khan has established the Awami Leaguein Leicester and served as the founder Sec-retary. Mr Khan has received an invitation toHRM Queens Garden Party for achieving thetitle of one of the high achieving modernlanguages teacher in the City of Leicesterwhich was recognised by the University ofLondon in 2000. Mr Khan received a ChannelS Community award in 2006.

Mr Khan is mow the founder president ofSurma Welfare Porishod UK, Vice Chairmanof First Solution Money Transfer Ltd (UK),Senior Vice president of Leicester AwamiLeague, Founder Chairman of BangladeshPoor Fund, Foreign Advisor of Motijeel The-atre in Dhaka, Committee Member of thelocal Mosque Masjid-e-Bitul Mukarram Trust,and he is currently working for Channel S asthere news reporter for Leicestershire.

In his spare time Mr Khan likes to writepoems for Magazines and newspapers.

Mashuk Ahmed Khan is the eldest son of Mo-hammed Matiur Rahman Khan and BegumJamila Khan of an academically enriched re-spectable Muslim family of landed gentry andsuccessful entrepreneurship, formerly of villageGangajal, Zakigonj, of district Sylhet.

Ahmed Khan is married to Shamim Ara Begum(Rose) - daughter of Mohammed ShafiqulHaque and Jahan Ara Chowdhury of Purush Pal,Beanibazar, Sylhet. Mr & Mrs Khan have threechildren; a son and two daughters, namely:Mustafa, Nabila, and Farzana. The son is in pur-suit of legal profession. The older daughter is atUniversity - studying Accounting and Finance,and the younger one is in sixth form at an inde-pendent school in Northamptonshire.

By profession Ahmed Khan is a CharteredHuman Resource Consultant and a mainstreamacademic with membership of the Chartered In-stitute of Personnel and Development (CIPD),and The University of Oxford Philosophical Soci-ety. He is also a political critique, columnist, a Ro-tarian, and an author gifted with literary skills.His debut publication of the poetry book “APhantom of Romance” comprised of poems oflove and passion. His patriotic poems “In thelove of my nation” and “ My heart cries for thefallen” composed in retrospect to Bangladeshliberation war and its post independence polit-ical crises were published in the Bangla MirrorNewsweekly, London (issues:237& 316 ) and Syl-het Madan Mohan University College Bengali

Literary Council’s publication “Katha Lata”(is-sues: 4&5 ) as well as in Sylhet Mobile Pataghar’snarrative publication “Chayalap”(issues:283&284) correspondingly.

Ahmed Khan - a family-centric, spatio-tempo-rally Spartan, vivacious individual avid to hiscontinued self-development. Following suc-cessful completion of his MPhil research he hasre-assigned his academic interest from HRM toLaw and joined the LLM programme at the Uni-versity of London, Birkbeck College, with sus-tained enthusiasm to develop a comprehensiveknowledge of the legal concepts.

He has five younger brothers. The immediateyounger one went abroad before achievinghigher education – albeit returned home later.The other four have achieved single and multi-ple Masters Degree in various disciplines, re-spectively, from reputable Universities at home(Dhaka & Chittagong) and overseas (UK & USA).They now reside in the UK and USA - occupiedin different professions.

Ahmed Khan asserts himself a devout “BritishMuslim” – proudly upholding his religious val-ues and traditions – while profoundly deferen-tial to synonymous interests of all other socialgroups in British society. His pastimes are: read-ing books, watching factual movies, travelling,and listening Tagore Songs, Urdu Ghazals,Mozart and Pavarotti.

M.A Mannan Khan

SECTOR: Education and CommunityRelations

MASHUK AHMEDKHAN M.Phil., M.A., B.A.(Hons), PGDip.(HRM), Ad. Dip. (Mgt.),MCIPD

SECTOR: Academia


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Md. Shamsuddin khan was born in 1935 inMatiura, under the Bianibazaar Upazilla inSylhet. He is the second son of late Haji TajKhan and Tayamunnessa Khanom. Mr.Khan primarily worked at an English restau-rant when he arrived in the UK in 1955,aged 20. It was in 1958 when he started hisfirst business when he opened a restaurant,which he called Moharani.

This restaurant is situated in Clapham Com-mon, is one of the most famous and oldrestaurants in the UK. Two other branchesof the Moharani restaurant have beenopened ever since, one located in ClaphamNorth and one in Camden Town. Mr. Khanis one of the owners of a large grocery storenamed Kushiara Cash and Carry in the EastEnd of London.On top of that, he has an enormous invest-ment in the tea estates in Sylhet and alsoowns several houses in London.

Founding member of the BianibazaarJanakallyan Samity UK, of which he is nowthe advisor, and also a trustee of the His-toric Bangladesh Centre in London, Mr.Khan is involved in various political andsocio-cultural organizations, both inBangladesh and the UK. In addition he has

played a key role in the establishment ofBianibazaar College, by donatingmoney towards it. Mathiura High Schooland Mathiura Girls’ High School are two ofmany educational institutions of which Md.Shamsuddin Khan is a patron.Furthermore, he was the chairman of theCollege Development Committee for along period of time.

Before all this, Mr. Khan’s political careerbegan with Pakistan Welfare Associationwhich later become Bangladesh WelfareAssociation. Inspired by Sheikh Mujib, healso decided to join the Awami Leagueonce it had been set up in the UK. Through-out his role in the Awami league changedfrom the treasurer, to the vice president,and now, he is the president. He played asignificant role throughout the LiberationWar in 1971 by fundraising. During the1970 elections, he was the Awami Leaguecandidate in the Bianibazaar-Golapgonjconstituency.Here, in the UK, Shamsuddin Khan is amember of the Labour party.At present, Md. Shamsuddin Khan Resideswith his wife Mrs. Safarun Nesa Khanomand their three children.

Tasmin Lucia Khan is a BBC News Presenterand Journalist with over 8 years of on-screenexperience. She is currently the face of BBCThree News bulletins and presents ‘E24’ on therolling BBC News Channel, formerly known asBBC News 24

Tasmin graduated from Oxford University withan Honours degree in Politics, Philosophy andEconomics. It was then Tasmin became a keendebater, nurtured her passion for current af-fairs, and specialised in International Relations. Tasmin joined the BBC News team in Londonafter three years at Channel Five, producingand presenting Sports programmes. She wasalso the London News Correspondent for PTVNews, covering the UK’s biggest news storiesto a worldwide Asian audience.

Tasmin’s presenting career began in 2000 atthe Zee TV Network. She fronted and pro-duced a variety of entertainment shows. Latershe hosted her own talk show interviewingfilm and music celebrities, politicians, busi-nessmen and sports personalities. Away from the camera, Tasmin is actively in-volved in charities that are close to her heart.She has worked in educational projects whichhelp children in developing countries to bet-ter their lives. Tasmin really enjoys delivering the nightly

‘World News’ bulletins on BBC Three in 60 Sec-onds. She says ‘’It’s an instant hit of informa-tion updating you with what’s happeningaround the world. You get to see globalevents, seen through the eyes of news sta-tions around the world including CNN, FoxNews, Al Jazeera, China’s CCTV, and Al Ara-biya.”

On the BBC News Channel, she particularlylikes the interviews, where she gets to grill herguests in the studio.

Md. Shamsuddin khan


Tasmin Lucia Khan

SECTOR: Media


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Zakir Khan was born in Bangladesh andcame to the UK when he was four years old.He then moved to Tower Hamlets at theage of 7. Mr Khan started off as a YouthWorker, he worked for some time withSouthwark council before moving to Cam-den council.

His first full time employment came in theform of working for Tower Hamlets Victimsupport, a voluntary Organisation. He thenbegan working for Tower Hamlets Councilin the capacity of Team Leader for TowerHamlets careers and guidance service be-fore becoming centre coordinator forKingsley Hall community centre based inBow. Zakir Khan finally moved to a new jobas Community Affairs Manager for CanaryWharf Group, since the year 2000, and hehas remained in this position. He has a PostGraduate Diploma in Careers Guidance.As Community Affairs manager its MrKhan’s responsibility to ensure that CanaryWharf Group maintains a healthy relation-ship with the community, and to make thecommunity aware of their activities andinitiatives. Zakir Khan is currently the onlyBangladeshi employee of Canary WharfGroup at management level.

He has organised numerous sportingevents and projects on behalf of CanaryWharf Group, such as the Asians in footballproject, which promotes Bangladeshifootballers both from Tower Hamlets andalso from Bangladesh. Zakir’s efforts in developing and imple-menting prosperity through sport inBangladesh involved the establishment ofa football development programme therein 2008. The purpose of the project is toseek talented young football players fromBangladesh and provide them with qualitycoaching, to nurture and guide them intoplaying professional football. The projectwas launched in 2006.

Zakir is also founder of the BangladeshFootball Association UK and in 1997 hestarted the league Bangla for localBangladeshi teams. Moreover, in 1996 hefounded Sporting Bengal Football Cluband was team manager from 1996 to 1998,and to date he has been the most success-ful manager of the club. He helped the clubobtain semi-professional status recognisedby the Football Association. Zakir is alsoan honorary director of Beaumont AthleticFootball Club.

Taryn Khanam is the director and co-founderof BritBangla, the prestigious social and pro-fessional networking organisation set up in2003 specifically to bring to the world’s atten-tion the as-yet-unnoticed extraordinaryachievements of persons of Bengali extractionliving in Britain.

Her bold venture proved to be a phenomenalsuccess, and today BritBangla boasts morethan 1000 members from all sections of Britishlife including business, media, teaching, fi-nance and the public sector. It provides a plat-form for second and third generation Bengalisto voice their views and aspirations, and it alsobrings together like-minded people throughsocial and charitable events.

Not surprisingly, some of the nation’s most in-fluential media organisations, including theBBC and Channel 4, have picked up on Brit-Bangla’s unique success, and have given it ex-tensive air time.

As part of her role, Ms Khanam frequently or-ganises social, educational and fund-raisingevents, as well as continuing to actively pro-mote BritBangla by establishing links withbusinesses, NGOs, government, education,arts and media.In addition, she was recently invited by the US

Embassy in London to participate in their In-ternational Visitors Leadership Programmeaimed at fostering greater understanding be-tween foreign nations and the people of theUnited States.

Ms Khanam, who has a Masters’ degree in en-vironmental science from Brunel University, isemployed by the Department of Health as apolicy advisor. She has played key roles in im-portant ministerial briefings, including the af-termath of the 7/7 bombings and the Asiantsunami. In her spare time she enjoys travel-ling and the arts.

Zakir Khan


Taryn Khanum

SECTOR: Civil Service


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Shiria Khatun, one of the short listed mayoral candidateof Labour in Tower Hamlets, is an interesting example ofthe empowerment of Bangladeshi women in UK. As aworking mother of four children attending local stateschools she is utterly rooted in the UK-Bangladeshi com-munity.

Shiria was born in Birmingham raised and educated inTower Hamlets. Her parents, Late Haji Mohammed Mokisand Late Joytera Khatun came to UK in late 50’s. Both herfather and mother passed away when she was just ateenager. She is married with a young family her 9 yearold son is a School Councillor, her husband Mr Lutfur rah-man is an Outreach Worker in Poplar.

She started her community service when she was just 11years old by writing official letters for neighbours whoneeded help in wring English letters. Eventually, shedeeply involved in politics by protesting against racismand inequality.

She was elected as a Councillor for East India & Lansburyward in May 2006. Soon after getting elected, Shiria wasappointed by the former Mayor of London Ken Living-stone as his Adviser for Transport for London. She is currently a Cabinet Member in charge of Children’sServices. Shiria has previously served on the ScrutinyCommittees researching on underage drinking in theborough.

She is a member of Regional Party selection panel for LGCandidates (Ealing, Newham, Haringey), Shiria constantlyworks to increase the engagement and participation ofwomen and all Tower Hamlets’ many BME communitiesin the Labour Party. She is a highly regarded IDeA PeerMentor and has presented workshops to large audiences

at Warwick University’s Leadership Centre.

She has been a Board Member of London Pension FundAuthority which has given her extensive financial over-sight experience. Shiria qualified as a Peer Assessor from the LeadershipCentre last year and has facilitated sessions as a Lecturerat Warwick University on empowering women in to pub-lic roles. Shiria represents the council on many commit-tees as well as external boards she is also the Media &Communication’s Officer for Tower Hamlets LabourGroup.She has extensive experiences outside of politics in thepublic, private and voluntary sectors. She is a Youth Em-ployment Specialist for The Working Well Trust, a WorkPlacement Scheme Coordinator in St. Hilda’s East Com-munity Centre, has been a TVPresenter/Researcher/Script Writer, Bangla TV in 2005, aYouth Enterprise Coordinator in Leaside RegenerationLtd, a Lansbury Estate Board member from 2003, a Proj-ect Manager in The Children’s Society (Children’s Voiceproject), a Centre Coordinator in Peabody Trust – TheSundial Centre and a Senior Mental Health Care Assistantin St Clements Hospital.

Shiria is an experienced public speaker. She successfullyengages audience right across the community – but shealso has the clout necessary to get results locally and na-tionally as a Lead Member.

As a presenter for weekly television programme she in-vited young people and Labour politicians for in depthinterviews which helped to promote the party in theBengali community both locally and nationally.

A talented and creative director of one of UK’sleading ethnic media agency, Medialink, Min-haj Kibriyah is a multi-skilled Asian businessentrepreneur.

Minhaj’s media career began as a junior de-signer at the Daily Jung newspaper. He quicklyexcelled and joined Britain’s largest ethnicmedia company, Ethnic Media Group, as aSenior Production Designer.After leaving Ethnic Media Group, Minhajwent into partnership with Mr Mujibul Islamto form Medialink in 1999. Since then MinhajKibriyah has been producing some of themost popular TV commercials that have beenbroadcasted on Europe’s Asian satellite chan-nels for which the company has won numer-ous awards for best TV commercial maker.He also produced and directed the hugelysuccessful tele-film ‘Ononto Opekka’, whichwas an international hit.

The tele-film depicts a Bangladeshi visitor’sarranged marriage to a British Bangladeshigirl. Soon afterwards he produced and starredin ‘Shesh Hobena Kono Din’, which was basedon Bangladeshi politics in the UK. ‘SheshHobena Kono Din’ brought him best actor andbest drama award.Minhaj worked with the BBC to deliver a multimillion pound super-hit tele-film 'England

Expects' which addressed the issue of tacklingracism. The film had major riots scene orches-trated by Minhaj, it featured 100s of Asiansyouths and the BNP fighting. The film starredactors Steven Mackintosh of ‘Lock, Stock andTwo Smoking Barrels’ fame, Keith Barron,Preeya Kalidas of Bombay Dreams’ fame,Susan Vidler and Sadie Thompson and two ac-tors which came through Medialink's trainingprogramme; Sadiqul Islam who played Rashel(main role) and Emran Hussain Ali who playedMohammed in the film.

Minhaj Kibriyah’s creativity and dynamic vi-sion has earned him a reputable positionwithin the Asian Film and Media industry.Minhah’s strengths lie in the fact that the hehas a grass roots understanding of the diverseissues that ethnic communities face. He iskeen to engage and encourage ethnic com-munites to participate in creative media andhas demonstrated a successful record to datein doing so with many of the hard to reachcommunities.

Shiria Khatun

SECTOR: Politics

Minhaj Kibriyah

SECTOR: Media and Business


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Mr. S.H. Khurshed is the chief editor of FilmAsia, the film making company based inEast London. He was born in Kamalganj,Moulvi Bazar of Bangladesh and com-pleted his B.A. from Moulvi Bazar DegreeCollege. His Father is Al haj Md. Ishaqe Miahand mother is Johura Khatun.

Mr. Khurshed came to the UK in 1998. Heexcelled as the editor of Film Asia whichthrives to be one of the most prominentfilm making company of Asian weddingsand other events. The company does notuse the term ‘Bespoke cinematography’lightly. They create something to cherish, aproject that is unique to any client.In Mr. Khurshed’s words, ‘at Film Asia , werecognize the importance of our creationsfor each client, we recognize the individualrequirements for each client differs fromothers, and in turn we recognize that theapproach undertaken in our editing canonly stand out from anything else avail-able. The Film Asia perfection process is nogimmick; the unique concepts crated byour experts are only possible through a de-sire to deliver to you…perfection’.

Film Asia mainly produces wedding videos

for Asian grooms and brides. They also pro-duced a ghazal night with Alaur Rahmanand the British Bangladeshi Who’s Whoprogramme in 2009. With brilliant editors,graphic designers, cinematographers andevent coordinators, the group has been araving success in the film business of EastLondon.

Mr. Khurshed lives with his family in Fallow-field, London. His wife’s name is JubedaKhatun Haque. They have three sons, JalaHaquel, Jahan Haque and Jahia Haque, andtwo daughters, Jynat Haque and JannatHaque.

Mohammed Abul Lais is a successful businessman, outstand-ing community organizer and well-known philanthropist inBerkshire region in the UK. He left for the UK when he wasonly 16 and entered professional life. Alongside working hecontinued to study. For his sincere and hard labour on the onehand he attained success in his business and on the otherbeing the elder son of the family he educated all his youngerbrothers and sisters with higher education and thus he set anexample to be followed by others.

Born on February 23rd 1960 Mohammed Abul Lais hails fromthe village Amria of Durgapasha Union of Sadar Thana underSunamganj district. His father late Alhaj Abul Bashor Md.Mashuk Miah was a restaurant trader in the UK. He was a phi-lanthropist as well who came over to the UK in 1963. He waskilled in a tragic road accident in the UK in 1994. His motheris Mrs Badrunnesa. The family consist of three brothers andfour sisters and he is the eldest.

After appearing at the SSC Exam in 1975 in this School he leftfor the UK along with other family members. On arrival in theUK he started serving in restaurants and at the same time con-tinued his studies. And in this way he did O’ Level and A’ levelin Accountancy and also completed B-tech national diploma.

Mohammed Abul Lais began his first business in 1978 in New-bury, Berkshire. This restaurant named Curry Garden and runon partnership still remains operative. He established thisCurry Garden at Tadely in Hampshire in 1982 on partnershipbasis and again in 1985 he established ‘Rajdoot Restaurant’ inCirencester Town in Gloucestershire on partnership. In 1991he established a company named Eurasia Frozen Product.

He established a first Thai and Bangladeshi restaurant named‘Café Blue Cobra’ in the small town Theale in greater Readingarea in 1996.

Mohammed Abul Lais is also a philanthropist. He is one ofthe founders of Basingstoke Islamic Society. Initially he wasthe founding secretary of this organization and later on heserved as president for 3 years. He is also the founding mem-ber of Redding Central Jame Masjid established and run bythe Bangladeshis. Besides, he is the member of BasingstokeChambers & Commerce, Thames valley Chambers of Com-merce, Bangladesh British Chambers of Commerce and theGuild of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs in UK.

He has made special contributions towards the establishmentand development of Amria Madrassa based in his own village.During the devastating flood in 1988 and in 1991 he raisedfunds 1400 pound and 11 thousand pound respectively andsent it to Bangladesh through British Red Cross Society for theflood affected people.

Mohammed Abul Lais and his brother Absar Md. Waess haveestablished a family trust after their father’s name. From thistrust named “Alhaj AB Masuk Miah Foundation” quarterly ed-ucation stipend is regularly being provided to the poor andmeritorious students of the Amria Madrassa since 1994. Pri-mary scholarship has been introduced under the auspices ofthis Foundation in 1998. Mohammad Abul Lais is the trusteeof this Foundation while his all brothers and sisters are themembers.

Mohammad Abul Lais got married in 1984 with NazmaKhatun Qureshi, and they are blessed with two daughters andone son. First daughter Shumana Lais obtained Honours de-gree in investment Banking and finance, from Reading Uni-versity, currently working for KPMG as an auditor and alsostuding ACA, 2nd daughter Saeera Lais is in secondary school.Son Shumel Lais, is studying Business and marketing inBournmouth University.

Khurshed S H

SECTOR: Media and Entertainment

Mohammad Abul Lais

SECTOR: Catering


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Mohammed Liton was born in 1964 inGourkaran, Kulaura Upzailla, in Moulvibazardistrict. He is the son of Dr M A Sahid (RtdPost Master) and Mrs Saleha Sahid. Mr Liton’searly education was begun in Juri primarySchool. He completed Secondary Educationin N C High School Kulaura and higher sec-ondary education in Kulaura Degree College.During studying commerce degree course inKulaura Degree College he went to USA tostudy BBA at Wisconsin University in 1987.

Mr Liton settled to London in 1990, lived inCamden started his career in catering. Afterfive years he decided to move Scottish capi-tal Edinburgh. By the 1987, Mr Liton openeda first Bangladeshi restaurant in Penicuik ofMidlothian council which was named Clip-pers..In the meantime, he gained useful experi-ence working in different places. He also vol-unteered with Citizen Advice Bureau andhelped many Bangladesh people from hisvoluntary capacity.

Recently, Mohammed Liton won the mostprestigious ‘Best Community ContributionAward 2010’ given by Edinburgh EveningNews newspaper. The winners have been an-nounced in a ceremony was held at the Holy-rood Road, head office of the newspaper on10th August 2010. The Best CommunityContribution award received more than 3000nominations while more than. Commentingon this awards Evening News quoted - ‘‘ Mohammed Liton, Member of Edinburgh

Bangladesh Association, has raised for anumber of causes, including the EdinburghSick Kids hospital and children's cancer char-ity, Clic Sargent in collaboration with local girlChirsty Harrison who was diagnosed withcancer several years ago.

Mr Liton, 45, is a devoted sponsor of many oflocal civic events, including Penicuik’s annualgala day, amateur football club and even thelocal rugby club. He has also recently spon-sored the Beeslack Thistle Football Club, AirTraining Corps, Eskmill Boys Club, BeeslackAll Stars Disabled Sports Club, March BurnPlaygroup, Penicuik Hearts Supporters Club,Penicuik Athletic FC and Penicuik RugbyClub. Philanthropist Mr Liton is always keen to lenda hand with fundraising efforts for deservingcauses and even invites primary school kidsto his restaurant, The Clippers, to learn theBangladeshi culture through cuisine andskills of cooking. Mr Liton is married with Kadira Begum. Hehas two sons and one daughter. His eldestson Nazrul is now studying law at DundeeUniversity, second son Habibul is studying inSterwart Melville College and youngerdaughter is in Craigmount high school.

Mr Liton believes through hard work andperseverance anything can be achieved andis a firm believer in giving back to the com-munity for which the restaurateur is widelyrecognised for his generosity and hospitality.

Mohammad Liton

SECTOR: Catering & Community


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Taysir Mahmud is very well known in theBritain Bangladeshi community as a com-mitted professional journalist. He is servingas the Executive Editor of the 21 year oldBengali Newspaper, weekly Notun Din.

Mr. Mahmud was born in 1974 at VobaniPur village of the Moulvi Bazar district, Bar-lekha Upozella, under Shahbaz Pur Union.His father Alhaz Muhammad Abdul Motlibis a respected person in the area. Mr. Mah-mud passed SSC in 1993 and HSC in 1995both in first divisions. He passed the Kamil(The highest degree of Madrasha educa-tion) in 1999. At the same time he took aBA degree from the Sylhet MC UniversityCollege.

As a student he became involved in jour-nalistic activities as a staff reporter on theDaily Sylhet Bani newspaper at Sylhet, Hewent on to become the sub-editor for thenewspaper. He later established a powerfulnews agency in Sylhet named Media line.At one stage Mr. Taysir was at daily Jalal-abad newspaper as Senior staff reporter. Atthe same time he worked as a ProgrammeCompiler in the Radio Bangladesh, SylhetCentre. He was a permanent member of

the Sylhet Press Club.

In the past, Mr. Mahmud had also set up acompany called Al Saiyyan Private Limitedwith thirty directors. He was chair of thecompany.

Mr. Mahmud arrived in UK in 2003. Hestarted his career as a News Editor in NotunDin. In 2007 he was appointed as the Exec-utive Editor of the paper.

Mr. Mahmud got married in 2006 toFarhana Mahmud, the daughter of the re-spected community leader Atik Miah ofHazipur Golapgonj, Farhana Mahmud is aScience teacher at a secondary school inEast London. They are the parent of twochildren, Jibreel Mahmud and Sarah Mah-mud. The family resides in Bethnal Green.

He came to the UK in 1981 with his parents.Originally from village Muftir Gaon, Biswanath,Sylhet. His father is Late Alhaj Aftab Ali.

He graduated in Law from Queen Mary Uni-versity of London and did his Legal PracticeCourse at University of Westminster. Hestarted working as a Legal Executive with a so-licitors firm in Whitechapel, London in 1989and set up his own firm - Malik & Co in 1998.He is one of the most popular lawyers fromthe Bangladeshi Community in the UK. Heserved thousands of people during the last 20years of his legal practice.

In 2008 he became a Barrister and is a mem-ber of the Gray’s Inn.He is still practising as a Consultant Solicitorwith Capital Solicitors LLP in London.

He covers many areas of law including prop-erty, housing, immigration, human rights,family, criminal and civil litigation. His out-standing contribution to the community wasto help create more than 40 lawyers duringthe past 20 years by offering them the oppor-tunity to gain legal training.

Mr. Malik is married with 3 daughters. Apart from his legal work, he is actively in-volved with media. Mr. Malik is the owner and

Chief Editor of 2 well-established newspapers- The Muslim Weekly and Weekly Bangladesh(since 2003). He was formerly the Editor ofDaily Bangladesh and Weekly Euro Bangla. Heis also actively involved with charity work andthe chairman of Help the People Trust (UK reg-istered charity).

Taysir Mahmud

SECTOR: Media

Ahmed Abdul Malik

SECTOR: Legal


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Dr. Abdul Malik has achieved many qualifi-cations throughout the years, all of whichhave been well earned and very deserving.He studied in the University of Dhaka inBangladesh were he gained a BSc. Honoursin Chemistry in 1967, and then a MSc. in thesame subject a year later. He then arrived inthe UK where he continued studying, in aUniversity in London. Here, he also got a PhDand an MSc.

He was an Associate Professor and a Profes-sor of Chemistry in the University of Dhakafor 13 years from 1980 to 1993. Earlier, in1975, he was a lecturer in Science for Hack-ney Technical College and then in 1975-1980, he became the Research Associate inQueen Mary College. Afterwards, Dr. Malikwas a Lecturer in Chemistry and ServiceManager of National Crystallography Re-search Centre, in University of Wales Cardifffrom 1991-2003.

Dr. Abdul Malik has also been writing for var-ious Bangla and English newspapers pub-lished in both England and in Bangladesh.He has written 380 research papers on thesubject of Chemistry as well as published 3books on contemporary political and socialissues.

He is Founder and Management CommitteeChair of Sahera-Nasir Vocational, Technicaland Agricultural College, Chair ofBangladesh Educational and Cultural Societyin Cardiff, the Adviser of International Expa-triates Welfare Society, Trustee of Dr. TayeebHossain Foundation, and Joint Convenor of‘Save the Bangladesh Rivers’ campaignbased in the UK. He was the General Secre-tary of Bangladesh Chemical Society and acampaigner for the Bangladesh LiberationStruggle. Moreover, Dr. Malik is a professional Memberof Royal Society of Chemistry and CharteredChemist, a life member of BangladeshChemical Society and Bangladesh Associa-tion for the Advancement of Science.

The award for Bangladesh Academy of Sci-ences Gold Medal was given to him in 1988.He won the Third World Academy of Scienceprize, the Justice Ibrahim memorial GoldMedal, Hari Prasanna Roy Gold Medal andthe Mithapur High School Gold Medal toname a few.

At present, he lives with his wife and threedaughters and is the Chair of BangladeshSwadhinata Gobeshana Kendro andBangladesh Educational and Cultural Society.

Abdul Malique came to the United Kingdomin 1980 when he joined his father Mr Muham-mad Wahid Ali who was living inIpswich. They come from the village of MirzaShohid Pur, Balagonj, Sylhet. Mr Malique’sfather came to UK in 1965 and a year laterbought his own home.During that time he was working for a rep-utable company called’ Crane’ who specialisedin galvanised products and he was also in-volved in various businesses including prop-erty and money transfer.

In 1993 Abdul Malique left West Ham Com-munity College with a BTec National Diplomain Business and Finance. After completing theNational Diploma he was involved in numberof office appointments which included work-ing at ‘New Scotland Yard’ In 2002 Mr Maliquedecided to start his own Finance brokeragefirm, and since its inception, the business hasgrown very rapidly and is very successful.Currently his finance firm is in Burdett Road,London. The Firm is trading under MoneylinkFinance.

He is the senior mortgage consultant of thecompany and they are directly authorised bythe Financial Services Authority. The firm’s clientele include investors, first timebuyers and ethnic origin such as Middle

Eastern. Eastern, European and AfroCaribbean. From their Mile End office theyalso have a property company attached,known as Bluestone Real Estates. This com-pany covers areas such as Sales, Lettings, Man-agement and Commercial Sales.Mr Malique has also donated to several chari-ties both here in the UK as well as inBangladesh, and has helped the poor peopleof his home village.

Abdul Malique is a very active person con-stantly seeking for new challenges and busi-ness opportunities; he currently has aportfolio of investment properties both in UKand Europe such as in Bulgaria.

Mr Abdul Malique also participates in sportingactivities such as badminton, swimming andfitness classes, which are his pastimes.He is married with two children.

Dr. Khalifa Mohammad Abdul MalikPhD, CChem, MRSC

SECTOR: Academia

Abdul Malique CeMap

SECTOR: Property and Finance


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Ajmal Masroor is the Liberal Democrat Par-liamentary Candidate for Bethnal Greenand Bow constituency in London Boroughof Tower Hamlets.

He is a broadcast journalist specialising onIslam and Muslim issues. He presents regu-lar programmes on the Islam Channel andChannel S. He has been a production con-sultant TV programmes such as Shari’ah TV,Make Me a Muslim and the Quran for Chan-nel 4 and Celebrity Lives Shariah style forthe BBC. He has written for the Guardian’scomment is free and BBC websites, theNew Statesman and the Evening Standardand has regular page in the EMEL maga-zine. He in regularly invited to contributeand comment on news stories by BBC, CNNand other mainstream media.

He is a trainer providing training on peaceand reconciliation, citizenship, governance,democracy and contextualised Islam toyoung people across Europe and has takenpart in peace building initiatives in variouscountries including Lebanon and Jordan. He is regularly invited to speak on issues onintegration, Islam in the modern world,Muslim community, and topics that relate

to social and political changes within vari-ous communities.He is currently the director of Communitiesin Action Enterprises that provides adviceand support to statutory and non-govern-mental organisations including the BritishCouncil, Department of Health, NHS, Policeand local authorities. He has published anumber of guides including ”RamadanHealth Guide”, ”Mark of Faith” and ”Islam-phobia and Anti-Semitism training man-ual” and ”Organisational Capacity buildinghandbook”.

He has worked in the voluntary and statu-tory sector for over twenty years in variouspositions and capacities such as a youthworker, community organiser, communitydevelopment advisor and cultural relationsconsultant. He was the vice-chair for theLondon Civic Forum and he lead the cam-paign ”standing together against intoler-ance” post the 9/11 attacks in the USA.

He has studied Politics, Arabic language,counselling and completed an MA in Is-lamic Studies. He leads Friday prayers inseveral Mosques across London.

Alhaj Manik Meah was born in 1942 in the vil-lage of Nalbohor, Tilpara, Beanibazar, Sylhet.He is the son of Late Arob Ali. Alhaj Manik Meah first came to the UnitedKingdom in 1963 and it was in 1969 heopened his first restaurant.Currently he has interests in the Catering in-dustry and the property market here in Eng-land; moreover he also has investments in thePlastics Industry in Bangladesh.

Mr Meah was educated in his own village. Hecompleted his Secondary School Education inVictoria High School, Bangladesh.He then went on to successfully complete hisHigher Secondary Education from Sylhet MCCollege. After arriving in the United Kingdom,Mr Manik Meah obtained a Diploma in Eng-lish.

He is presently Acting-Chairman of theWeekly Notun Din, a Bengali language news-paper based in the UK. Mr Meah is also deeplyengrossed in community and social work. Heorganised the 1971 liberation movement inthe UK and also raised funds for that war. Heis the Senior Vice Chairman of the BangladeshCaterers Association,of which he is the present Chief Treasurer. Ad-ditionally Mr Manik Meah is the former Presi-dent of the Beani Bazar Jonokollayon Shomity,

as well as a trustee of the Beani Bazar Educa-tion Trust UK.Besides his involvement in the above-men-tioned organisations, Mr Meah is a Director ofthe Monthly Village Digest, Chairman ofProbashi Nal Bohor Shomity. In relation to thecharity work he has been occupied with, hehas set up the Hafizia Madrasha in his ownvillage as well as donating to Mosques,Madrasas, schools and colleges, as well as tothe poor.

Mr Meah also visits the holy city of Mecca dur-ing the month of Ramadan every year, and thishelps him enhance his faith.Mr Alhaj Manik Meah is married to SalmaKhanom from Golapganj.They have four children, two sons and twodaughters.

Ajmal Masroor

SECTOR: Politics and Media

Alhaj Manik Meah

SECTOR: Business


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Abjol Miah is a former Councillor for theLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets, he hasbeen the leader of Respect OppositionGroup since 2006 and currently sits onTower Hamlets Overview Scrutiny Commit-tee and made contribution on the StrategicDevelopment and Development Commit-tee.

Abjol Miah is a member of the Respect Na-tional Committee. Mr Miah read BA SocialAnthropology and Sociology at GoldsmithsUniversity of London. He has a wealth ofexperience in youth and community work.Councillor Miah has 15 years of Youth andCommunity work experience with TowerHamlets Council, 5 years experience work-ing with voluntary sector community or-ganisations, 2 years as a drug preventioneducation officer for Healthy Schools and3 years working at the Drug Action Team.

Councillor Miah was the founding chair ofTower Hamlets Muslim Advisory Group tothe Metropolitan Police Borough Com-mander, as well as serving in other commu-nity organisations board. In his limited spare time Councillor Miah isInvolved in various voluntary organisation

in the borough as well as being a presenterof the locally acclaimed radio show EasyTalk. His passion for charity work led him todrive from Brick Lane to Sylhet, Bangladeshin order to raise funds for cyclone victimsand with Viva Palestine enter Gaza and giveaid to its people.

Being a man with a sense of justice, equal-ity and community, He has led on manycampaigns including defending councilhousing and tackling over crowding, op-posing drug dealing, poverty, justice forthe people of Palestine, invasion of Iraq andAfghanistan, racism of all forms as well asmany other issues. A family man, he is happily married with 4children (2 daughters and 2 sons) and en-joys fishing, cycling and sports.

Mr Miah is a Martial art instructor, he is a Sil-ver and bronze UK medallist in Stick Fight-ing, Represented Britain in 1994 World StickFighting Championship in the Philippines.He currently teaches Martial Art to childrenand young people.

Faruk Miah MBE was born in the village ofNowa Gaow (Kolkoli Union) Jagonnathpur,Sunamgonj. He is the eldest child of late HaziAbdul Wahid whom he came to join in Leeds,West Yorkshire in 1978.

Faruk has been working in the Further Educa-tion sector since 1990. Firstly with the localauthority in Leeds in research & communitydevelopment and then, following the incor-poration of Colleges in 1993, he joined ParkLane College (now Leeds City College) as anICT lecturer. From 2001 to 2010 he was Headof Centre at various Adult Education Centresacross Leeds. He also played a key role in thedevelopment of the College’s InternationalStrategy which included visits to India, Pak-istan and Bangladesh to promote the College.

In July 2010 Faruk moved to London to takeup a new challenge as the Head of Pro-grammes for Business, ICT, Languages, Health& Fitness at Tower Hamlets Lifelong LearningService. He is passionate about learning andthe opportunity to make a positive differenceto learner’s lives.

Faruk gained his Certificate in Education fromthe University of Leeds whilst studying for hisB.A. (Hons) in Management Administration atLeeds Metropolitan University.

Faruk believes it’s important for everyone togive something back to the local communitywhere we live. He has made significant contri-bution on the Boards of variouscommunity/voluntary organisations includingbeing a governor at Hunslet Moor PrimarySchool, Chairman of Bangladeshi CET Centre(SL) and Al-Madina Jame Masjid and a Non-Ex-ecutive Director at ABDN.

Faruk was a founder of ASSIST a pioneeringStudent Recruitment Consultants in Leeds. Heis a keen traveller having been to many partsof Europe, Middle East, South Asia and USA.

In recent years Faruk has received a number ofnational and international awards in recogni-tion of his contribution to the Further Educa-tion sector and the local community includingthe 2006 Channel S Community Award, 2009Star Award (finalist) and the most recent beingthe award of an MBE for services to Further Ed-ucation and the Community in Leeds in the2010 Queens New Years

Abjol Miah

SECTOR: Politics

Faruk Miah MBE

SECTOR: Further Education


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Alhaj Md, Noor Miah, son of Alhaj ShahidUllah and Aftera Bibi, was born on October7th 1953 at the village Suratpur under Us-maninagar Upazilla in Sylhet. He arrived inthe UK in may 1969.

He studied in the local pathshala during hisstay in Bangladesh. His father came to theUK in 1957. They are four brothers and twosisters. He came to Walsall and has been liv-ing in the same area since his arrival in thiscountry along with his mother and othertwo brothers. After coming here a few dayshe took language course in Walsall andBirmingham side by side his work. At first hestarted to work with ‘Royal Bengal restau-rant’ in Walsall where he worked from late1969 to late 1970. then he started his ownbusiness by opening a restaurant ‘GoldenCurry House’ at Sparkbrook, Birminghamwhich he ran from mid 1971 to mid 1974.then he started ‘Surma Tandoori Restaurant’in Walsall with two partners early 1975. Herestaurant’ another business ‘Rose of IndiaRestaurant’ in Stourbridge, west midlandsfrom early 1978-1982. In the mean time himand his family ran as many as fifteen restau-rants in different areas such as ‘TandooriMohol Restaurant’ in Stafford and Take awayin Aldridge.

At present he runs ‘Dilshad Restaurant’ atOldswinford in Stourbridge since late 1982and ‘Balti Bazaar Restaurant’ in Lye Stour-bridge since 1996, also ‘Stone cross Balti’ inWest Bromwich since 2002 and ‘MirchiRestaurant’ at Quarry Bank since 2001 tillnow.He also has a clothes business aswell ‘H&JSarees’ at Walsall since 1993 till now. Heopened a new business enterprise name‘Alpha Drive Merry Hill Ltd’ in May 2008 at134 Hagley Road, oldwinford, StourbridgeDY8 2JD.He is the Chairman of Walsall BangadeshiProgressive Society since 1989 till now.He got married to Monwara Khanom onJanuary 1, 1978 and they are blessed withthree daughtors and two sons. They are Ha-jera khanom, graduated from Wolverhamp-ton University, Johura Khanom graduatedfrom Walsall college, Fatima Khanom com-plete Alevel, Md, Malik Miah graduated fromDerby University and Md Ruman Miahstudying hifz in the Kidderminster Madrassa.

He was the chairman of Bangladesh YouthLeague in 1983-84 and vice chairman ofBangladesh Islamic Association andmosques for two years. He was awarded BBLAward in 2008 as a businessman.

Alhaj Mohammed Rais Miah is successfulbusinessman and is the current Assistant Sec-retary of the Birmingham Press Club. In 2008,Mr Miah was recognised for his involvementin Business & Community at the BritishBangladeshi League awards ceremony. Bornin Bangladesh, Mr Miah arrived in the UK in1969 aged fourteen.

Mr Miah completed his high school educationin the UK and continued on to further educationand gained a Diploma in Business and Account-ing. Whilst completing his studies, Mr Miahworked part time as a waiter and gained valu-able skills and knowledge of the industry.This helped Mr Miah to open his first establish-ment in 1978 in Brierley Hill called the Rose ofBengal which was an instant success and con-sequently opened the Tandoori Mahal inStafford. Mr Miah recognised the demand in themarket for Indian Food at the time which laterled to twenty two more restaurants in the UK.

During the eighties there was an influx ofyoung unskilled Bangladeshis arriving in theUK who only had the option to work a in a fac-tory or restaurant. Mr Miah recognised theirpotential and had the privilege of trainingmany of these young men, some later wenton to became business partners or buyers. MrMiah is still involved in the restaurant industry;

however, the property industry is also high onhis agenda. In recent years, Mr Miah has alsobeen an active member of the Bangladeshicommunity in the midlands area helping withthe Bangladesh youth organisation where heserved as Secretary.

Through his successful restaurant chain MrMiah is regularly raising money for victims ofnatural disasters like the Pakistan earthquake,Tsunami and the Bangladesh cyclone. He alsoraises money for other causes such as Cher-nobyl’s Children, International Eye Saver andChildren in Need.

Mr Miah is also an advisor for the BangladeshiProgressive Society and is also serving asTreasurer for the Staffordshire and Black Coun-try Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs.In ad-dition, Mr Miah is also serving as the currentChairman of Masjid-E-Usman and inBangladesh he is the Vice Chairman of KGDSHigh School in Balagonj, Sylhet.

Mr Alhaj Mohammed Rais Miah is married andhas been blessed with six sons and threedaughters who are all in employment or fulltime education.

AL-HAJ M. NOOR MIAH


Alhaj MohammedRais Miah

SECTOR: Catering and Property


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Ana Miah is an industrious BritishBangladeshi whose business achievementsstarted at the early age of 17. In additionto owning the well known and much lovedRuchi Restaurant on Whitechapel, London,he holds Directorships and interests bothhere in the UK as well as abroad with con-glomerate ambitions.

Amongst his investment holding, he playsa pivotal role to a number of company’s in-cluding; Maritimus, a multinational shipbuilding organisation situated in chor-kishorgonj dhaka occupying 70 acre con-struction enclosure servicing both Euro-pean interests as well as the Far-East; HillView Properties, Estate Development andManagement firm based in Khadim ParaSylhet currently developing 2 acre residen-tial 14 story apartment building with 900cover restaurant , commercial and socialenclave; and Venue Entourage X, an Ital-ianate-Style Banqueting venue and 200cover restaurant at the former Leyton TownHall in London.

Ana Miah born in 1967 in Shiramishi, Jo-gothanpur, Sylhet holds in high esteem, hislate father Haji Nozir Miah from whom he

gained his business accruements and inspi-ration, and his mother Fateha Khanom whohas been his bed-rock even to this day. AnaMiah acknowledges his achievementsstemmed from a strong family bond .

In addition to being an astute business-man, Ana Miah’s social contribution ex-tends to helping a number of charitableorganisations. As patron and ambassadorhis work helps some of Bangladesh’s poor-est people including orphan children anddestitute elders, as well as providing em-ployment for 10,000 people so they areable to support their families in turn.

Mr Anawar Babul Miah was born in 1972 andhails from Holiarpara, Jagganathpur Thana inthe Sylhet region of Bangladesh. He is the sonof Alhaj Barik Miah, the Chairman of BarikMiah Investments UK.

Anawar was called to the Bar by the Hon-ourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in 1998, andhas since established a reputation both inBritain and Bangladesh as one of the top prac-tising Barristers of Bangladeshi heritage in theUnited Kingdom. He practices law from GreatJames Street Chambers in London, listed inthe Legal 500 directory of ‘Who’s Who in theLaw’, and this has surely come about becauseof his involvement in many high profile legalcases. His chambers have been involved in no-table cases including acting in cases associ-ated with the September 11th attacks in NewYork and cases involving the Enron Corpora-tion of America scandal. His chambers havealso been involved in publications such as theleading authority on Extradition and MutualAssistance published by Sweet and Maxwelland ‘Blackstone’s Guide to the Terrorism Act2006’ published by Oxford University Press.

Anawar also has a direct access licence fromThe General Council of the Bar through whichhe advises high net worth individuals andcompanies directly. Anawar has written nu-

merous articles on law and current affairswhich have been published. Aside from his lifein law, Anawar is involved in his family busi-ness which owns and operates an extensivenetwork of different companies.

Anawar is married to Sony Sadaf Haroon, whois also a Barrister of the Honourable Society ofLincoln’s Inn, and the daughter of HaroonRashid, the Chairman of Haroon Group inDhaka. Anawar and Sony have two sons(Mikhaail and Daniyaal) and two daughters(Saarah and Saasha).Anwar’s wife recently set up her own firm.

Anawar’s pastimes include travelling, readingEnglish literature and studying traditionalEnglish architecture. He divides his time be-tween his homes in Northamptonshire, Hert-fordshire and Dhaka.

Ana Miah

SECTOR: Business (Shipbuilding)

Anawar Babul Miah

SECTOR: Legal (Barrister


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Born in Rajnagar upazilla in MoulvibazarBangladesh, Dr. Moula Miah came to the UKat the age of 16 after finishing his secondaryschool education. In the UK achieved a na-tional diploma in Business Studies. He thenin their own business of manufacturing tra-ditional clothing. Soon, he launched his firstmulti-award winning restaurant Rajnagar in1987 and followed by a successful Group ofRestaurants, as well as residential hotels andland and property development business inthe UK and abroad.

Since then, he has won and been recom-mended for many awards including theCentec Business Enterprise investor in peo-ple award, Michelin Guide Highly Recom-mended for the last 13 years. He has wonthe British Curry awards 2005 and 2006, SFHAward, BOBS 2008 Award and many morethroughout the years. Alongside this, he ob-tained his doctorate in Business Manage-ment in 2005.

Dr. Moula has also helped many charitiesacross the UK and Bangladesh. He hasfunded for many institutions and infrastruc-ture building on top of offering scholarshipsto talented studentsDr Moula is also a director of Hotel White

Pearl in Dhaka, the proprietor of the EastWest Trading Corporation and the propri-etor of ‘Jonoprotthasha’, a weekly publishednewspaper in Moulvibazar. He has pub-lished a grammar book called “A CompleteEnglish Grammar”.

Moreover, Dr. Moula is involved with theBangladeshi community welfare. At the mo-ment, he is the Chairman of Rajnagar Inter-national Group of Businesses and East WestTrading Corporation UK and Bangladesh,Chairman of Dr Moula foundation, founderof Rajnagar degree college masjid; Ba-hadurganj Furkania masjid and madrasacomplex, a Founder and President of theGuild of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs, lifemember Moulvibazar and London BanglaPress Club and a Senior Vice-President of theBangladesh Nationalists Party (West Mid-lands), to name a few. Dr. Moula has do-nated to several charities.

Son of Alhaj Mohammed Mastafa and Moy-mona Khatun, Dr Moula is married toFarhana Begum Choudhury and is blessedwith two daughters Saleha and Fabiha Sul-tana and two sons Md.Taushifur andMustafizur Rahman, who are always very en-couraging and supportive.

Jusna Begum Miah is a barrister and practicemanager at M R Solicitors in Gants Hill. She wascalled to the Bar of England and Wales bythe Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in 1998.Jusna comes from the village of Patkura, Mon-doli Bhug, Jagannathpur. Her father is Mr AnisRahman and her mother Mrs Fulesa Khatun.

Mrs Miah completed her primary education inBangladesh, before coming to the UK whereshe obtained seven GCSE’s and also three ALevels. She then read law at the University ofWestminster, and after completing her LLB(Hons) she embarked on the Bar VocationCourse at BPP Law School. After being calledshe has worked as a barrister from M R Solici-tors.Prior to her legal career, Jusna Begum Miah wasa bilingual health care assistant at the RoyalLondon Hospital for some eight years from1990. She was then elected as a Councillor inMay 1998, for St Peters Ward, Bethnal Green.This made her the first elected Sylheti femaleCouncillor in Tower Hamlets.

Whist a Councillor Jusna served on numerouspanels, including the education and housingscrutiny panels. She was also a member ofthe board of directors for Spitalfields commu-nity Trust and a member of Toynbee housing,to name a few. Mrs Miah is also a patron for

Tower Hamlets Parent Centre.Jusna is also deeply connected with bothBritish as well as Bangladeshi Politics. Here sheis a member of the Labour Party, and has beena delegate on EC, GMC and LGC and also a stu-dent and Youth officer for the Bethnal Greenand Bow Constituency, she was also chair of theWhitechapel ward from 2002 to 2004.In relation to Bangladeshi politics, Jusna is Pres-ident of the UK BNP Mohila Dal and has repre-sented them in the Houses of Parliament.Furthermore, she is the Chairperson forBangladesh Female Academy UK Committee,a post she has held since April 2007.

Jusna Begum Miah makes regular appearanceson the various British Bangladeshi televisionchannels such as Channel S and Bangla TV, in-cluding the talk shows and legal advice pro-grammes. She has also received numerousaccolades, including the Channel S award in2006 and the Lekkhok Somithy UK award in2002.Jusna Begum Miah is married to MohammedFarid Uddin and they reside in London.

Dr M G Moula MiahDBA. MIH. FRSA

SECTOR: Business and Community Relation

Jusna Begum Miah

SECTOR: Legal


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Arju Miah was born in Bangladesh but de-cided to move to the UK where he startedstart to work in the restaurant business.He went into this with the intention to pro-vide the finest for all his customers and tohave the most outstanding restaurant.Such devotion and hard work to satisfy cus-tomers and achieve to the best of his abil-ity, has not gone unrecognized, as Mr. ArjuMiah has received many awards through-out the years. A few to name are; the BritishCurry Award 2006 and 2007, Master Chefrole of Honour 1999-2000, Silver Awardfrom the Gourmet Wining and DiningGuide 1992 and the British BangladeshBusiness Link Award 2007 for the Best 50Restaurant within the UK.

Mr. Arju Miah further involves himself withmany voluntary jobs; which had led him toreceive the MBE from the Queen in 2003. He was the first Asian President in 80 yearsfor Chippenham and District Chambers ofCommerce and Industry, vice president for2 years and the treasurer for 8 years forthe Bangladesh Association Swindon, he isalso the Founder Trustee and treasurer ofthe Hazrat Shajal Mosque in Swindon, he isthe Founder member and Vice Chairman of

the Jagonnathpur British-Bangla EducationTrust, and furthermore the Board of direc-tors and former UK Chairman for the BFA,also member of the British Bangla Cham-ber of Commerce BBCC as well as Chairmanof the greater Dawrai Community Associa-tion UK and so the list goes on. In additionto that he is the managing director of theTaj Mahal and the member of Federation ofsmall business (FSB) in North Wiltshiresince 1984. He is the founder member andthe Board of directors and former Chair-man for the BFA.

He has fundraised for Cancer Research forWessex Children Hospice and many or-phanages in Bangladesh. He was the Coor-dinator for the SIDR Cyclone BangladeshAppeal and has recently been raising fundsfor the Bangladesh Female Academy; a freeschool for the girls from the underprivi-leged areas of Bangladesh, the academywas opened at 2006.Mr. Arju Miah is married with five children,and due to their support he is in this posi-tion today.

Md Harun Miah comes from the village ofLamachandanpur under Budhbari BazarUnion in Golapgong Upazilla of the SylhetDistrict. His father is Alhaj Moboshir Ali and hismother Surojan Bibi. Mr Miah came to the UKin 1972 where he completed his O’Levels. Md.Harun Miah is married to Minara Begum andthey have four children, two sons and twodaughters.An eminent business personality and estab-lished Social Worker, Harun Miah has played avital role in the field of Social Services. He isassociated closely with many Socio – Culturaland Social Welfare Organisations both insideand outside of the country.

Harun Miah is one of the Trustees of the Lon-don Based Bangladesh Centre, a Member ofthe Bangladesh Welfare Association UK,Trustee of the Golapgonj Education Trust anda member of the British Bangladesh Chamberof Commerce (BBCC). He was also the treas-urer of the Golden Jubilee Celebration Com-mittee, as well as being a member of theBritish Cheque Cashers Association andUKMTA and is also Chairman of Al-EmdadSchool and College.

Mr Miah owns a number of business under theKushiara name which include ‘Kushiara Cash& Carry’, Kushiara Financial Services worldwide

money transfer and bureau de change andKushiara Travels Ltd in Commercial Road EastLondon. In addition he is also the owner ofBangla Frozen Food Ltd, Quality Sea Foodsand anewsagent situated in Burslem Street, Lon-don. Md Harun Miah has not only workedhard in the UK to distinguish himself but alsohas worked relentlessly in his Home countryof Bangladesh where he was one of the indi-viduals who helped establish and build Glo-lapgonj Lamachandanpur Jame Masjid and hemade a valuable contribution towards theconstruction of a village road in Chandanpurand a bridge in Kotlipara – BashantapurRoad in 1998.

He is Director of Shahjalal Islami Bank inBangladesh, and has invested in Dhaka StockExchange. He is also a director of Pritom Hoteland Holiday Planet in Dhaka, Rupali Sea FoodsLTD in Khulna in Bangladesh.Mr Miah has been a long serving pillar of thecommunity not only as a distinguished SocialWorker but as a successful Business Man set-ting up beneficial organisations in the UK andin Bangladesh and has been dividing his timebetween both countries.

Arju Miah MBE

SECTOR: Catering

Md Harun Miah

SECTOR: Business


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Mohammed Sho�que Miah was born in1954 of a local reputed family of Khojar Kholain Sylhet City. His father is late MohammedSoab Miah, grandfather opt reputed Khan Ba-hadur Mujammil Ali and mother Ms NessaBegum. He has 5 brothers and 3 sisters.Educated up to secondary level, Mr Miah mi-grated to England in 1977 to set up the familyand to immerse in community politics andworked ceaselessly to promote social welfare,tackling homelessness, educational under-achievement, racism and community cohe-sion. Among numerous initiatives, he playeda special role in setting up local projects andhad encouraged fellow Bangladeshis in com-munity involvement.Founder of Mitali Housing Co-operative in1984, now a successful RSL, the KhelaghorSupplementary school and first ever commu-nity library, set up mother tongue Bengali lan-guage teaching projects in East Londonbetween 1982-1990, elected as the firstBangladeshi parent governor of Blue GateFields Infants and Primary School between1982-2002 and a long standing parents andcommunity governor at Stepney Green Sec-ondary School between 1994-2007. Electedas the chair of Tower Hamlets Parents Associ-ation since 1987, Shofique Miah carried out adetailed study of the need for wider involve-ment of the parents to offset educational de-cline in the 80’s. He played a vital role in therecruitment of school governors in TowerHamlets, teachers in the community in the

wake of teachers’ exchange programme ofBluegate Fields and Sylhet Khasdhobir Schooland later set up an umbrella group, the collec-tive of Bangladeshi School Governors in TowerHamlets in 1987. In 1995, Shofique Miah mo-bilized the Bangladeshi community againstthe decision of the Northern ExaminationBoard to reverse their decision to drop teach-ing of the Bengali Language and succeeded.

The Brick Lane Trust under Shofique Miah’sleadership carried out an ongoing campaignto set up the Shaheed Minar in honour of theBengali language Myrters of 1952 which cul-minated in the first ever language Myrtersstatue at the Altab Ali park, 1998. ShofiqueMiah played a crucial role to act as the treas-urer and became Chair of the EducationalSub-Committee of Tower Hamlets Race Equal-ity Council 1990-2004. Shofique Miah metwith national dignitaries including Prime Min-ister Tony Blairwho he met in 2004, receivedseveral media awards and the Queen’s GoldenJubilee Civic Award, 2002. Mr Miah is a free-dom fighter during the year of BangladeshLiberation in 1971 and organised partisans inthe Meghaloy and Zaflong areas in India andSylhet.He married Mrs K. Hashim Choudhury in 1977and has two sons and three daughters; sonAzizul is a London metropolitan police officerand daughters Reksona graduated in Middle-sex University and Afsana in the University ofEast London.

Muhammed Ayas Miah is one of the very fewchartered accountants of British BangladeshiCommunity. Apart from being a very success-ful CA he is also an eminent communityworker and a successful entrepreneur. He isjust 34 years old.

In 1993 he came to UK. After completing hisHonours and Masters he completed ACCA in2002 and then ACPA. Later, he started his firm‘AM Accountancy Service’ in Ben Jonson Road,East London. This firm deals with Accounting,auditing, VAT consultancy, Taxation, BusinessPlanning etcetera. At present, professionalsfrom different ethnicity work in his firm. Hisclients are predominantly from Bangladesh,Pakistan, India, and UK.

He received Channel S Award as one of the 50Community contributors of the new genera-tion and award from Newham Welfare Trustfor his contribution and achievement.

He is also a very successful businessman. Hehas two ‘cash and carry’s Lalbagh 1 and Lal-bagh 2 at Stepney and Poplar. He owns a takeaway called ‘Spice’ at Newbury Park.

He actively takes part in community activities.

He is the Chair of Ocean Business Association,Advisor of Doshghor Probashi Society, Mem-ber of Greater Sylhet Development and Wel-fare Council, founder chair of South PoplarVictim Support Group, General Secretary ofPoplar Mother Tounge School. He is trustee ofBiswanath Education Trust and Dosh GhorProgati Trust.

He was a member of Bishwanath ProbashiShongho, UK. He served as the secretary ofEast London BNP and Assistant Secretary ofUK Chatrodol.

He is originally from Dhorarai village ofDoshghor Union, Bishwanath Upozila, Sylhet.His father is Haji Abul Hossain and mother isPiara Begum.

He got married to Nasima Siddiqa in 1998 andnow is a father of two daughters and a son.

Mohammed Sho�que Miah


Muhammed AyasMiah

SECTOR: Accountancy and business


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Son of Late Abdul Wahid, Noonu Miah wasborn in Moulvibazar in 1963. There he com-pleted his SSC in 1979 and then in 1981 hisHSC and studied BA until he arrived in theUK in 1983.

In the UK he started his career as a Bengaliteacher. As he had bigger dreams and am-bitions he wanted to fulfil he moved onfrom teaching.

He married Rekha Begum in 1985.

Mr Miah’s first business was Pataka Restau-rant. This restaurant has been a great suc-cess and due to this Noonu Miah was ableto establish other restaurants. He has alsobuilt up his own property business, ShantiProperty Ltd with other family members.

Mr Miah donates much of his earnings tomosques and those less privileged. Fur-thermore, Mr Miah was elected as Chair-man of Bangladesh Shamity Edinburgh.

He has also initiated the ‘Bangla Fun Club’ inhis restaurant to promote the Bengali cul-ture. There have also been many successfulevents held in Edinburgh by the

Bangladesh Shamity since his appointmentas Chairman.

Mr Miah lives with his wife and kids. He hasfour daughters and a son, all of whom lifetheir father are hard working and have thedrive to do well through education. His eld-est daughter Dr Farzana Muhith MBCHM isworking as a Doctor. Second daughterFarmin is studying Chemistry at the Univer-sity of Edinburgh. Nazmi, Saima and Abedare the younger three who are all in school.They like their elder siblings intend to gointo further education.

Rohema Miah is an experienced political ad-visor having worked over the past ten yearswith a number of senior politicians.She has served as a political assistant to MsOona and the Rt. Hon. Harriet Harmen QC. MPas well as other recognised politicians.

Throughout her career, Ms. Miah has cam-paigned for the need for equal opportunitiesand better community relations and contin-ues in her role as BAME Advisor. She hasdemonstrated a commitment to end social ex-clusion and child poverty in addition to hercampaign for sustainable development.She has visited Bangladesh on numerous oc-casions with senior politicians and celebritiesand has campaigned strongly on the issue ofglobal warming.

Among many of her achievements, Ms. Miahhas helped launch the English for speakers ofother languages (ESOL) Consultation forDUIS Minister John Denham MP as well as de-livering numerous Executive Public Affairsroles for high profile government initiatives.Earlier this year Ms Miah organised and co-or-dinated the Ethnic Catering Alliance Rally heldin Trafalgar Square She is also an advisor tovarious Asian and non-Asian organisationsincluding the International Commission ofPeace (ICOP) and the Muslim Women's Net-

work; part of an initiative set up by the formerMinister for Trade and Investment, the Rt. Hon.Patricia Hewitt MP.

She was a Director for the Commission onBritish Muslims and Islamophobia and Jer-maine Jackson’s NGO, Earthcare Internationalas well as serving as the Policy and Develop-ment Officer for the Centre of Muslim Affairs(2006-2007).

Within the last few years, she has also coordi-nated interfaith projects to create a better un-derstanding such as Alif Aleph, anorganisation promoting dialogue betweenMuslims and Jews. As an Ambassador forpeace for a UN affiliated organisation Ms Miahvisited Palestine and the Gaza and has lobbiedcontinuously on the plight of the Palestiniansand for the removal of the Apartheid Wall MsMiah was an Executive Founding member andPress Officer for the Muslims for Labour Group(2003-2005) as well as a Political ConsultantAdvisor for the launching of the ofUMCOR/Muslim Aid Partnership in Parliament.Her present activities include being a Trusteeat the Henna Foundation and a Political AffairsAdvisor for MUSIAD UK.

Noonu Miah


Rohema Miah

SECTOR: Civil Service


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Shanur Miah was born on the in February1964, in the village of Araihal in Moulav-ibazar Sador. His father is Haji Md AskirMiah (Akhonji) and mother Faizun Nessa.

He started his primary education in Monur-mukh Govt Primary School in Moulav-ibazar, he passed his SSC examination in1984 from Monurmukh High School. Alsoas part of his early student life he attendedin Sylhet Cadet College, to gain admissionthere he had to complete class four andfive in a year, he did not study there forlong, he studied there for one and a halfyears and then returned back to Monur-mukh High School and finished his highschool education there. After high schoolstudy, he was admitted to HabibullahBahar College in Dhaka in 1984, he couldnot finish his studies there because his fa-ther had been living in the UK since thesecond world war till now and wanted himand the rest of his family to join him.

He then came to the UK in 1988, he took atwo year course in BTEC Electronics in Brix-ton College in London. Later on he startedwork in an off licence shop and workedthere for two years. He did not feel happy

working there, he felt as though he wantedto do something more with his life. So oneday he came to Brick Lane to visit a friend’sshop, which was Sangeeta Music shop, heliked everything about the shop because itprovided books, magazines, newspapersand music from Bangladesh. After visitingthe shop he felt that this was his future toprovide for the Bangladeshi Community inthe UK.

He dedicated himself in Sangeeta for sevenyears from 1991 to 1998, the owner invitedhim to be a partner of Sangeeta which hehappily accepted.Now Shanur Miah is a successful and proudowner of Sangeeta. He resides with his wifeShahanara Akther and three children.

Celebrity Chef Tommy Miah is one of the lead-ing Bangladeshi businessmen in the UnitedKingdom where he owns the award-winningRaj Restaurant in Edinburgh, and has substan-tial property interests.Edinburgh is also the home of his uniquely in-spired Original Raj Hotel Group of individuallystyled Indian-themed boutique hotels.Without any formal training, qualifications, orbackground knowledge Tommy was attractedto catering trade in the UK. When he was 17he had started his own small takeaway.

He then moved to Edinburgh where afterbeing involved with a couple of well-regardedrestaurants, he raised enough cash to buy anear derelict cinema, which was transformedto the Raj Restaurant. It attracts a discerningclientele --writers, businessmen, sportsmen,politicians and public servants --and provideda firm foundation for business development.Tommy is the founder and promoter of the In-ternational Indian Chef of the Year Competi-tion: the most prestigious event in the Indianculinary calendar.

He has diverse business interests inBangladesh and commitments including hissignature restaurant The Heritage. He hasregular cookery programmes on BangladeshiTV and an increasing interest in projects, rang-

ing from clothing and textiles to food manu-facturing.His reputation as a media celebrity and TVchef, coupled with wide experience of inter-national dining and catering, led to the foun-dation of the City & Guilds approved TommyMiah Institute of Hospitality Management inDhaka to train young Bangladeshis and equipthem to succeed in the international hospital-ity industry.Zee TV screened a full-length documentary onTommy’s career, which was also featured byBBC2's Working Lunch business programmein the UK. Tommy made it to the GuinnessBook of Record by cooking, single-handed,the world’s largest curry -- which was thensold portion by portion to visitors at a large ex-hibition.

He is now working to expand his Original RajHotel Group chain of boutique hotels andlaunched a London hotel in 2009.His work for charities, both in Bangladesh andthe UK, includes Cancer Research UK, ShishuPolli (Sreepur Village), Centre for the Rehabili-tation of the Paralysed (CRP), and ORBIS FlyingEye Hospital. He has also been auctioned forseveral thousand pounds a time at big CharityBalls, with an offer to cook for up to 100diners anywhere in the world. He has writtenfive recipe books for UK charities.

Shanur Miah

SECTOR: Retail

Tommy Miah

SECTOR: Catering and Hospitality


www.bbwhoswho.co.uk


Yousuf Miah is a senior Management Con-sultant by profession. Politics and progress in public life has dom-inated much of his focus in the past decade.He joined the Conservatives in 1998 andhas held a number of high profile posts in-cluding contesting 2005 General Election.He served as Chairman of the NorthamptonConservatives and was elected toNorthampton Borough Council in 2003where he served in the Cabinet until 2007.In 2006, he was recognised as one of the‘Top 20 Councillors’ in the country.

Born in the village of Moyeen Pur, ChaatakThana in 1976, Yousuf is the eldest son andone of six children of the late Alhaj SazzadMiah.

After graduating in Public Administrationfrom Leicester, he joined Parliament as a re-searcher, and then worked in internationalcorporate hospitality, community develop-ment and as a corporate fundraiser. He co-founded MiahMcMahon, a training andmanagement consultancy in 2005. He isalso the founder/Director of FinePublica-tions GB. In 2005, he undertook a MBA inMarketing from Durham and studied lead-

ership at Christ Church College Oxford Uni-versity in 2006.

Yousuf’s involvement in the community isexemplary. He served as a member of theNorthamptonshire Police Authority for over5 years. He held the governorship of twoschools in addition to voluntary posts forMIND (mental health charity) and DiabetesUK.

He was one of the founding members ofthe Northamptonshire Faith Forum andChairman of the Northamptonshire MuslimCouncil. His commitment to the Northamp-ton’s Bangladeshi community is unprece-dented. He raised in excess of £1 million tobuild the Gateway Centre in 2004. He is theEx-Chairman of the NorthamptonBangladeshi Association

Yousuf is a keen sportsman and writer andhas kept a diary since he became involvedin politics in 1998. Yousuf is a member ofthe Royal Society for Asian Affairs and anExecutive Member of the Northampton-shire County Cricket Club.

Mohammed Mohed Ali (Mitu) was born inSheffield City South Yorkshire England. His fa-ther is Mr Mohammed Montaz Ali and motheris Mrs Jarina Bibi. The family’s address inBangladesh is Karmar Gow (Sharrong Bari)Post. Osmani Nogor, Balagonj Sylhet. Mr Mohammed Mohed Ali has been an inte-gral part of the Bangladeshi Community inthe city of Sheffield.

Since 2004 he has been the President of theUK Awami League, Sheffield City Branch, andhe was also a Founder of Sheffield AwamiLeague. Moreover his commitment to thecommunity include him being Vice ChairmanOf Probashi Balaganj Osmani Nogor AdeshaUpozila Sommittee. He is also Balagonj Os-mani Nogor Upozilla Education Trust Trusteeand Life Member of both Goala bazar Patagorand Goalabazar High School.He has also donated heavily to charity. Hehelped build an academic bobbon & GoalaBazar High School.He is a life member of Burunga High Schooland he is a life member of Goala Bazar Shahjo-lal Shineer Madersha, also he helped in the2004 Big flood in Bangladesh he donated Taka15 Laks in his local Osmani Nogor BalagonjUpozila in fourteen unions from in his ownfound.Mr Mohammed Mohed Ali began getting in-

volved in business in 1990 when he openedhis first restaurant.

Since then he has invested in the catering in-dustry, numerous properties, as well as a cashand carry and hotels both here in the UnitedKingdom as well as abroad. He is also a direc-tor of the Aporupa Housing development, aswell as Grand Sylhet Apart Hotel & Resort inSylhet, Bangladesh. Moreover Mr MohammedMohed Ali is Director Of Dhaka Regency FiveStar Hotel & Resort and on the Board Of Direc-tors of Tetulia Tea Co. Limited, which is basedin Banani Dhaka.In addition Mr MohammedMohed Ali Mitu is Director of Eastern FoodsCash and Carry in Sheffield and currently theowner of Saffron Indian Take Away.

Mr Mohammed Mohed Ali is married to MrsRabiya Begum. They have two sons and twodaughters namely, Rushna, Ibrahim, Fathimaand Ahnam. They are all in education and re-side in the family home in Sheffield.

Yousuf Miah

SECTOR: Politics, Management andCommunity relations

Mohammed MohedAli Mitu

SECTOR: Community Relations and Business


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Monsur Ahmed Mokis was born in Moul-vibazar, Bangladesh. He took admission inMoulvibazar Municipality Ideal HighSchool where he attained his SSC qualifica-tions. He passed the I.Com qualification in1988 and the B.Com in 1990 from Moul-vibazar Government College. He finallywent on to complete his M.Com from Ja-gannath University in Dhaka.

In 1993 he made his way to the UK After sit-ting first year Law exams at Dhaka Law Col-lege. In the UK he worked during his firsttwo years for an accountancy firm inCardiff. He then became engaged in thecatering industry setting up his own busi-ness. He currently owns a take-awayrestaurant called Bengal Chef in Cardiff.Besides his involvement in the restauranttrade, Mr Mokis has also been strongly as-sociated with politics, community workand journalism.He is involved with numerous publications,many of which he edits. He is Wales Corre-spondent for Bangla TV, Janomot andKhabar Group.He has remained heavily occupied withcommunity organisations. He is the JointSecretary of Greater Sylhet Council UK as

well as being the Chairperson of the Walesregion of that committee. He is also theGeneral Secretary of Cardiff ShahjalalBangla School and Deputy Chief Co-ordi-nator of Nirjhar Moulvibazar UK. He is asso-ciated to an abundance of othercommunity projects and committees.

In recognition of Mr Mokis’s contributionto social work and community relations hewas awarded the Distinguished LeadershipAward by the American Biographical Insti-tute (ABE). He received the MillenniumAward in the year 2000 from the AsianTimes which is published in London. More-over in 2001 he was given the OutstandingServices to the Community Wales Awardand the Millennium Award in Journalismfrom the London Academy. He has also hadthe privilege of being invited as a specialguest to a red carpet reception hosted bythe Mayor of Wales in connection with thehistoric visit of Her Majesty the Queen.

Monsur Ahmed Mokis married KhadijaKhatun in 1992. He lives in Wales with hiswife and two sons: Raqibuzzaman andRafiquzzaman. His pastimes include read-ing, photography and social work.

Mr. Jamal Uddin Mokkodus is well known inthe Britain Bangladeshi community for hisbusiness reputation and social service. Born inMondolpur village of greater Sylhet, Mr. JamalUddin came to UK in 1973 after completing hisschool. He started his career in the catering in-dustry, and after some days began his ownrestaurant business.

He started a number of restaurants. His repu-tation spread all over Britain. Significantamong his restaurants are Bilas Tanduri,Palash, Titas Raj, Garden of India, BhojonRestaurant. The Bhojon restaurant achieved animmense reputation.

Mr. Jamal Uddin has other businesses, too, likeproperty business, insurance business etc. Heis a director of the Homeland Insurance Com-pany, a chief insurance sector of Bangladesh.He is also the UK based finance director ofBangladesh Chamber of Commerce, the direc-tor of the Garden of India (Harlow), senior pa-tron of Raj (Epping), the chairman of the EssexBangladeshi Caterers Association, and thefounder of Executive Bhojon and the JamalUddin High School.

Mr. Jamal Uddin has been tirelessly serving forthe development of his community. As amemer of the Conservative Party, he has close

ties with Bangladeshi politics. Zia ur Rahmanbeing his idol, he is also a member of the UKbranch of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Mr. Jamal Uddin has immense contribution inestablishing the non resident Bangladeshi cellin Sylhet. In 1979 he married Rokeya Uddin,the daughter of the celebrated peer Tahir Aliof Hazari gaon. He fathered three children, allof them holding university degree. At presentMr. Jamal Uddin lives with his family in Houn-slow, Essex.

Monsur Ahmed Mokis


Mr. Jamal UddinMokkodus

SECTOR: Catering


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Hasina Momtaz’s current role is as a commu-nications brain behind the Mayor of London,Boris Johnson. As such, she has chosen tochallenge herself in the toughest environ-ment.

Her journey to this point tells the story of agirl who came to London from the village ofBeanibazaar, in Bangladesh, at the age of six.Because of her inability to speak English, shestruggled to adjust to life in a very differentculture and environment.From these humble beginnings she went onto study at the prestigious London School ofEconomics and Political Science (LSE), notedfor its illustrious alumni which includesHeads of State, Nobel Laureates, Historians,Philosophers, Economists and Academics. She graduated with a BSc. Honours degree inInternational Relations, Law and Sociology.

Having advised two high profile Mayors’ ofLondon – both of whom are instantly recog-nisable by their first names only; the previ-ous incumbent, Ken Livingstone, as well asthe current Mayor - Hasina has worked onsome of the biggest national and interna-tional breaking news stories of recent timessuch as the London bombings, the IPCC in-vestigation into the shooting of Jean Charlesde Menezes and the changeover of adminis-tration following the London Mayoral elec-tions in 2008. Working in the press office of a strategic,

pan-London organisation with a budget of£11bn where the elected executive has themandate of over 7.5 million Londoners, hasgiven Hasina an intimate understanding ofoperating in complex political environments,the demands of highly pressured news or-ganisations and handling high profile andsensitive media issues. It has also providedher with an opportunity to input into the ac-tivities of a dynamic, prestigious and forwardthinking organisation which makes deci-sions that impact on the daily lives of millionsof Londoners.

During her time at the Greater London Au-thority (GLA), Hasina has devised and exe-cuted wide-ranging and targeted mediastrategies, advised on interview bids for theMayor, high profile policing and crime issues,sensitive community engagement issues aswell as regularly briefing the Mayor himselfand his top team. In 2007, Hasina studied for a coveted indus-try qualification, the Chartered Institute ofPublic Relations Diploma (CIPR). Thediploma has helped Hasina to apply agreater strategic and critical perspective toher work as well as increasing her under-standing of operational/logistical planningissues surrounding communications activi-ties. It has also helped her to build on herwide-ranging expertise and in-depth knowl-edge of national, regional, local, BME, spe-cialist and trade media.

Rowshanara Moni was born in the Moul-vibazar district town in Bangladesh. She is thesixth child of Late Mohammed Samroo whowas a very well known business man in theUK, and Syeda Sufia Kanum, her mother whowas actively involved in politics in Bangladesh.

Rowshanara Moni has completed her primaryeducation in Bangladesh and came to the UKin 1984 when she was only 10 years old. Shecompleted her education in the UK. She has been singing since the age of six.Music is her passion and she can live for it.After coming to UK she joined Dishari ShilpiGushti and performed in many stage pro-grammes. When she was only 11 she per-formed in the Royal Albert Hall for the “Savethe Children Foundation” and she was singingin front of the honourable guest Princes Anne.

In 1985 she took part in the Bengali Song Con-test which was organised by Tower HamletsBorough, and won 1st prize in Folk song. In1986 she won 2nd prize in folk song and mod-ern song and 1987 and 1988 she has won 2ndprize in modern song and folk song. She hasreceived many other awards and certificatesfrom different organisations. Apart fromsinging she took great interest in acting. Thefirst stage drama she took part is in “KhottoBikkhoto” in Camden and she also took part in

many other stage dramas. She acted in thefirst Bangla TV (UK) drama, which was called“Laal Golap” written by Abdul Gaffer Chowd-hury. Rowshanara Moni regularly took part inradio dramas in the “Sunrise Radio” Bengali de-partment with Azizul Hakim. She became wellknown to the Bangladeshi community as a re-sult. She was a presenter for “Sunrise Radio” inthe Bengali department. At the age of 18 she got married inBangladesh to Mr Mohammed Iqbal who wasa Civil Engineer in the Water DevelopmentBoard in Bangladesh. She has one child whois called Aynan Shabab Iqbal.Rowshanara Moni sang in all leading channelsin the UK and from time to time she goes toEurope to perform.

In July 2009 she organised a fund raising eventfor the late baul shamraat Shah Abdul Karimand raised £10000 for his rehabilitation. In 2010 she has again organised a thanks giv-ing award to those who helped raise £10000for baul shamraat Shah Abdul Karim in 2009.She is involved in charity work too. In addition,she has great interest in politics both in the UKand Bangladesh. She is the current Women Af-fairs Secretary for the Bangladesh NationalistParty in UK. At present she is working full time in NHS as amedical administrator.

Hasina Momtaz

SECTOR: Communications/media

Rowshanara Moni

SECTOR: Arts


www.bbwhoswho.co.uk


Former Councillor and former Mayor Ghu-lam Mortuza is more commonly known forbeing the first Bangladeshi Mayor of TowerHamlets .He was born in the village ofNarikeltola of Jaggannathpur Thana underSunamgonj district and attended the Man-galchandi Nishikanta High School and thenwent to Jaggannathpur High School. MrMortuza passed his SSC exams and cameover to the UK in 1965. He initially com-pleted an English language course; and thenstudied for B.Ed at Averyhill College and alsoobtained an MA in Politics and Governmentstudies from Guildhall University.In 1975 he started up his own businessnamed AM Fashion in East London. He laterhelped establish East Community Schooland got himself involved in actively promot-ing education to the Bangladeshi commu-nity. Mr Mortuza formed theParents-Teachers Association at Canon Bur-net which consisted of parents and teachers.He supported the establishment of JalabadBangladeshi Parents Association in TowerHamlets of which he became the foundingsecretary.Actively involved in addressing housing is-sues he established Tenant Association inthe area of Spitalfields in East London; fur-thermore he played a vital role in the anti-racism movement through Tower HamletsLaw Centre and Tower Hamlets Associationfor Racial Equality. Moreover Ghulam Mor-

tuza launched a movement demanding therecruitment of Bilingual Teachers in TowerHamlets schools and colleges, and as a re-sult more and more bilingual teachers arebeing recruited into the teaching work-forces. He also became the chairman ofBangladeshi Education and Career Services(BECS).He has been involved in mainstream politicsfor a very long time, and first started offbeing a member of the Labour party in theSpitalsfield ward, he was also chairman ofthe Labour party in the Spitalfields ward.Ghulam Mortuza has been involved in manysocio-welfare activities. In Bangladesh hefounded the Gulbahar Girls School in hisown area and named it after his mother. Heassisted in the completion and develop-ment of roads including Jaggannathpur Col-lege road and Jagannathpur–Shibgonj-Fechirbazar road.In 1996 he founded Tower Hamlets ParentsCentre. In the following year he was nomi-nated director and trustee of SpitalfieldsMarket Trust. He was an executive memberof Tower Hamlets Law Centre, member of StHilds Community

Centre and Oxford House, Kobi NazrulSchool and Bangladesh Welfare Association.Ghulam Mortuza is married to Aleya Mor-tuza and they are blessed with five daugh-ters and one son.

Shuyeb Muquit is the son of the late Mo-hammed Abdul Muquit, who’s family originatefrom the Sunamgonj District of Bangladesh.Shuyeb’s father was headmaster of the Digal-bakh High School prior to arriving in the UK inthe mid Sixties, where he qualified as an ac-countant, working initially for Habib Bank andthen the Inland Revenue before embarkingupon private practice in Birmingham, whereShuyeb was born and raised. Shuyeb’s mother,Ayesha Muquit, originates from Kulaora, andis the sister of Badrul Alam, the former GeneralManager of Biman Airlines.

Shuyeb completed his secondary educationat King Edward Grammar School before mov-ing to London as an undergraduate of theLondon School of Economics, where he stud-ied social and economic history (and where hewas President of the Bengali Society). He thencompleted his Diploma in Law at the Univer-sity of Birmingham, returning to London tocomplete his Bar Vocational Course, afterwhich he was called to the Bar of England andWales in 1998. Shuyeb completed his pupil-lage under the guidance of James Gillespie[lately known as the co-author of the Immigra-tion Law Handbook] before joining his currentchambers, 12 Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn, as aTenant in 2000.Shuyeb is now a barrister specialising in Public

and Administrative Law and has over twentyreported cases to his credit in this field, repre-senting clients up to the Court of Appeal.Asked to comment upon Shuyeb’s proposedentry in this year’s Who’s Who, Manjit Gill QCwrote: 'I found Shuyeb to be a brave, imagi-native and intelligent advocate whose ex-treme enthusiasm for the law is matched byhis unrelenting concern for the interests of hisclient. Certainly a practitioner to watch outfor…'. To the same enquiry Ian Macdonald QCwrote "I have recently led Shuyeb in a test caseimmigration appeal. I was impressed by hisknowledge of immigration law and by his in-dustry and hard work. I have no doubt he willgo far".Shuyeb recently moved to 1 Mile Court Build-ing, The Chamber of Lord Gifford, QC.Shuyeb is married to Pahmida who is a phar-macist by profession; and daughter of AbuBashir, a leading social campaigner and com-mentator and former head of policy at Brad-ford Council.

Outside his professional practice, Shuyeb is in-volved in various charitable ventures, not leastthose concerned with protecting the rights ofvulnerable individuals and groups.

Ghulam Mortuza

SECTOR: Politics

Shuyeb Muquit



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Mr. Robin Paul is a well established and re-spected figure in the Bengali community.Robin is a man of honesty, self belief, in-tegrity and a man of great vision. Robinhails from Tajpur of Sylhet. His father thelate Ranadhir Paul was the reputed head-master of Sharpur Azad Bokht High School.His mother Shikha Rani Paul was a teacherby profession.

Robin came to London in 1994 while hewas studying B.Sc at the Sylhet MC College.He got involved in business in 2002 andsince then has enjoyed continuous successas the owner of General Auto, one the mostsuccessful and recognised accident man-agement companies in the community.

Robin was a footballer and a member ofthe Tajpur Taj Club and Balagonj AbahaniFootball Club. He is also member of the Bal-agonj Saimati and trustee of Balagonj Edu-cation Trust. Robin is at present the vicechairman of the Bangladesh Hindu Associ-ation, General Secretary of Sanatan Associ-ation and a member of the advisorycommittee of the organization Amra TajpurBashie.

He is a donor member of the KashiparaShiva Temple, Biswanath Seva Ashram, Luk-nath Temple, Shrimongol, Kadipur Shiv Bari(Khullara) amongst others. He is also adonor member of MangalchandiNishikanta High School, founder memberof Balagonj College and life member ofGoulabazar Public Library. He is also a lifemember of Balaganj Press Club. A secularman, Robin is also one of the donor mem-bers of Mogbelpur Osmania Madrasah,Mullapara Dakhil Madrasah and other Is-lamic learning institutions. Robin was theGeneral Secretary of the election commis-sion of the Balaganj Usmani Nagar Educa-tion Trust.

Robin is married to Shilpi and they areblessed with three children.

Mr Nur-ur Rahman Khandaker Pasha, betterknown as Pasha Khandaker, is the current sec-retary general of the Bangladesh Caterers As-sociation.Mr Pasha is the chairman of RelianceWest Malling Limited and Principal partner ofGhandi Tandoori restaurant, in West Malling,Kent and Gandhi Tandoori at Rye in east Sus-sex. Both of them have been established busi-nesses for the last 25 years. His third venturein the restaurant sector is Curry Lounge atRomney, Kent, and is being regarded as oneof the best Indian restaurants in Kent.

Pasha Khandaker was born in Sylhet in 1958.He received his school, college and Universityeducation in Bangladesh and obtained adiploma in leadership management in the UKafter which he pursues a career in the restau-rant business. Throughout his academic life hewas heavily involved in various extra curricularactivities such as student politics, setting vol-untary organizations.

Mr Khandaker served continuously on theprevious national executive committees ofBCA and became the Senior Vice President in2003.

Mr Pasha has been a featured participant invarious industry forums. He has served on anumber of non-profit organizations, including

the Kent police as a social trainer and was ac-tive as Senior Executive of Kent Muslim forum.He also worked as a coordinator for South EastHuman Rights. He is a labour party activist andworked as the CLP secretary of his party.

Throughout his career in the curry industry, hehas continually established connections withmany high profile policy makers through hisparticipation in the Chamber of Commerce,local council and police and several informalbusiness groups.

Currently he is working relentlessly to raise thestandard of curry industry as well as thosewho are related with this creative industry.

Mr Pasha is married to Mrs Dipika Pasha andthe couple are blessed with two children, aboy and a girl. They reside in Kent and are ac-tively engaged in the various social welfare ac-tivities in their neighbourhood.

In personal life Mr Pasha is very cordial andamiable, He is always engaged to serve thedistressed people. He has a wide range of in-terests including reading, gardening, travel-ling and updating himself with the latestworld affairs.

Rabin Paul

SECTOR: Business

Nur-ur Rahman Khandaker Pasha

SECTOR: Catering


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Syed Nahas Pasha is one of the best known,most respected Bengali journalist in Britain. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Janomot andCurry Life Magazine.Syed Nahas Pasha was born in Sylhet,Bangladesh in 1957. He was the secondson of a family of three boys and a girl. Oneof his brothers Syed Jaglul Pasha is a highranking civil servant in Bangladesh and an-other, brother Syed Belal Ahmed, is also asuccessful journalist and publisher.He came to Britain in 1976 to join his father.He joined the famous Sonali Bank. Afterseveral years in the Bank, he moved to starthis own catering business.From a very early age Pasha, a born idealist,was attracted to journalism.At school he was one of the top performersin the Bengali language and literature. Hislongstanding love affair with the profes-sion of journalism began at school.He edited school magazines and duringthe eighties he edited a literary magazine‘EESHAN’. To this day he remains a regularcontributor to some prominentBangladeshi daily Newspapers. He was in-volved in full time employment with thenewspaper Notun Din for ten years and as-sisted in the establishment of Asian Post,an English Language newspaper. He laterjoined Potrika. After improving the statusof this newspaper his friends at Janomot,Nobab Uddin and Amirul Choudhury in-vited him to join them as partner and Edi-

tor in Chief, a position he holds to this day.In 2003 Mr Pasha and his brother Syed BelalAhmed published the first edition of CurryLife Magazine. Syed Pasha has been fre-quently invited by TV, radio and pressmedia to comment on the latest develop-ments.In 1993 Syed Pasha along with his journal-ist friends realising that Bangladeshi jour-nalists and publishers in Britain werewithout a platform helped to find the Lon-don Bangla Press Club to advance theirinterests. Pasha is a member of the NationalUnion of Journalists (NUJ). He is also amember of the Commonwealth JournalistsAssociation (CJA). He has worked closely with the Home Of-fice and the Foreign Office, And has trav-eled with Government ministers andofficials to France, Germany andBangladesh. In 2007 he was the only jour-nalist invited from the ethnic media to ac-company the Home Office and ForeignOffice Ministers on a trip to France for dis-cussions between Britain and France on co-operation on immigration. Respectedjournalist Syed Pasha has travelled to manycountries, attended many conferencesand met individuals such as Nelson Man-dela, Tony Blair and Mahathir Mohamed.Syed Nahas Pasha has two daughters and ason despite his demanding and over-crowded schedule always finds time tospend with the family.

Khwaja Shamsheer Qureshi has campaignedfor social justice, awareness and equality; hehas worked for community and voluntary sec-tor organisations, including working in theCommunity and Legal Services Department ofHaringey Council.

Employment with the Local Authority pro-vided him with the opportunity to serve thecommunity and to gain extensive skills andexperience in service delivery, public relations,project initiation and management, policy for-mulation and strategic execution of policies.The wealth of experience gained in the publicsector allowed him to make a career changeand he moved to the private sector, in partic-ular the broadcasting industry, where he be-came a Business Development Manager. Atpresent, he is ATN Bangla’s head of UK opera-tions.

Shamsheer Qureshi grew up in Lancashire andstudied at Haslingden High School and, on mi-gration to London, he pursued further andhigher education at City and Islington Collegeand London Guildhall University respectively.He completed his post graduate educationfrom North London University and BirbeckCollege (University of London). Core subjectsat graduate level were sociology, economics,

politics and government and, at postgraduatelevel, he studied HRM and HRD.Shamsheer Qureshi was born in the village ofAurangabad (Patli Qureshibari) in the Districtof Sunamganj, Bangladesh. He now lives inLondon with his wife: Leema Omar Qureshi,who is a manager of a finance company.

His hobbies include writing songs, poems andarticles on varied issues and producingrecords and telefilms. He enjoys reading, lis-tening to music, writing and assisting his com-munity by mentoring people and engaging ina variety of activities and organisations. He en-thusiastically studies local and ethnic history.He is fluent in several languages.

Syed Nahas Pasha

SECTOR: Media

KHWAJA SHAMSHEERQURESHI

SECTOR: Media (Electronic)


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Abu Nasir, age 34 is viewed by most as oneof the rising stars in the public sector withinfluence, credibility and integrity at thehighest level. He is a graduate and studiedPublic Policy & Management, Political Sci-ence, MBA and possesses professional ac-creditations in Leadership & Management,Project Management Institute and Char-tered Management Institute.

He is the son of Alhaj Md Sajjadur Rahman(politician, community leader and AwamiLeague President) and Mrs Sadeha Rahman.He has been successful in his career in thepublic and private sectors in the areas ofRegeneration, Finance, Project Manage-ment, Public Policy, Neighbourhood Re-newal and Community Development andhas managed substantial private and pub-lic sector budgets.

He is currently employed in a managementcapacity in Local Government with LutonBorough Council which boasts a £4billionregeneration programme and is the mostsenior officer from a Bangladeshi back-ground.He is involved in and represents a numberof Boards and Committees including Chair-man of Governors at a Luton School, Direc-

tor of Diverse Cities and Treasurer of UrbanForum. He has served as Chairman andBoard Member for a number of organisa-tions in the private, public and third sectorsincluding Chairman of Luton SportingClub, BME Football Forum and involvedwith Share Liverpool FC.Nasir has worked as an advisor to theBritish and Bangladeshi Governments atministerial level, the European Union andalso the Football Association and UEFA. Hehas helped with policy development andelection manifestos for the Labour Party inthe past. He is part of the Government’s Im-provement & Development Agency BMELeadership Development programmewhich aims to bring through the futureleaders from BME background in the UK.

His business interests include a propertyportfolio, management consultancy, fi-nance & investment, catering, clothing &textiles, football academy & sports man-agement agency and property develop-ment schemes in the UK and Bangladesh.

A talented footballer in his youth, Abu Nasirrepresented Luton Town at schoolboy andCounty level, Liverpool FC and played semiprofessionally.

Alaur Rahman came to the UK fromBangladesh in 1977 with his parents at the ageof fourteen.When arriving in the UK Mr Rahman enteredinto the music industry as he was already akeen musician in his native country ofBangladesh he followed what he was mostpassionate about in Britain. His musical inspi-ration is Mr Nurul Ghani, who has guided himto where he is today.

In Bangladesh Mr Alaur Rahman attendedMadrasa and primary school and he use tosing music and songs there. In 1985 in BritainMr Rahman appeared on BBC televisionsinging folk songs. Already in a music groupMr Rahman and his group recorded there firstcassette in 1985 and carried on recording onto CD. Mr Rahman was a student at PanditHoridas Ganguly School were he was taughtmusic by Golam Ali another great singer andmusician. In 1985 Mr Rahman got asked bynumerous people to appear on BBC1 to singmusic live.

He has performed on Bangladesh TV (BTV)and has won numerous awards globally. Thesehave included awards from Z TV, Channel I,ATN, Bangla TV and Channel S where he haswon awards for being the best singer.Mr Rahman became one of the leading

singers in Britain’s Bengali community and inthe 1990’s went on to sell numerous songsand travel around the world to promote hismusic. Mr Rahman has been selected byEkushe TV to be the voice of the Azan (Call toprayer).

Mr Rahman moved onto making music, whichwas of a spiritual and religious nature.Currently Alaur Rahman is one of the most tal-ented music directors and performers ofBritish Bangladeshi origin. He has releasedthirty six albums which included recordingHindi and Bangla songs and at present hehas four albums in the pipeline awaiting re-lease.

Mr Alaur Rahman married Mrs Rozi Rahman in1986. They have two sons and a daughter,who are: Aniqa, Rabi and Raid.

Md Abu Nasir RahmanBA (Hons), MSc, MBA, MinstLM,PgPM, MCMI

SECTOR: Government, Sports & Business

Alaur Rahman

SECTOR: Arts (Singer)


www.bbwhoswho.co.uk


Born in Noakhali, Bangladesh, in 1934. Ser-ajur Rahman had his schooling in Calcutta,matriculating with distinction in 1947 fromMitra Institution. He was actively involvedin the Mukuler Mahfil juvenile organisationand published articles and short stories inthe juvenile sections of the Daily Azad,Daily Nabajug and weekly Millat of Cal-cutta. His initiation in broadcasting wasalso in Calcutta where he regularly partic-pated in school broadcast programmes ofAll India Radio.

After the partition of India in 1947 hemoved to Dhaka, East Pakistan, and got ad-mitted in the Dhaka College. When theLanguage Movement started in 1948 Sera-jur Rahman joined it whole-heartedly andwas elected by his college to liaise with theDhaka University Students' Action Com-mittee.

Serajur Rahman joined journalism in par-ralell with his education. After serving inthe news departments of the Bi-weeklyPakistan, Daily Zindegi, Daily Insaf and theDaily Millat, he was appointed editor of theBritish Information Service in Dhaka in Jan-uary 1953. Under his leadership the presssection was expanded eventually to 12

journalists. With their help Serajur Rahmanedited a daily bi-lingual news bulletin, thefortnightly British Darpan (mirror) and themagazine Ajker Commonwealth.In addition to the BIS job Serajur Rahman

was also a parti time leader writer (Assis-tant Editor) in the Daily Ittefaq from 1954to end of 1959.

In January 1960 he joined the then EastPakistan section of the BBC World Service.By the time of his retirement in February1994 he rose from Programme Asstt. toProducer, Senior Producer, Asstt. Pro-gramme Organiser and Deputy Head of themuch enlarged Bengali Service of the BBC.The BBC's Bengali broadcasts under Sera-

jur Rahman's leadership during the libera-tion war of Bangladesh brought hope andsuccour to the people of the then East Pak-istan who almost universally thronged tothe BBC Bengali Service for true news ofwhat was happening in their neighbour-hoods. Though somewhat clandestinely,he also coordinated the movement's inter-national publicity. Through years of con-tact he became close to Sheikh MujiburRahman, leader of Bangladesh's independ-ence. He also personally knew most of thetop leaders of the country.

Mr Ataur Rahman Managing Director of Jalal-abad Law Associates since 2001, dealing withlegal protection of Immigration and Asylumseekers, Human Rights Cases and Family Unitycases and has been appearing before the Ap-pearing before the Asylum & Immigration Tri-bunal regularly since 2000. Prior to this he wasan employed Barrister at Mathews Solicitors,Elephant & Castle.

Mr Rahman achieved his LLB (Hons) Degree in1998 from London Guildhall University. He hasbeen a member of The Honourable Society ofLincoln’s Inn since 1998 and was call to the Barin 2000. He obtained his BSS (Hons) MSS in Po-litical Science under the Dhaka University(Jagonnath College). Moreover, he studied lawat Dhaka Law College (LLB) and before com-ing to the UK in 1990, he was a practisinglawyer at the Dhaka Bar since Oct 1987 andhas been enrolled with the BangladeshSupreme Court since 1991.

Ataur Rahman makes regular media appear-ances on Community Channels such as BanglaTV, Channel S and previously on VectoneBangla. He has also been a member of theGreater Sylhet Welfare & Development Coun-cil in the UK for 15 years and was the GeneralSecretary from 2002 to 2008. He was also aFounding Assistant General Secretary to the

Nottinghamshire Bangladesh Cultural & Wel-fare Society between 1991 and 1996 and Proj-ect Co-ordinator of Jalalabad Skills Audit forBangladeshi Community funded by Notting-hamshire County Council and NottinghamTask Force.

Ataur Rahman is an experienced campaigner,taking local issues, which have broader rele-vance on to the national stage. He has effec-tively campaigned on managed migration,education, housing and racism. As a lawyerand community activist, he is a key memberof the Bangladeshi and Muslim Communityand has had extensive experience represent-ing individual cases and group issues.

Mr Rahman resides with his family in Red-bridge, Essex.

A. N. M. Serajur Rahman

SECTOR: Media (Journalist and Broadcaster)

Ataur Rahman

SECTOR: Legal


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Born in Mirpur, Syhlet, Bangladesh in 1958,Aziz-ur Rahman moved with parents to Ox-ford in 1969. Since 1978 he has openedseveral restaurants and take-away estab-lishments in Oxfordshire.He opened his first restaurant at the age oftwenty, called the ‘Star of Asia’ and this ven-ture was an instant success. He has gaineda reputation for excellence in all his restau-rants. The Aziz restaurants have gained na-tional and international recognition as oneof the best in the country and have wonawards, on a regular basis, for excellenceover the years.

His portfolio of restaurants past and pres-ent include the ‘Bilash Restaurant’ openedin 1984 in Botley, Oxford, as well as the‘Polash’ opened in 1988. He then openedthe ‘Aziz’ Restaurant in 1990 and Aziz Bur-ford as well as the Aziz waterside then ‘AzizWitney’, ‘Aziz Pandesia’ followed in quicksuccession in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006respectively. In 1997 he established the‘Khajana’. Mr Rahman is the Director ofOxfordshire Business Enterprise, FounderTrustee of the Jagannath Pur EducationTrust, Member of the Jagannath PurProbashi (UK) Kollayan Trust; Trustee of

Learn Foundation, and a Trustee of theBangladesh Female Academy (UK), aTrustee and Chairman of the managementcommittee Iqra School, Oxford. He is alsoMember and advisor to the OxfordshireBangladeshi Association, Executive Mem-ber of the Bangladeshi Mosque and Educa-tion Centre, Cowley, Oxford, as well asDirector of the English Language LearningInstitute (ELLI), Dhaka, Bangladesh.Mr Aziz-ur Rahman is a founding memberof European Bangladesh Federation.He was the first Chairman of the Guild ofBangladeshi Restaurateurs. He was theChairman of Greater Sylhet Association UKfor South East region.

Furthermore Mr Rahman remains involvedin charitable causes and is associated withOxfam over seventeen years and is particu-larly interested in relief projects toBangladesh.

Mr Rahman’s interests include, traveling,sports, especially football and cricket. He isa family man, married with four sons, onedaughter and a grandson. He was recentlyawarded an Honorary Doctorate from Ox-ford Brookes University.

Lutfur Rahman is the ex Leader of Tower Ham-lets Council and a partner in leading Londonlaw firm. He is the Mayoral candidate fromLabour in the forthcoming Mayor Election inTower Hamlets. He uses both these roles inpursuit of a passion for social justice and thebetterment of people’s lives.His deep knowl-edge and understanding of the East End ofLondon has been developed over many yearsin close contact with people from all walks oflife.

Lutfur has worked relentlessly and very closelywith residents of the borough and has imple-mented very successful and highly popularinitiatives, which led to him being elected fora further term as Leader of the Council in 2009.Deeply committed to the values and aims ofthe Labour Party, he has been an activist formany years, including campaigning for andparticipating in the GMC and LGC. He was theward secretary, Spitalfields and Bangla Townfrom 2006 to February 2007, elected twice ascouncilor for Spitalfields and Bangla Town inMay 2002 and May 2006, appointed as Chairof Development Panel, May 2002 and was theLead Member for Education and Youth Serv-ices, 2003-2005. He has also been the LeadMember for Culture.

He was a member and general secretary

(1987-89) of the Progressive Youth Organiza-tion, founding member and first treasurer(1990) of Keen Students School (KSS) andtrustee of Tower Hamlets and Canary WharfEducation Trust (2003-05).He was themember and general secretary of CommunityAlliance for Police Accountability (CAPA) in1988, member and chairman of Tower Ham-lets Law Centre from 1996-2001.

Lutfur Rahman was the Board member of thePoplar and Leaside Regeneration Project(SRB6) (2001-2002) and since 2001 hasbeen the Non-Executive Director for the Boardof Barts & The Royal London NHS Trust. He isalso a member of the Law Society and LawSociety Advanced Children Law Panel..Additionally, he is a Non-Executive Director onthe Bart’s & The Royal London NHS Trust.At the Muslim Council of Britain’s Legal AffairsCommittee he has provided expert policy ad-vice and proposals while at the TowerHamlets Law Centre he harnessed the collec-tive expertise of fellow lawyers to help makethe Centre a dynamic professional body,which attracts good lawyers ready to under-take pro bono work. He is married with oneson and one Daughter.

Aziz-ur Rahman

SECTOR: Catering

Cllr Lutfur Rahman

SECTOR: Politics and Legal


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Dr Moijur A. Rahman was born in villageAbdullapur, Beanibazar, Sylhet and arrivedin the UK at the age of 8. He is the eldestson of Late Alhaj Malik Uddin who was ateacher in his village.

Dr Rahman obtained his Medical Degreefrom University of Birmingham, and hisPhD from Birmingham and Oxford univer-sities in Clinical Immunology. He currentlyholds the post of Consultant of Diabetesand Endocrinology at a top UK teachinghospital. Notably, Dr Rahman is the firstBangladeshi Doctor to specialise in pan-creas transplantation.

Dr Rahman is the Founder Chairman of twoUK based private charities started in 2000.Firstly an educational charity, The Malikud-din Foundation that awards scholarships tosome of the brightest and talented stu-dents who attend Comprehensive andGrammar Schools of Walsall. Many ofwhom have gone to study Medicine, Law,PPE and other disciplines at Oxford, Cam-bridge and other top UK universities. Theprogramme is now widely recognised bylocal education authority, the schools andleading UK universities. The charity’s ambit

is now being extended to greater Sylhetand Dhaka.

The second charity set up by Dr Rahman isThe Village Doctor International workingwith Medecins Sans Frontieres. His charityprovides free medical services to some ofthe poorest regions of Bangladesh. Theservice is provided by a team of UK doctorsincluding himself and includes setting upa field hospital where the team diagnose,treat and provide care of the people.

Dr Moijur Rahman has three siblings, histwo younger brothers Atabur and Abadur,both are in the medical profession and hissister Kulsuma is a teacher. He is married toRaheena (a GP) the eldest daughter ofAlhaj Abdur Rahman of Manchester.

Dr Rahman is a Member of Royal College ofPhysicians, Member of Association of Sur-geons in Training (Royal College of Sur-geons London) and Fellow of Royal Societyof Medicine. He was awarded a prize byChannel S for his relentless contribution tothe community.

Habib Rahman is the Chief Executive of theJoint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants(JCWI), a high profile national independent or-ganisation, which exists to campaign for jus-tice in immigration, nationality, asylum andhuman rights law and policy. JCWI was estab-lished in 1967 and he has held his positionsince 1999.

Before joining JCWI, Habib Rahman workedfor over 15 years as a Senior Caseworker withmanagement and campaigning responsibili-ties at Tower Hamlets Law Centre. He em-braced this opportunity to serve thedeserving people of Tower Hamlets and gotactively involved in many influential commu-nity organisations including Tower HamletsAssociation for Racial Justice (THARJ) forwhich he was a founding member and actingChairman. For a period Habib Rahman alsoserved as a member of the Human Rightscommittee of the Labour Party’s National Ex-ecutive.

Before commencing on his professional careerin the community sector Habib Rahman com-pleted his studies at Dhaka University inBangladesh as well as University College Lon-don.

After completion of his education, Mr Rahman

joined the private sector as a manager. Whilstworking in the private sector, he becameaware of the poor working conditions of mi-grant workers in the catering industry in theUnited Kingdom and actively organised themto join a trade union, which led to a high pro-file campaign at the time.

Habib Rahman is a dedicated human rightsactivist and he considers himself as fortunatein the he has been able to pursue this callingin his professional life.

Dr. Moijur A. RahmanBSc(Hons), MB, ChB, MRCP, ASiT, PhD.

SECTOR: Medicine and Education.

Habib Rahman

SECTOR: Community (NGO)


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Mahbub Rahman was born in Dhaka,Bangladesh in 1968. His father is the lateMohammed Fazlur Rahman. Mr Rahman’searly education was in Dhaka, and subse-quently he completed his secondary andhigher secondary education in Sylhet be-fore obtaining his degree.

Mahbub Rahman took his first step into theworld of journalism by writing articles forvarious national publications whilst at col-lege in 1986. He became a staff reporter forthe daily Sylheter Dak in 1987.

Mr Rahman continued to work for a num-ber of publications as well as a televisionstation until 2006. Between 1997 and 2000he worked as the UK correspondent for oneof the daily newspapers in Bangladeshcalled Daily Sangbad. He was also the newseditor for the weekly Notun Din during thistime. Mr Rahman settled with his family inthe UK in 1997. In 1999 Mr Rahman movedinto television and started working forBangla TV as the Programme Planner andProgramme Manager. He became the Headof News for the station after three years. Heheld this role for one year before leaving tojoin Curry Life magazine, where he was the

Executive Editor for the bi-monthly maga-zine that is aimed at the curry industry. Heleft this role in 2006 and has since beenemployed as a Communication Officer forTower Hamlets Council in London’s eastend.

Mr Rahman has represented, and is a mem-ber of, many organisations that exist withinthe trade such as the National Union ofJournalists and the Commonwealth Jour-nalist Association. He is an ex AssistantGeneral Secretary of the London BanglaPress Club and is a permanent member ofthe Sylhet Press Club. He was the Organis-ing Secretary of the Sylhet Union of Jour-nalists and is the ex President of the SylhetPhotographic Society.

Mahbub Rahman is married to Hasna Rah-man who is a senior officer for the Depart-ment of Constitutional Affairs. They havetwo daughters called Mehjaben Rahmanand Atiya Rahman.

Mr. Mahidur Rahman came to UK in 1975 andcompleted his studies and also within a fewyears he emerged as a successful businessman,politician and volunteer of social service. He isat present the president of Asian Council forHuman Rights UK, Kent Branch (BCA) and Ash-ford Muslim Association. He is also the vice-president of Bangladesh Caterers AssociationUK and founding treasurer of Greater SylhetDevelopment and Welfare Council UK. He is theFounding Coordinator of its south-east region.Mr. Rahman is at present the treasurer and gen-eral secretary, London Boroughs ofBangladeshi Association, UK and joint secretaryof Moulovi Bazar Jonosheba Somity.

At present, Mr. Rahman is actively involved inmany distinguished organisations. He is a lifemember of the Mouluvi Bazar Zela Red Cres-cent Society and Jalalabad Hospital for Disableand Rehabilitation Centre Sylhet and also amember of the support group UK. He has deliv-erered his service to the community as a mem-ber of the Home Secretary’s Standing AdvisoryCouncil on Race Relation for two years. At pres-ent, Mr. Rahman is the president of UK-Associ-ation for Human Rights (UK-AHR),Euro-Bangladesh Business Consortium,Bangladesh Centre for Social development UKand British Bangladeshi Business Club.

In addition Mr. Rahman has played importantrole in establishing and fundraising for manyMosques and Madrashas’, support runningschools for the destitute children inBangladesh, Free Friday Clinics, and personallycontinuing to help build houses for the needy,medical treatment, etc.

Mr. Mahidur Rahman has made his name as aprominent politician of the Bangladesh Nation-alist Party (BNP). He played an important role inshaping its establishment in UK and other Euro-pean Country. In 1992 he was made a co-con-venor of the UK-BNP and in 1994, the president.Through his tireless work he formed 12 BNPbranches throughout the UK. Currently he isthe international affairs secretary of BNP centralcommittee and is looking after the political as-pect of European BNP as co-coordinator.

Mr. Rahman is married and has two children.His son graduated in Business Managementand is currently a banker and his daughter is aUniversity,student.

Mahbub Rahman

SECTOR: Media

Mahidur Rahman



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Misbaur Rahman was born in 1969 inJamal Pur, Dewan Bazaar Union, Balagongin theSylhet region of Bangladesh. He is theson of Mr Iliasur Rahman and Mrs AzizunNessa Khanam He moved to the UK in1986. In 1991, he became a research andoutreachworker for the Department of Education. In1993, his job changed to being CommunityOutreach Worker before turning to thecatering industry in 1996 as the managerof a restaurant. Presently he is Project offi-cer for fundraising consortium.

Mr Rahman divides his time between thevarious organisations that he is affiliatedwith which include being the Chairman ofthe Birmingham Bangladesh League BBL,the secretary of the Midlands Bangla PressClub, Chairman of the BBL Business andCommunity Award. He is Vice-Chairman of the BangladeshAwami Jubo League UK and a freelancejournalist. Mr Rahman is also a member ofmany noteworthy organisations such asthe London Bangla Press Club as well beinga member of UNESCO. He is also convenerof Baishakhi Mela Trust Birmingham.He has helped establish the Learning and

Advice Centre in Handsworth. Misbaur wasone of the organizers of the first Bangla Melain Birmingham, as well as helping to con-struct the first ever temporary Shohid Minarat the Bangladesh Multipurpose Centre.Mr Rahman is also familiar to many peoplefrom his time spent working for both Chan-nel S and Bangla TV.

Between 1996 and 2006, Mr Rahman wasthe Birmingham correspondent for BanglaTV, and he also presented a number of pro-grammes on the station. In 2006, he be-came the Birmingham correspondentfor Channel S television.

In addition to this, Mr Rahman has helpedpeople in his native Bangladesh. He helpedto raise funds for victims of Cyclone Sidr,and led a delegation that visited some ofthe worst hit regions in Shoronkola Bager-hat and the Borguna district.Due to his excellent work to help the peo-ple of Bangladesh, Mr Rahman received anaward from the Shadinota Foundation in2005. Misbaur Rahman is married to SyedaRukshana Nipa who is a social worker. To-gether they have two sons – Rafsan andFaizaan.

Mizanur Rahman is a prominent media ac-tivist, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, engagedwith Bengali press and media in the UK. Mizanur Rahman was born & grew up in thevillage of Tikria, Srimongal, Moulvibazar. He isolder son of Md Faizur Rahman, Retd. HealthInspector and mother Mrs Monwara Begum.He has completed secondary education fromBTRI High School and Higher Secondary fromSreemongal Govt College. Mr Rahman has a double Masters degree inZoology from MC College Sylhet under Na-tional University of Bangladesh with distinc-tion as well as MSC in SustainableDevelopment from the University of Stirling,Scotland in 2006. He began his career as a lecturer of Zoology inModonmohon University College, Sylhet.Later in 2000, nature lover Mizan Rahmanjoined the Dhaka based environmental re-search organisation CNRS (Centre for NaturalResearch Studies) as a Biologist in UNDPfunded Natural Resource Management andConservation program across the wetlandarea of Bangladesh. On completion of his study Mizaur began tolive and work in Edinburgh. He has been work-ing for Edinburgh & Lothians Racial EqualityCouncil as a Community Development Officer.The position provided him opportunity toserve the community. He provides freelance

consultancy service in ethnic media and thirdsector. He also decided to do some community workin his spare time. It wasn’t always his plan tobecome a journalist but always keen to tell agood story, as he began his journalistic careeras a sideline at local weekly in the early 1990s.He contributed many articles and features inthe Bengali newspapers. Being a dynamic and talented person Mr Rah-man started journalism as a Scotland Corre-spondent for Channel S Television in 2006. Forhis outstanding professional excellence in re-porting to promote Bangladeshi Communityin Scotland he won the ‘‘Channel S ChairmanAward’’ in 2008. He is a member of London Bangla Press Cluband National Union of Journalists (NUJ). MrRahman was a t British Red Cross first-aid vol-unteer in Scotland from the Bangladeshi back-ground. Key to his success is his commitment to work-ing for the community. He is planning to worktowards the development of TV journalismwith those involved in covering news ofBangladeshi community in the UK and abroad.

Misbaur Rahman

SECTOR: Community Relations andMedia

Mizanur Rahman

SECTOR: Media & & Community Development

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Mohammad Ha�zur Rahman was born in1958, in Katia, Jagannatpur, Sylhet. He waseducated in Katia Madresha and com-pleted his primary education from PurboKatia Primary School. His secondary educa-tion commenced at Khadimpur HighSchool, where he successfully completedSSC. Mr Rahman’s education was com-pleted at Sylhet Varsity College.

After his education, Mr Rahman arrived tothe UK in 1983, where he was employed byhis brother at his business. Mr Rahmangained much valuable experience whilstworking at his brother’s restaurant whichallowed him to open his own business, inpartnership.

The business prospered and after some-time, he started another venture, in part-nership with late Nurul Islam Hussain, awell known figure in the community.

During this time, Mr Rahman was involvedin various other businesses, at present heis a managing director of Hafiz group ofrestaurants.He is the publisher and chairman of Edito-rial Board of Abhimot monthly magazine.

He is involved with many cultural oganisa-tions, here in the UK and abroad.

Mr Rahman is a founding trustee and gen-eral secretary of Cheltenham Al MadinaMosque and Cheltenham Bangladeshi As-sociation; he is also a chairman of Chel-tenham Ethnic Minority Forum and GreaterKatia Welfare Trust. Mr Rahman is very pas-sionate about his country and his people.He is active in many projects, helping theless fortunate students of Bangladesh,prosper and build better lives for them-selves.

He is the founder trustee of JagannathpurBritish Bangla Education Trust. Recently hehas been made an advisor of Sylhet Acad-emy, of UK and Europe sections.

Mr Rahman lives with his wife and 4 chil-dren in Cheltenham (heart of theCotswold) Gloucestershire.

Mohammad Lutfur Rahman is familiar both inthe UK and in Bangladesh as a successful busi-nessman and philanthropist. Mr. Rahman wasborn in 1957 Tegharia village of the number 7Syedpur-Sharpara Union of Jagannathpur, Syl-het. His father, Kalamdar Miah, was distin-guished in the area for his role as an advisorand prominent member of the community.

Mr. Rahman, migrated to the United Kingdomin 1975. Prior to his arrival, he had completedhis education in Bangladesh. After working forsome time in various institutes, he started hisown business. He also began his work for theBangladeshi community in the United King-dom.

At present Mr Rahman he has a variety of busi-nesses in Cambridge, Kent and London. He isthe owner of the ‘Sonargaon’ restaurant estab-lished in East London.

For an extensive period of time MohammedLutfur Rahman was the Chairman of the Cam-bridge Bangladeshi Welfare Association. He isalso one of the main organisers of the Cam-bridge Bangladeshi festival.

Mr. Rahman established a secondary school inhis village in Bangladesh. His other altruisticactions have included extending his hand of

help to his country during times of disasterand has donated to the establishment of aHigh School in his local village. He marriedJuhra Chowdhury in 1982, and they have twosons (Ujjal and Uttam) and two daughters(Sumi and Rumi). His children attend educa-tional institutes in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Rahman lives in Cambridge with his family.

Mohammad Ha�zurRahman

SECTOR: Catering and Media

Mohammad LutfurRahman

SECTOR: Businessman


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Mohammed Mujibur Rahman is the cur-rent General Secretary of Bangladesh Cen-tre, London, and the joint Secretary of voicefor Justice UK.He was born in village Kalijuri, Golapgonj,Sylhet in Bangladesh.

Mr Rahman studied at the Madan MohonCollege in Sylhet where he achieved hisfirst degree in 1979 and later in 1983 hecompleted his LLB (Hons) from Dhaka LawCollege. Mr Rahman continued his studiesin Bangladesh as he completed the Masterof commerce degree in 1984 at theJagonnath University College in Dhaka.Once in the UK, Mr Rahman completed hisPost Graduation Certificate in Education in1993 from East London University.

He was the General Secretary of the Stu-dent council at Al Emdad High School andduring his time at the Madan Mohon Col-lege, Mr Rahman was elected magazinesecretary of the student council.Mr Rahman was also the joint foundingconvenor of the Jalalabad Chhatra KallyanSamity based in Jogonnath UniversityCollege Dhaka from 1980 to 1981.

He was as elected President of the studentorganisation from1981 to1983.In addition to Mr Mohammed Mujibur Rah-man’s full time role as a primary schoolteacher in the London Borough of TowerHamlets, he is also a very active member ofthe community. Since April 2005, Mr Rah-man has been the General Secretary ofJatiya party as well as the Vice chairmanof the Central Shaheed Minar CommitteeUK. Likewise he is also an Executive Com-mittee Member of the Bangladesh WelfareAssociation. He is also the President of Bud-hbari Bazar Welfare Association UK.

Moreover, he is founding trustee of Gulap-gonj Welfare Association and EducationTrust, Mother & Child Trust and currently asenior joint Secretary of Gulapgonj-beaniBazar Oikya Sangstha. He was Treasurer Tower Hamlet Law Centre. Mujibur Rah-man is married to Helen Begum Rahman.They have one son and four daughters whoare all students. In 2005, the family wonBangla TV’s Best Family Award.Mr Rahman’s interest includes readingbooks, community welfare and travelling.

Anis Rahman is a practising barrister and amagistrate who was a Whitehall Civil Servant forTwenty years. Mr Rahman has a double Mastersdegree in International history and politics andgovernment from the Universityof London as well as a Law degree from the Uni-versity of Westminster.Moreover, he has a postgraduate qualificationin shipping law and international trade from theCity University.Anis Rahman was called to the English Bar fromthe Honourable Society of Inner Temple and isnow an accredited Pupil Master. He is a memberof 12 Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn.

Mr Rahman has a civil litigation background andspecialises in Aviation, Employment, Housing,Family, Landlord and Tenant, Defamation, Immi-gration and Asylum, International Law as well asHuman Rights and Judicial Review. He has beengiven the direct public access status by the BarCouncil, which means that the public can go tohim directly for advice and representation.Outside of his profession, Mr Rahman has de-voted much of his adult life in improving thequality of life of other people both here in theUK and also overseas. His achievements includethe creation of United Nations Student Societycombined Universities in London in 1969 as wellas assisting disadvantaged British Bangladeshis.He was also the President of the United NationsSociety at International Students House, Lon-don. Anis Rahman is a trustee of Toynbee Hall inEast London, where he was one of the pioneerswho established the free legal advice clinic. Heis also a trustee of the Council of Anti-Slavery In-

ternational. Additionally, he was a trustee andAdvisor of the World Peace Forum, which is acharity that promotes world peace and is rununder the Nelson Mandela Children’s fund.

Mr Rahman also played an important role dur-ing the liberation movement, when he joinedthe Bangladesh Liberation movement in the UKand became a founder member of the famousBangladeshi Student’s Action Committee. AnisRahman has served as a Justice of the Peacesince 1990.Furthermore, he has been serving as an hon-orary legal advisor to the Muslim Council ofBritain, Toynbee Hall, The Muslim News, BritishBangladesh Chamber of Commerce,Bangladesh Caterers Association, BangladeshCentre, Bangla TV and the Euro Bangla.Mr Anis Rahman is a private and family man, heis married to Nadia Rahman, a French national.His wife has a French degree, as well as a BA(Hons) degree in Business Administration andan MBA with Distinction from the University ofLondon.

Anis Rahman has worked relentlessly as a barris-ter which has led to much of his success, and inaddition has provided the British Bangladeshicommunity with an extensive amount of sup-port and assistance, making him one of therecognisable personalities in thelegal arena.In recognition of his endeavors, Mr Rahman wasawarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen forhis services to Bangladeshis and the legal arenain 2009.

Mohammed MujiburRahman

SECTOR: Community Relations and Academia

Anis Rahman OBE JP



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Sheikh Mohammed Mo�zur Rahman is aSenior Housing Manager in the LondonBorough of Tower Hamlets. The Local Gov-ernment worker is also Chairman of theweekly Bangla Post newspaper. Born in Bal-agonj, Sylhet in Bangladesh, Mr Rahmancompleted his primary education there be-fore moving to the UK in 1972.

Having completed his primary educationat his local village school in Bangladesh, MrRahman moved to the UK and attendedthe Robert Monefiore secondary schooland progressed on to City and East LondonCollege where he completed his A- Levels.The former community developmentworker later graduated from the HackneyTechnical College with a degree on Hous-ing Law and Property Management.Mr Rahman started his career working withthe North London Community Task Forcewhich later evolved into a job with the Lon-don Borough of Tower Hamlets workingon the Housing department as a commu-nity worker. Through hard and a first-classwork ethic, Mr Rahman soon became aSenior Housing Manager.Whilst fulfilling a full time job, Mr Rahmanis also involved in numerous community

welfare projects both in the UK andBangladesh.Currently, Mr Rahman Chairing the UKbranch of the Nirapod Sarak Chai project aswell as being involved with the Anjuman-ETalimul Quran programme. Mr Rahman isalso currently a Patron to the Bisho ShahitoKendro project in addition to being trusteeon both the Balagonj Education Trust andM.M Sheba Trust in Bangladesh.Mr Rahman throughout his life has alwaysworked on education projects and cur-rently been elected as Vice-Chairman forboth Thomas Buxton school governingbody and the Balagonj College Develop-ment Committee UK. The local govern-ment worker is also a board memberon the Greater Sylhet Welfare and Develop-ment Council UK and the Balagonj-OsmaniNagar Upozila Shomithy.

Essentially, Mr Rahman will always be re-membered as the leading campaigneragainst the racist attack on Altab Ali in1978. The local government officer is mar-ried to Shahara Begum and are blessedwith four sons, Sheikh Khalilur Rahman,Sheikh Aminur Rahman, Sheikh RashedurRahman and Sheikh Waliur Rahman.

Sheikh MohammedMo�zur Rahman

SECTOR: Local Government

Mohammed Mohidur Rahman was born inthe village of Dhorogaw in Sylhet to Late Al-haj Abdul Goni who was a retired member ofBangladesh Army and Mrs. MonowaraKhanom.

Mr Rahman completed his HSC from ModonMohan College in Sylhet before arriving in theUnited Kingdom.Although Mr Rahman was involved in variousbusinesses in London, he was not content andwas craving for offering himself to the Real es-tate sector in Bangladesh –a result of whichis Probashi Palli, a large Housing Project basedin Dhaka.Being innovative in his plans and honest in hisintention to contribute single-handedly to thebenefit of NRB’s living all over the world, MrMohidur Rahman stepped forward to realisehis dream Project called “Probashi Palli” inBangladesh which specialises in offering plots,flats and investments at comparatively afford-able prices.

At present he is the Managing Director of In-spired Development Ltd. Who are the devel-opers of Probashi Palli. After receiving apositive response for Probashi Palli, Mr Mo-hidur Rahman has launched his latest venture“Purbachal Probashi Palli” which is situated inDhaka.

Along side real estate he is also the ManagingDirector of Hotel Black Rose International. MrRahman is involved with other housing andhospitality businesses. He is the Project Direc-tor of Purbachal Shah Paran City in Sylhet aswell as Proprietor of Hotel Fahim Internationaland a Project Director of the proposed five starhotel Six Seasons.

Mohammed Mohidur Rahman resides with hiswife Rasheda Begum and three other childrenin their family home in Ilford, Essex.

MOHAMMEDMOHIDUR RAHMAN

SECTOR: Real Estate


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Cllr Ayesha Chowdhury arrived in Britainwith her parents at the age of 16. Besideslearning English, she helped her father withhis community work. In 1991 she foundherself taking a course in Construction, atNewham Community College, she com-pleted the Diploma in 1993.

She then enrolled at Goldsmiths College,University of London, to study Youth, Com-munity and Social work, eventually obtain-ing a Masters Degree in AppliedAnthropology, Youth & Community Work.Cllr Chowdhury began to recognise thatwhatever she did she was limited by theconfines of policy. Therefore she felt thatthe decision-making process had to be in-fluenced if real change was to be at-tempted. As a result of this she gotinvolved with politics.

Outside her role as a councillor in Newham,Ayesha Chowdhury is a successful busi-nesswoman. She is a property developerand also Director of London Green Man-agement Company Ltd. She has previouslyworked as a Centre Manager in Newham, aSocial Worker for Tower Hamlets and hasco-ordinated projects in different bor-oughs. Aside from politics and business,

she is also committed to various local, na-tional and transnational organisations. Shehas been heavily involved in fundraisingactivities in the UK to support various ruralareas across the globe.Her participation in community initiativesconsist of being in the consultative com-mittee of London City Airport. She retainsmembership in the Newham CommunityPolice Forum and School Organisationcommittee.

Other past and present commitments in-clude being a committee member of Beck-ton Community Forum, Building Schoolsfor Future and Mayoral Advisor. Amongsther most prestigious voluntary associationshe is a committee member for twoScrutiny Commission for Community Co-hesion and Child Poverty, two integral is-sues which society faces in the presentclimate. Her interests include HumanRights, politics as well as environmentaland social issues. She is fluent in severallanguages including Bengali, English, Urdu,Hindi and is currently maintaining her in-terest in foreign languages by learning aEuropean language.She is a family woman, married with twochildren.

Cllr Ayesha Chowdhury Raki

SECTOR: Politics


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Syedur Rahman Ranu JP was born in thevillage of Taharlamu, Rajnagar in Moul-vibazar. His father is Al Haj Habibur Rahman.Mr Rahman completed his high school ed-ucation in Rajnagar Portious High Schoolin Rajnagar and obtained his degree fromMoulvibazar Govt. College.

Mr. Rahman arrived in this country in 1978with his parents.He also enrolled in a Business and Manage-ment course in England.He then began his successful career in1985. He now owns a chain of restaurantbusinesses and numerous properties in theUnited Kingdom.

Mr. Rahman’s business interests do not endthere, as he is also a Managing Director ofMRK Developments Ltd, which is the com-pany behind his assets in the property mar-ket in Bangladesh. He also is the ManagingDirector of a hotel business called ‘HotelWhite Pearl’ in Gulshan, Dhaka.Apart from his business activities he is alsoinvolved in various community organiza-tions in the UK; he is a very well known per-son in the British Bangladeshi Communityin the UK. He is holding the prestigious

position of Vice Chairman for theBangladesh British Chamber of Commerce.He is Vice Chairman of weekly Notun Din, awell received Bengali newsweekly based inLondon and General Secretary of GreaterSylhet Welfare and Development CouncilSouth East region in UK and he is also theVice Chairman of Guild of BangladeshiRestaurateur in the UK.

Mr. Rahman’s other passions is to be in-volved in various charities. He has helpedmany from his homeland, especially poorbut intelligent students who were unableto fund their education. He has also helpeddevelop schools, colleges and mosquesand continues to donate very generouslyto various charities.

Syedur Rahman Ranu is married to RahelaRahman and they have two sons and onedaughter. They reside in Winkfield, Berk-shire. Mr. Rahman’s interests and hobbiesinclude traveling as a result of which he hasbeen fortunate in visiting several differentcountries. He also enjoys politics, bothBritish

Mr Aminur Rashid is the current General Sec-retary of the Welsh Asian Council. A CharteredEngineer by profession, Mr Rashid has beenone of the most active members of theBangladeshi Community in South Wales. Bornin Manikganj, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Mr Rashidcame to the UK in 1965 to study Civil Engi-neering on completion of Intermediate Sci-ence Examination (I.Sc) from DhakaGovernment College.

After gaining B.Sc (Eng) degree in Civil Engi-neering from Cardiff University, Mr Rashid ob-tained further professional qualifications asthe M.I.C.E (Member of the Institution of CivilEngineers), the M.I.H.T (Member of the institu-tion of Highways and Transportation), and theA.M.E (Member, Association of Municipal En-gineers).

Mr Rashid was employed by Newport CityCouncil where he was eventually promoted tothe post of Highways Network Manager andcarried on at this post for approximately 23years after which he took early retirement.Mr Rashid has been a prominent member ofthe Bangladeshi Community in South Wales;He played a commendable role during the lib-eration movement of Bangladesh where MrRashid was elected as the General Secretaryof Bangladesh Action Committee, South

Wales. In 1971, together with the Bangladeshicommunity, Mr Rashid formed “BangladeshAssociation Cardiff” where he was GeneralSecretary for many years. Currently he is theVice-Chairman of the organisation. He hasalso been the recipient of the Channel “S”Community award 2008.

Mr Rashid is currently the Chairman of “Cardiffand Vale Race Equality Council”. He has alsobeen elected a Board Member of the “Com-munities First Local Partnership Group” sup-ported by Welsh Assembly Government andCardiff City Council. The Engineer has been aGovernor of a Cardiff High School and a Pri-mary school for nearly 21 years. He is also aboard member of “South Wales InterculturalCommunity Arts”, “Cardiff and District Multi-cultural Arts Development”, and also “BlackVoluntary Sector Network Wales”, for manyyears.

Mr Rashid is also a board member for manyother community relation initiatives. He is in-volved with various mosques in Cardiff. He ismarried Shirin Rashid and they are blessedwith three children. Mr Rashid is a huge cricketfan and follows football, golf, rugby andsnooker amongst other sports. His other hob-bies include walking, reading and listening tomusic.

Syedur Rahman Ranu JP

SECTOR: Catering

AMINUR RASHID B.Sc (Eng), C.Eng, M.I.C.E,M.I.H.T, A.M.E.

SECTOR: Engineering


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Bajloor Rashid is a renowned business manamongst the Bangladeshi community liv-ing in the UK. He was born in the village ofBalikandi in Moulvi Bazaar. He first came tothe UK in 1978 and has been involved in anumber of different business ventures. Hemarried in 1988 and has four children, twosons and two daughters.His business life began in 1978 when hegot involved with the curry industry withhis brother in a restaurant in Dover, the suc-cess of which, spawned the opening of anumber of different restaurants aroundKent and London area. These Shapla Tan-doori in Whitstable, Kent, a partnershipwith Wingham Tandoori, in Kent as well asZarin, formerly known as Curry Garden inAshford, Kent. In 1993 he tapped into thewholesale business of rice and spice whilstsimultaneously buying commercial prop-erties forming his property company, At-lantic Properties Ltd. In 1997 he startedmore work with fellow Bangladeshis on dif-ferent projects in areas such as travel whichexpanded his ever growing business port-folio.His involvement in joint business venturessince then has bought about his positionsas Chairman of Sarina CNG Ltd,

Bangladesh; Chairman of Sylhet ParjatanMotel; Director (and former vice chairman)of Progressive Life Insurance co ltd,Bangladesh and also, involvements withSyhlet Shishu Park, International Medicareltd in Bangladesh.Mr Rashid is director in the BBCC havingpreviously held the position of finance di-rector and is involved in work helping im-prove the trade links between the UK andBangladesh which has culminated in manyawareness events including theBangladesh Expo 2005, held in the Barbi-can centre in London. His work in the BCA,stands out the most in his list of achieve-ments; having held positions of Chief Treas-urer and Assistant Secretary General inprevious committees, Mr Rashid waselected President of the BCA in. As presi-dent, Mr Rashid held a number of memo-rable events to raise awareness of the issueincluding the annual dinner in Park Lane inDecember 2007 and 2008 and most mem-orably a mass demonstration in TrafalgarSquare in London which was attended bytens of thousands of people. This sparkeda debate in the House of Commons justdays later about the current set of immigra-tion rules.

Mahmoud A Rauf is a qualified accountant.Born in 1946 in Nabiganj, Sylhet in Bangladesh,Mr Rauf was educated in Bangladesh beforecoming to the UK in 1968. He studied at theMadan Mohan College completing his B.Comin 1966 and in 1968 left for UK to further his ed-ucation in accountancy. As a student, Mr Rauftook part in the political events such as theanti-Ayub Movement and when the LiberationWar began in 1971 Mr Rauf was an executivemember of the Bangladesh Student ActionCommittee in the UK.

Before his arrival to the UK, Mr Rauf was theActing President of East Pakistan ChhatraUnion in Sylhet as well as volunteering at aneye camp organized by Jalalabad Blind Wel-fare Association. In addition to being an ac-countant, Mr He is an executive member ofthe Asian Drama Group. Mr Rauf is also servingas the Chairman of a group called Bengali Na-tional Cultural Society UK.

One of the pioneers behind East London’sBoishakhi Mela, Mr Rauf was also behind theconstruction of the Shaheed Minar monu-ment in Whitechapel’s Altab Ali Park. Throughout the last twenty years Mr Rauf hasalso been voluntarily involved with East Lon-don based organisations such as the TowerHamlets Community Empowerment Network,

Brick Lane Business Association, Tower Ham-lets Training/Business forum, Community Or-ganisation Forum, City-side Regeneration Ltdand the Banglatown Consultative Forum.Currently in Bangladesh Mr Rauf is a life mem-ber of Mukitijuddha Smriti Trust as well as thechairman of the board of directors of theBangla language newspaper ‘Notun Desh’. Onthe media front Mr Rauf was a director of theweekly publication ‘Sylheter Dak’ as well asbeing a founding member of BangladeshiJournalists Association UK.

He is married to Ju-E-Shams and they have adaughter and a son. Their daughter Sohanicompleted her degree in Psychology and is apost graduate in Education (PGCE) from theUniversity of London and their son Raziq com-pleted his Honours and Masters in Geographyon Space Management from the University ofManchester. Raziq is a qualified journalist cur-rently working with Virgin Radio.

Bajloor Rashid


Mahmoud A Rauf

SECTOR: Accounting


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Mukul Chandra Ray resides in East Londonand is a Teacher and EMA coordinator forHalley Primary School in Tower Hamlets. MrRay is also an ex- Lecturer at the SylhetGovernment Women’s College inBangladesh.He completed his primary education inHarogram, Sylhet and then went onto fin-ish his secondary education from BN HighSchool.

He did his Higher Secondary educationat Sunamganj College in Sunamganj.Having concluded his secondary educa-tion, Mr Ray progressed to Victoria Govern-ment College in Comilla where hegraduated with a Bachelor of Science de-gree. Mukul Chandra Ray then obtaineda Masters of Science postgraduate degreein Pure Mathematics from the world-renowned Dhaka University.Once in England Mr Ray followed suit andalso attained a Masters Degree from theUniversity of London in Pure Mathematics.Finally successfully completing the PGCEfrom Goldsmiths College, University of Lon-don, giving him the qualification that al-lows him to teach.Mr Ray is married with a son and a daugh-

ter who have advanced in their father’sfootsteps in completing higher education,obtaining degrees and working as profes-sionals.

In addition Mukul Chandra Ray has retainedmembership of many community and socialinitiatives.He is the teacher governor at Halley PrimarySchool; he is a former executive committeemember of the Bangladesh Teachers Asso-ciation UK, and also a pastmember of the executive committee of theCollective of Bangladeshi School governors.Furthermore he is the joint secretary of theHindu Progoti Sangha, UK.

Mr Mukul Chandra Ray is a well educatedand extremely respected member of theBritish Bangladeshi Community, and hisachievements in education and now as aTeacher has made him a recognised indi-vidual within the academic sphere.

Dr Bijan Kumar Saha completed his MBBS atthe University of Dhaka in 1968 before comingto the UK where in 1974 he obtained hisDiploma in Medical Radiotherapy after whichhe was in clinical practice in a hospital. Dr Sahasubsequently achieved the LMSSA from theConjoint Board in London in 1981 beforechanging career and becoming a GP in thelate 1980’s.

Dr Saha hails from the village of Utholi inManikgonj and currently resides in Kent. Hehas established his own medical practice atthe Lakeside Medical Centre, situated in Sit-tingbourne Kent. The practice was set up in1990.

Dr Bijan Saha is married to Dr Chhaya RaniSaha who too is a General Practitioner basedat their surgery in Kent. The couple have twosons, who both read medicine in the UnitedKingdom and are working as specialist regis-trars in Rheumatology and Nephrology at theKings College Hospital in London.

Aside from his medical practice, Dr Saha en-gages in voluntary initiatives and other busi-ness ventures. He was until very recently theChairman of Dartford, Gravesend and Med-way division of the British Medical Association.Moreover, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society

of Medicine, Member of the Royal College ofRadiologist.

Dr Saha is a Director of United Airways PVE,Bangladesh.

On the altruistic front, Dr Saha runs a freehealth promotion clinic once a week. Theclinic focuses on hypertension and diabetesand is specifically catered for the Bangladeshicommunity in London, particularly those whosuffer from an inability to communicate inEnglish.

Dr Saha is a very well respected doctor withinthe British Bangladeshi community.

Mukul Chandra Ray

SECTOR: Academia

Dr Bijan Kumar Saha

SECTOR: Medicine


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Dr. Mohammed Salam born in Dhaka andis married with three children. Dr. Salamgraduated from Dhaka University and ob-tained his Master Degree from the Univer-sity of Rajshahi. He studied at theUniversity of Bradford and was conferredwith a Doctorate Degree, He also gainedMembership of British Institute of Manage-ment in UK and Associate Membership ofInstitute of Training & Development in UK.Dr. Salam has had a distinguished careerhaving served in British Local Governmentfor 28 years. He was the first Bangladeshiappointed as a Principal Race Relations Ad-viser in UK.

During 1971 Liberation Movement ofBangladesh, Dr. Salam led the movementof Bangladeshi Students within the univer-sities in UK. Dr. Salam has worked closelywith Late Justice Abu Syed Chowdhury(ambassador-in-exile for Bangladesh andlatter first President of independentBangladesh). Dr. Salam produced & pub-lished a weekly Mukthi Joddhu newspapercalled “Proloy” to propagate the cause ofBangladesh Liberation Movement in UK &Europe. Dr. Salam established BangladeshMission in Bradford.

Following the independence ofBangladesh, Dr. Salam formed a nationalorganisation for the Bangladeshi Commu-nity called “Federation of Bangladeshi As-sociations in United Kingdom and Europe”in 1972 (FOBA). He remained as SecretaryGeneral of the Federation for about 12years.

Dr. Salam was the Vice-chair of UnitedKingdom Immigrants Advisory Service(UKIAS) 1975 to 1988. He helped to set upUKIAS offices in Sylhet. Dr. Salam was thelead mediator to resolve the conflict ofBritish Government & the Bangladesh Gov-ernment at the time of the introduction ofDNA testing for entry clearance for de-pendents.

Dr. Salam formed a charitable trust to helpand support the Sidr cyclone victims ofBangladesh. He is a Trustee & Director ofmany institutions at a local, national and in-ternational level. Moreover, he is a Justiceof the Peace for Bradford Bench and Chairof the Adult Court has been performingcivic duties on behalf of Her Majesty theQueen for the last 19 years.

Muhammad Abdullah Salique was the exMayor of the London Borough of Tower Ham-lets for the 2008/09 municipal year.He has been a member of the Labour Party formany years and has been councillor for theBethnal Green North ward since 2006 in theLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets. Prior torepresenting the residents of Bethnal GreenNorth, Mohammed Abdullah Salique waselected ward councillor for Mile End East in2002.Muhammad Abdullah Salique hasheld a num-ber of important posts including Chair of theDevelopment Committee, Chair of theOlympic Development Committee and for thelast year Scrutiny Lead for Health and Excel-lent Public Services.

He currently is on the Appeals, Audit andOverview committees to name but a few.Muhammad Abdullah Salique is a qualifiedyouth and community worker and socialworker, and he also has a degree in law.He has worked extensively as a youth andcommunity and social worker and as a lec-turer at Tower Hamlets College.Muhammad Abdullah Salique came to TowerHamlets from Sylhet as a child. He grew up inTower Hamlets and attended school inSpitalfields.He is married with five children.

Dr. Mohammed SalamJP, M.Sc, MBIM, AMITD

SECTOR: Local Government and Community Relations

Muhammad Abdullah Salique

SECTOR: Politics


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Khatun Sapnara is a barrister and part timeJudge. In 1988 she graduated with an LL.B(Hons) from the prestigious London Schoolof Economics and Political Science (Univer-sity of London) and was called to the Bar in1990.She practises from Coram Barristers Cham-bers in London and specialises in familylaw. In 2006 she was appointed as aRecorder of the Crown which makes herthe only Bangladeshi in a senior judicial po-sition.

In 2004 Khatun Sapnara was appointed bythe Lord Chancellor to the Family JusticeCouncil which is a body of experts to adviseGovernment on all aspects of the familyjustice system and assisted in formulatingand drafting the Forced Marriage Act 2007.She was also the first ethnic person to beelected to the Family Law Bar AssociationCommittee in 2003.

Khatun Sapnara was born in Sylhet andcame to the UK as a child. She is the daugh-ter of late Mimbor Ali, a highly respectedmember of the Bangladeshi community,honoured by the Bangladeshi Governmentfor his significant contribution to the liber-

ation of Bangladesh.Khatun Sapnara has served as Director/Chair of a number of charities and volun-tary sector organisations and lectureswidely on issues relating to family law. Sheis married with two children.

Muhammed A. Sattar gained a degree withhonours from University of Chittagong in Ben-gali language and literature.Mr Sattar has worked within the field of jour-nalism for over 23 years. He began his careeras a staff reporter for a local daily newspaperin Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Through hard work and determination, heeventually became the executive editor of thisnewspaper.From 1995 to 2000, Mr Sattar was the BBC’sBengali radio service reporter (stringer) in Syl-het and also worked as the Sylhet correspon-dent for the news agency Reuters. In 1996, MrSattar took part in a regional training pro-gramme in Kolkata, India that was run by theBBC.In recognition of his journalistic skills and ex-perience, Mr Sattar was elected vice-presidentand general secretary of the SylhetPress Club.

In 2000, Mr Sattar moved to the UK, andstarted to work for Bangla TV in London as thestation’s news editor. He stayed in this roleuntil 2003, and then moved to the VectoneBangla Television channel where he was againthe station’s news editor.Currently, Mr Sattar works as a special corre-spondent for the Janomot Bengali

newsweekly, the oldest Bengali newspaper inthe UK. He also works part-time for theConsortium of Bengali Associations, a volun-tary based service in Camden, north London.In 2008, he was elected as the general secre-tary of the London Bangla Press Club.

Away from his professional life, Mr Sattar en-joys travelling, and has visited countries suchas India, Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand, Japan,France and Germany. He also has a keen inter-est in community affairs, and enjoys assistingpeople in any way he can.

Sapnara Khatun

SECTOR: Legal (Barrister and Judge)

Muhammed A. Sattar



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Mr. H. M. Shahjahan is an entrepreneur anddirector of Film Asia, the prominent film mak-ing company based in East London. He roseto prominence at a relatively young age of 39,and is a leading face of Bangladeshi business-men based in the UK.

Mr. Shahjahan, son of Late Alhaj Sazzad Aliand Mrs Rasheda Khanom, was born in thevillage of Mohammadpur Shera, JagonathpurUpazilla, (Sunamganj District) Bangladesh. Heis the eldest child of six children.Mr Shahjahan arrived in the United Kingdomin 1984 with his parents. He did his schoolingfrom Mohammadpur Shera Primary School,Mirpur public high School in Bangladesh andGCSE from Holloway School in London. Afterfinishing his education, first he involve incatering business. But he was passionateabout filmmaking. His hobby was makinghome videos. From his school age he wasvery good at Art.

Because of his Dream and desire, he began anew career from home as a Videographer,then he build a team to form Film Asia.Film Asia that excels in film making, editingand camera operating. It is more than just afilm company. They are a media productionagency setting the standard of film makingacross the United Kingdom. Film Asia mainly produces wedding films forAsian Brides and Grooms. They also had

known for TV Commercial, Music Video, Con-cert, and Tele-film. Film Asia produced a ghazal night with AlaurRahman and the British Bangladeshi Who’swho programme in 2009. With brilliant editors, graphic designers, cin-ematographers and event coordinators, thegroup has been a raving success in the filmbusiness of East London. The motto of Film Asia is simple; it is all aboutperfection, innovation and imagination. Spe-cialising in video production and photogra-phy, the artistic approach operated by FilmAsia has met with critical acclaim from theprofessional world.In Mr. Shahjahan’s words, ‘the overall messagewe wish to convey is simple, we are workingfor you, with our expert skill and ability, ourcreation will cater to whatever you desire, andwe will deliver’.Apart from his business, Mr. Shahjahan alsogives a significant time in charity work. He isthe Treasurer of Probashi Gram Bangla Un-nayan Shongstha, a community organisation. He lives in London Docklands with his family.His wife is Ruhena Begum. They have twosons and two daughters. The names of thedaughters are Mariyum Hussain and NaziaHussain. The sons are Farhath Hussain andRaahath Hussain.Mr.Shahjahan’s Creativity and dynamic visionhas earned him a position within the mediaindustry.

Abdul Shahid is an accountant by profession,practicing in his own firm M M S Associates.He started as a Practice Manager in an Ac-countant & Auditors firm in East London, heresponsibilities involved running the office,supervising staff members, dealing and main-taining overall client’s concerns.Shahid stands out in his field as a strict andhonest professional.

His creative intake of Bangladeshi food has ledhim to open Gram Bangla which is now ahousehold name in the Bangladeshi commu-nity. There are very few caterers like AbdulShahid whose food in fact conjures up ap-petite for the flavour of our own mouth-wa-tering dishes within the community. In thissense he is a pioneering restaurateur nourish-ing pure Bangladeshi taste.

Shahid is a well-healed person who always en-deavours for the positive perspective in life. A proud father of four daughters Shahnaz,Khaleda, Fareedah and Yasmin, Abdul Shahidpicked up his MBA degree in 2007. He Sharesmost of his spare time with the family-goingout together, reading, watching telivision (inparticular, current and business affairs) tuningto music are a common routine. Living in EastLondon for Shahid when all is well done andcomes the time to give credit, as it is said there

is a woman behind every successful man. Andin Shahid’s case too is his belovedand devoted wife Raihana.

H M Shahajahan

SECTOR: Media

Abdul Shahid

SECTOR: Accounting


www.bbwhoswho.co.uk


Sultan Shari� is well known in the BritishBangladeshi community as an importantcontributor in the Liberation War ofBangladesh. He was born in village;Sharukali, Police Station; Katwali, in Barisal.He completed his ISC examination from BMCollege and BSc from Khulna, DaulatpurCollege. He studied Law in Dhaka Univer-sity, but immigrated to the UK in 1963, be-fore the final examination.

He participated in the student movementin the 1960’s. After coming to the UK, hewas closely involved in the movement forthe realisation of the rights of the peopleof East Pakistan in United Pakistan. He wasactive in the warfields during the 9 monthsof fighting in Bangladesh.

Mr Shariff was president of the PakistanStudent Federation. He was a foundermember of the Awami League in the UKand held the position of the first GeneralSecretary of the London branch.

He was a founder member of theBangladesh Awami Jubo League and amember of its first presidium.

He was an active member of the AwamiLeague Advisory Committee in London.

He is a founder and permanent member ofthe Bangladesh centre, established in theearly 80’s.

As recognition of his pivotal role in the free-dom struggle, the Bangladesh Govern-ment awarded him with the freedomfighters medal. The Russell Smriti Parisadpresented him with a gold award for hiscontribution to the ongoing movement fordemocracy in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s.Channel S honoured him for his services tothe community.

He lives with his wife, Nora Shariff, in Lon-don.

Mr Shayeb is one of the youngest entrepre-neurs in the British Bangladeshi Communityand at the age of just 26 now owns and runsone of the most successful Private EquityGroups in the community. He is the co-founder and Chairman of De Vere Private Eq-uity Group Holdings which owns some of themost prominent & unique business concerns,namely iTrade UK Ltd – the only Stock MarketTraining Company in the Community. iTradeUK Ltd is now the leader in it’s sector and hasrecently been given an endorsement by amulti-millionaire Dragon’s Den Investor.

Mr Shayeb and his current sixty strong teamof employees working all over the world haverapidly acquired a huge portfolio of diverseproperties including penthouses in theMediterranean. Mr Shayeb has taken his Pri-vate Equity Group from a small back office op-eration to a multi-million pound internationalconcern in just five years.

Mr Shayeb & his co-founder pioneered theway forward for British Bangladeshi business’sto start off shoring their operations intoBangladesh, and as a result recently won the‘Investor of the Year in Bangladesh Award2009’ – awarded by Channel S Television.

Born in East London, Mr Shayeb has always

been a great supporter of the local commu-nity. Mr Shayeb’s G Programme Internship iswell regarded as the best internship pro-grammes available for graduates to help pro-pel themselves in their chosen careers. MrShayeb is also the co-founder and trustee forthe iHope Charitable Trust – set up specificallyto address the needs of unprivileged entrepre-neurs in Bangladesh.

As a result of Mr Shayeb’s generosity to thecommunity and by achieving unrivalled suc-cess at a young age, Mr Shayeb has been reg-ularly featured on both local and nationalmedia including BBC1. Mr Shayeb’s mission inlife is to inspire, empower and instill the beliefinto young people the fact that age, race orgender is not an obstacle to achieving greatheights in life.

Sultan Mahmud Shari�


Baharul Alam Shayeb

SECTOR: Private Equity


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Born in the village of Kadi Pur, South Surmain Sylhet, Wazid Hasan Shelim is one ofseven children. The son of Abdur Rahmanand Shomsun Nessa, he was brought up ina well known and highly respected family.

Shelim arrived in the United Kingdom in1986 and started his further educationwhere he successfully obtained a diplomain Business Studies. After finishing his edu-cation, he began working at the familyrestaurant. It was later in 1991 when he es-tablished his first business, ‘Apex Curry’.Four years later he established his secondand most successful business, to date.‘Pride of Asia’, began life as a restaurant andquickly grew to specialise in catering forlarge events and ceremonies, includingweddings, corporate events and parties.The uniqueness of Pride of Asia, which setsit apart from competitors is the mastery ofseasoning and the ability to extract differ-ent flavours from the extensive amount ofseasoning and spices they use.

Customers have always provided goodfeedback after using the services of Prideof Asia. Pride of Asia’s has catered for manylarge organisations including services to

the House of Commons, Tower HamletsCouncil and BBCC, to name a few. Asidefrom his dedication to his business, Shelimis a passionate philanthropist and has al-ways donated to schools, madrasas andhealth clinics both in Bangladesh as well ashere in the UK. He also continues to helpthe poor and victims of disasters.

Furthermore, Shelim is involved with nu-merous community organisations.He is the Secretary of Jalal Pur Welfare As-sociation and a life member of LondonBangla Press Club. Additionally, he is Cor-porate Member of BBCC.Shelim married in 1996 to Hamida Shepin.They have four children; one daughter andthree sons. His children are Shahida Akter,Rafe Ahmed, Shafi Ahmed and YaminAhmed.

At the age of 35 Wazid Hasan Shelim is awell-established and familiar businessper-son and member of the British Bangladeshicommunity, who already boasts an ex-tremely successful career in the catering in-dustry.

late Alhaj Eklimur Reza Chowdhury and Mrs.Ambia Begum Choudhury was born in Patlivillage, Jagonathpur Upazilla (Sunamgonj Dis-trict). He came to the UK in 1990 along withhis parents and siblings. He is the 2nd eldestchild of five children.

Faisol`s brothers and sister Reza Ahmed KobirChoudhury, Reza Ahmed Shafi Choudhury,Reza Ahmed Bakor Choudhury, Rezia Choud-hury Nazmin also reside in the UK.Mr. Faisol Choudhury graduated with a B.A.honors from Bangladesh and completed hispostgraduate studies in the UK.

As a free thinking, ambitious young man witha passion for progressive journalism he real-ized his dreams by producing his own weeklyNewspaper ̀ Sylhet Katha` at the tender age of22. Mr Faisol Choudhury has been a columnistfor a number of different newspapers includ-ing Surma, Jonomot, Notun Din (publishedfrom London, UK) and national daily AmaderShomoy (published from Dhaka, Bangladesh).He continues to write for Notun Din andAmader Shomoy.

Mr.Faisol Choudhury was the Founder Secre-tary of Desh Bikash in 1991, a voluntary cul-tural organization, which allowed youngchildren from the London borough of Tower

Hamlets to become involved in various cul-tural activities.He dedicates his time voluntarilyto assisting those in need of help and, sup-ports the British Bangladeshi youth today invarious ways.

Mr. Choudhury has had several occupationsthroughout the years.He was the Director of Media and Communi-cation for the most popular TV channel, Chan-nel S in 2007 (established and broadcast fromUK). He currently runs Channel I. In 2000 heentered married Dr Anwara Ali and they livewith their only son Obaid Reza Jaami Al-Choudhury.

Wazid Hasan Shelim

SECTOR: Catering

Reza Ahmed FaisalChoudhury Shoaib



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Cllr Tulip Siddiq spent her childhood inBangladesh, Brunei, India, Singapore andSpain. She moved to North London tenyears ago and completed her undergradu-ate and Master’s degree in the U.K. She re-cently became the Councillor fromCamden Council. She is doing a secondMaster’s in Politics, Policy and Government.

Tulip is the Labour Party council candidatein Regent’s Park ward. If she is elected, shewill be the first Bengali woman in Camdencouncil.

Tulip is BAME (Black Asian Minority Ethnic)Officer for Young Labour and Women’s Offi-cer for London Young Labour. She is on theexecutive board of her union (T&G: Unite)and a school governor at Beckford PrimarySchool.

She has worked for a variety of Labourpoliticians including Oona King and SadiqKhan. She has also worked for Philip GouldAssociates, Amnesty International and Savethe Children in the past.

She has campaigned for political parties in-ternationally and in 2008, she campaigned

for Barack Obama in the United States. Tulip writes for her local newspaper – theHam and High- and is also a member of theCommonwealth Journalists Association(UK).

Tulip has her own blog where she writesabout both British and Bengali politics

Abul Kalam Azad Suton was born in 1959 inDighal Bak, Nabigonj Bangladesh. His father isAl Hajj Mohammed Badsha Miah and motheris late Morthuza Khanam, He completed hishigher secondary education from ModhonMohan College in Sylhet after which he grad-uated with a Degree from Sylhet GovernmentDegree College. Mr Abul Kalam Azad thenmoved to the UK in 1983.

After his arrival here in the UK Mr Azad startedby writing in different Bangladeshi newspa-pers, such as Janomot, Surma and Notun Din.He then became founder editor of ‘SylheterDak’, later resigning and setting up a newsagency in the UK, called the BritishBangladesh News Agency and served as theChairman of this organisation.

In 1984 he established his own business, arestaurant named Shapla Tandoori and lateropened the Badsha Indian Cuisine in Kent.His restaurant empire grew rapidly and heopened Azad Bangladesh Cuisine in EastGrinstead. Moreover in 1999 he establishedthe now renowned Britannia Spice in Edin-burgh. In the year 2007 Velvety Ginger was es-tablished by him in Crawley.Mr Azad’s other business interests includebeing a Director of Dreamland AmusementPark in Sylhet, he is also a Director of Valley

City in Sylhet, as well as ABC Land and alsoAbashon Shopping complex, both located inSylhet. He is the founder and chairman of theBadsha Miah Education Kalayan Trust, a trustin place at Dighal Bak High School after his fa-thers name. He also funded the building of theChandpur Alia Madrasa in Habiganj after hismothers name in 1999. In addition he is thefounder and General Secretary of the UKNabigonj Development Association in 1988.Furthermore he is the Press and PublicationSecretary of Bangladesh Caterers Associationand President of the Kent region.

Mr Azad is married to Zaheda Akter (Lipi) twodaughters and one son; Fouzia, Faizah andAbul Esfar. Abul Kalam Azad Suton has alsomanaged to write a number of books in hisspare time. His most recent publication,launched in 2006 was titled “Ekjon Kibria”.

Tulip Siddiq

SECTOR: Politics

Abul Kalam AzadSuton



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M Altab (Syed), The Eldest son of Late HajiMd. Rajab Ali, Born in Jalal Pur, Sunam Gonj,Bangladesh. Mr Altab came over to the UKin 1977 where he continued with his edu-cation.

After completing a Diploma in businessstudies, Mr Altab quickly established him-self as a successful entrepreneur, taking onvarious ventures in the form of cateringoutlets and corners stores in North Wales.Currently, Mr. Altab is primarily focusing onhis property development venture to di-versify his portfolio of investments.Over the years, Mr Altab has contributedgreatly towards charitable work and hasbeen involved with numerous communityorganisations.He is one of the co founders and Vice Chair-man of Bangor Bangladesh Welfare Associ-ations.

Through his personal and business con-tacts, the Bangor based businessman hashelped generate large donations for vic-tims of natural disasters and has con-tributed towards numerous developmentsand educational projects in Bangladesh. Heis an active member of the Federation of

Small Businesses in addition to his longterm membership with the BangorBusiness forum. He was also elected as aTrustee for Bangor Islamic Centre.Mr M Altab (Syed) is one of the successfuland recognised member of the BritishBangladeshi community in Wales, he hasinvested an extensive amount of his timeand efforts to the Bangladeshi communityhere in the UK, especially in the area heresides.

Mr Altab is married with six children whoare in full time education.His ambitions in life to help others helpthemselves, as he firmly believes that if yougive a man a fish you feed him for a dayand if you teach a man to fish you feedfor a lifetime.

Abu Taher MBE son of Late Md Jamshed Miah,settled in Birmingham in 1978. Md Abu TaherMBE left Birmingham in 1993. His vision wasto introduce ‘Balti’ to the people of Leicester.He wanted to provide good quality food inpleasant surroundings at a reasonable price.Ever since his childhood, Mr Taher had deepempathy for the people around him, his par-ents always encouraged and inspired him todo charitable work and to help others.

As a testament to his upbringing, he has beeninvolved with many voluntary organisations.His motivation has always been around im-proving the quality of life for people in hiscommunity and helping those who are lessfortunate.

In 1993, with the combination of a successfulfirst year of trading and a commitment to helpothers, Taher held his first charity dinner in aidof the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. It was such a suc-cess that charity meals have happened at his T& K Balti House every year since.There have been fifteen charity dinners in aidof the Lord Mayor’s appeal. But that’s not all,Mr Taher has also held many other charity din-ners to raise fund for Bangladesh Orphans,Bangladesh flood Appeal, the Tsunami forsouth Asia and other emergencies and naturaldisasters abroad.His active participation in the British politics

has built a strong bridge between theBangladeshi community and the ConservativeParty in Leicester. He has dedicated time toserve the community including assisting theless able with Benefits and Immigration issues.He is still instrumental in establishing a num-ber of Bangladeshi organisations in the UKand abroad. His commitments to the commu-nity both geographically and ethnically arewithout question.

In recognition of the services and contributionhe made towards the local community he wasmade a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in2003.

He is currently serving as the president of theBangladesh Development Trust UK, presidentG L R Traders association, as well as servingconcurrently with other positions of responsi-bility in other organisations.

M Altab Syed

SECTOR: Business

Mohammed AbuTaher MBE



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One of the most successful Bangladeshibusinessmen living in Scotland, Edinburgh-based entrepreneur, Dr Wali Uddin MBE,was born in Moulvibazzar in 1952. Havingmoved to Edinburgh in 1975, Dr Uddinopened such award-winning restaurants asBritannia Spice, Verandah and Lancers. Bri-tannia Spice won Les Routiers Best New-comer in 2001 and was recognised as thebest curry restaurant in Scotland by bothBIBA and the Scottish Curry Awards (whichit won for three consecutive years). It is cur-rently the Irn Bru Restaurant of the Year.

A respected philanthropist who has raisedover half a million pounds for charities inBangladesh and Britain, Dr Uddin was ap-pointed JP in 1984 and Young Scot of theYear in 1992. In 1993 Wali was appointedthe first Honorary Consul-General ofBangladesh in Scotland and, in 1995, aMember of the British Empire for his serv-ices to race relations.

Dr Uddin was honored with a LifetimeAchievement Award at the Lloyds TSBAsian Jewel Awards. Founding Director ofthe acclaimed Edinburgh Mela, Dr Uddin isJoint President of the EBF, Chairman of the

Council of Bangladeshis in Scotland, a Di-rector of the Edinburgh and Leith Cham-bers of Commerce and a key player inestablishing the BanglaScot Foundation.He is the former Chairman and DirectorGeneral of the Bangladesh British Chamberof Commerce and has been awarded threehonorary degrees from Heriot-Watt, QueenMargaret and Napier Universities. Dr Uddinis a Director of the Council of the ForeignChambers of Commerce in the UK and afounder member and Director of Britain inEurope. He is a Fellow of the Royal Societyof Arts and was included in Debretts’ Peo-ple of Today and the Asian Power 100.

Wali Uddin is married to Syeda Akther andhas been blessed with five children. He be-lieves in determination, dedication, hon-esty and integrity. See www.drwaliuddin.co.uk.

Sheik Tuahid was the first son of Sheik AbdulBari and Sheik Amina Khatun. He hails fromthe village of Baushi, Bishawnath Village in thedistrict of Sylhet. He completed his degreefrom M.M College in Sylhet.He first came to the UK in 1985.

His enthusiasm for education was obvious ashe decided to further his learning by attend-ing the Mathew Bolton College. There he stud-ied electronic engineering for a year.His positive and encouraging approach to-wards the Bangladeshi community was with-out a doubt noticeable and consequently itresulted in him becoming the General Secre-tary of Bangladeshi Society in Stoke-On-Trent,Staffordshire from 1987- 1990. In1995, Mr. Tuahid was given the role of vicechairman and later the role of General Secre-tary of “Onuprash” Jatio Kobi Shangaton, anorganization created with the aim to help theBangladeshi community.

Mr. Tuahid founded and became the Chair-man of the Midland Press Club in 2005. he de-cided to take up the role of Editor of BazaarVoice as he had a good background in jour-nalism.In addition, he was the editor of a Bengalimagazine aimed at young Bangladeshis,named Paira. ‘Jodi Pere Ashe Kobu’, a poetry

book written by Mr. Tuahid, was published inBangladesh in 2006 and proved to thrivegreatly.

He continues to work hard not only to carryon his own success, but also to bring aboutgood for the community.At this moment in time, Mr. Tuahid is a repre-sentative of the Weekly Potrika and the weeklyBangla Mirror, two newspapers involved withthe British Bangladeshi community.

He is also the managing editor of Bangla Kho-bor published in the Midlands Married toLilma Choudhury, he and his wife have threechildren named Sheik Hussain, Sheik Salmanand Sheik Ferdus. Mr. Tuahid lives with his wifeand children in Solihull in the Midlands.

Dr. Wali Tasar UddinMBE JP DBA FRSA

SECTOR: Catering and Community relations

Sheik Tuahid

SECTOR: Media


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Baroness Uddin was born in Bangladeshand brought up in England. She is wellrecognised as an advocate for social reformand equal rights.A formidable champion for women, LadyUddin was invited to the House of Lords in1998, for her contribution to the advance-ment of women and disability rights, be-stowing the title of the Rt. Hon.

Baroness Uddin of Bethnal Green. Shebegan her professional and political careerin the 70’s, in the East End, developing anumber of leading edge and well regardedservices and organisations, many of whichhave come to be accepted as benchmarkfor sustainable development and commu-nity engagement.

Baroness Uddin serves on the Select Com-mittee on European Affairs and havechaired a number of Government TaskForces, under the auspices of the PrimeMinister’s office, Home Office and the FCO.She continues to work with a number of in-ternational charitable and educationalcauses, and currently leading the nationalpilot Breaking the Cycle Project whichworks with families affected by substance

misuse. She is a board member of AutismSpeak UK, Honorary member of the Boardof Channel S Television and is a patron ofOrbis International, Student PartnershipWorldwide, Bethnal Green and Victoria ParkHousing Association, Women's HousingForum, Women's Aid, Brit-Bangla and TheDame Vera Lynn Trust.

Baroness Uddin has an honorary doctoratefrom Exeter University.

Mr. Giash Uddin is the grandson of Mr. Mo-hamed Amroj Ali, the famous Awami leagueleader in Dakshin Surma. He was born inMogla Bazar, Dakshin Surma, Sylhet,Bangladesh. He has completed his B.Sc (Hon)in Bangladesh and further studied in Interna-tional Business Management, at Amsterdamschool of Business.

After completing studies, he set up his ownbusiness in Amsterdam. In 2005 he moved tothe UK and set up a group of restaurants inPortsmouth and Southampton. He is also themember of the caterer association UK and isinvolved in local community activities inSouth Sea.

Mr Uddin’s businesses have ever since beenextremely successful. It can be said without adoubt that he has come far in life and donewell due to his hard work, enthusiasm and de-termination to thrive both as a businessmanand an individual.

One of his more successful restaurants is situ-ated in Portsmouth, known as the RanchoSteak House. This is an American style dinerestablished for nearly two years and serves avariety of foods. He believes more peopleshould invest into American style restaurants

as it adds something unique to theBangladeshi Community.

Mr Uddin is a great lover of charity as he con-tributes towards Bangladesh’s flood crisis’ andgeneral poverty. He has become a successfulbusinessman and lives in Portsmouth with hiswife Fahminara Akhter, and two children.

Baroness Pola Manzila Uddin

SECTOR: Politics

Mr Giash Uddin

SECTOR: Catering


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Dr Ruab Uddin, is a modest educationalist and commu-

nity activist. He is the eldest son of Mr Afiz Ali and Mrs.

Joymal Khatun of Mamod pur (Jandor tupi, Pagla

Bazar), Sunamganj, Bangladesh. After completing his

secondary education at Sunamganj Government Ju-

bilee High School in 1980 and Higher Secondary educa-

tion at the prestigious Sylhet MC College, he arrived in

England in 1982. Ruab completed his graduation at the

University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technol-

ogy (UMIST) and pursued the post graduate degree of

Doctor of Philosophy in Composite & High Performance

Polymer Chemistry at Manchester University in 1992.

Following on his success in the PhD project originally

funded by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), he was ap-

pointed as a research associate at ICI at Wilton Centre,

Middlesbrough, Cleveland. He has a number of publica-

tions in science journals. Ruab visited many European

states & capital cities to attend science seminars and

symposiums to represent his research team. His passion

and strong desire to work with the Bangladeshi com-

munity had made him change his career from science

research into the field of education. Later he joined

Tower Hamlets College as a lecturer and then com-

pleted his PGCE at Huddersfield University. At present

Dr Ruab is teaching science with the responsibly as the

Key Stage 3 Science Co-ordinator.

During his college & university years he developed

many community organisations projects through LEA

& Urban grants to assist the Bangladeshi community.

Ruab was one of the founders of Mossley (Manchester)

Bangladesh Welfare Centre which promoted the lin-

guistic and socio-cultural activities in 1980s and early

90s. His long commitments and affiliated work involves

with many organisations such as: Greater Sylhet Devel-

opment & Welfare Council in UK (GSC); Bangladeshi

Teachers Association (BTA); Greater Sunamganj Welfare

Association; Dokshin Sunamganj Upozilla Association;

Friends of Purbo Pagla High School in UK; Dagenham

Bangladesh Cultural Association etc.

Dr Ruab also works as a capacity building consultant

where he facilitates seminars and training sessions in

education, youth & social issues, community develop-

ment and other related topics. He is a school governor

of a primary school and a tertiary college in Dagenham.

He is an irregular writer of Bangladeshi news papers

and a guest of talk shows of Bengali TV channels. He is

a silent supporter of Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman & his political philosophy. He was the general

secretary of Bangladesh Chatro League MC College

Hostel branch; the founder general secretary of Greater

Manchester Jubo League and currently the joint secre-

tary of All Europian Bongobondhu Porishod.

Dr Ruab is the eldest of four siblings (second brother

Mohim Uddin, a caterer; third brother Sharif Uddin, a

medical doctor and the youngest brother Thaher

Uddin, an accountant) who is married to Sofina Uddin

and has two sons, Masum & Nasim and a daughter

Shabnom. He with his family resides in Becontree in the

Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Mr Joshim Uddin is the sixth child of Mr TahirAli and Mrs Hawarun Nessa, better known asJosh, he is currently the owner and director ofThames Management Solutions Ltd which heestablished in 2006.

Joshim Uddin was born in Barlekha, MouloviBazar, Bangladesh in 1984 and came to Eng-land under the guardian of his uncle at theage of 12. He spent his teenage years inWalthamstow. He started working in an industrial garage inFerry lane, then left to run a body shop andwas also engaged in selling cars before em-barking on his own business venture, which isThames Management Solutions Ltd. Joshimhas always been fascinated by cars.Thames Management Solutions limited pro-vides accident management and motor claimssolutions to clients. TMS is a distinctive placethat can add real value to clients for all nonfaults and split liability motor incidents. TMSoffers a complete 24/7 ‘one call’ incident man-agement service that increases business effi-ciency.

Joshim is a very determined person and has areal knowledge in the business he is running.He understands his mission and shows gen-uine commitment towards the business goalsand objectives. He holds a comprehensible

success record for his business. He is a very dy-namic person with outstanding planning, or-ganisational and management skills. He hasproven himself as a strategic and visionarythinker. He is an individual who knows how toprioritise issues and achieve his goals. He is avery respectful and dedicated person andready to share ideas and knowledge to others.He possessed a natural talent for establishingpublic relationships, embraces challenges,welcome opportunities and has a positive cando attitude. He can also be described as a log-ical thinker with strategic and pragmatic ana-lytical skills. He always welcome innovativeideas and proven to have imaginative and acreative approach.

Besides being a director of TMS, Joshim Uddinalso has numerous other investments andbusiness interests. Furthermore he has theability of engaging with individuals andgroups at different levels and background. Healways donates to several charities.Away from work, Joshim likes to go out withhis friends, as he is still single.

Dr Ruab Uddin BSc(Hons), PhD, FETC, PGCE

SECTOR: Education and CommunityRelations

Joshim Uddin

SECTOR: Accident Management


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Khondaker Forid Uddin is the currentChairman of United Traders Limited. Bornin 1941 in Golapgonj, Sylhet in Bangladeshand completed his primary education atthe local school before coming to the UKin 1963.

Mr Uddin is a very successful businessmanestablishing a glass factory and a hotel inBangladesh as well as playing a key role inthe liberation movement. Mr Uddin carriedout numerous activities in Britain as well asthe Europe in support of the struggle forindependence and to this day still aidsfreedom fighters in the Golapgonj region.The work of charity is a fundamental ele-ment of Mr Uddin’s character.

He annually donates thousands of poundsto educational institutes in Bangladesh inaddition to helping the poor and homelessin his area by constructing 50 houses withcorrugated iron sheet every year. Mr Uddinhas also financially supported the con-struction of Noor Masjid & Madrashanamed after his late father KhondakerAbdul Noor and is also a joint convenor ofBangladesh Flood Prevention InternationalCommittee UK.

Besides Mr Uddin’s interest in the philan-thropy department, he is actively involvedin many sociocultural and welfare organi-sations.Currently he is the chief treasurer ofBangladesh Central London as well as thePresident of the Golapgonj Upazilla welfareassociation UK. Mr Uddin is also a commit-tee member of both the London and ManorPark Jame Masjid and the Greater Sylhet De-velopment and Welfare Council UK.

Furthermore, Mr Uddin is the Chairman ofthe Greater London Caterer’s Associationas well as serving as the Senior Vice Chair-man of Jatiya Party UK.

Mr Khondaker Forid Uddin is married toKhondaker Sufiya Khanam and have beenblessed with three sons, Khondaker MohiUddin, Khandaker Thaj Uddin and ZamalUddin. Investing in the Industrial sector inBangladesh is currently high on Mr Uddinsagenda as well as providing access to edu-cational facilities for the disadvantaged

Khondaker ForidUddin


MOHAMMEDKAMAR UDDIN

SECTOR: Business and CommunityRelations

Mohammed Kamar Uddin was born in the vil-lage of Abdullah Pur, Beanibazar in the Sylhetregion of Bangladesh. His father is the late HajiRois Ali and his mother is the late Mrs MokisunNessa. He migrated to the UK in 1964, and wasone of the first Bangladeshi's to start a large-scale business venture; his first business –Romna Trimmings Embroidery – in 1974 wasone of the largest Bangladeshi businesses dur-ing that era.

A family man and a well respected communityfigure, Mr Uddin then moved into the moneytransfer market, where he was one of the firstto pioneer the unique service of sending andreceiving money from Europe to the hard toreach parts of the sub-continent.Mr Uddin's long established money transferbusiness known as KS Enterprise LTD is stillone of the market leading ethnic agencies forsending foreign remittances, especially torural parts of Bangladesh.

In 1984, Mr Uddin's passion for high qualityAsian cuisine led him to open the Ramna GateRestaurant in Southgate. His other successfulbusinesses include Rahman Travels and a port-folio of properties in the UK and abroad.Awayfrom business life, Mr Uddin is known in theUK's Bangladeshi community as the Presidentof the UK Bangladesh National Party.

In 2007 he was short-listed to stand as the MPfor Beanibazar and Gulapgonj by theBangladesh National Party (BNP). Mr Uddin ishighly regarded in the BNP and is responsiblefor the close links the party has with the UK.As a long-standing community campaignerMr Uddin has made numerous charitable con-tributions to many mosques and educationalinstitutions in Bangladesh most notably inBeanibazar and Golapganj. He has mademany contributions towards schooling sup-port for deprived children and has tried to re-duce poverty.

In 1992, the then Prime Minister Khaleda Ziawas returning to Bangladesh from Harare, andstopped over at London Hilton.During a brief meeting with her at the time,Mr Uddin was able to convince Khaleda Ziathe importance of a bridge over Kushiara riverin shaola was crucial to facilitate communica-tion for the local people. Following this he wasable to raise with other community membersTaka 25 lakh for Khaleda Zia’s flood victimsfund.

In his personal life, Mr Uddin is a dedicatedfamily. His two youngest children are highachievers attending some of England's oldestand best institutions. He is also a grandfather.


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Moin Uddin

SECTOR: Hospitality and Catering

Mostafa Saleh Uddin


Mostafa Saleh Uddin (Liton) was born in Be-gumganj thana in Noakhali district. His fatheris late Md Aftab uddin who was a police offi-cer.Mostafa completed his SSC from Noakhaligovernment Zilla School in 1983 and his HSCinn1995 from govt S.A. College in Noakhali.He later obtained a BA degreefrom Chittagong University in 1989.Mostafa came to the UK in 1995 and em-barked on a computing course. In 1996 hebegan working at an accounting firm in southWimbledon, as an assistant accountant. In1997 he started working as a Bengali teacherat Sir John Cass & Red Coat Secondary Schoolsituated in London. After which he becomeinvolved in the cateringtrade.He is Secretary of Bangladesh AssociationCardiff He is also the founder of Club Shatabdi(Bangladeshi youth cultural organisation) andhe was involved in organising the BangladeshMela . He is also founder acting coordinatorof Cardiff North Gabalfa Bangla School. He isa member of NHS reference group and amember ofRace Equality First (REF) Mostafa Uddin is theSecretary of BNP south Wales branch.Furthermore, he was also activelyinvolved in different socio –political organisa-tions in Bangladesh. He was district secretary

of Jatiyatabadi chhatra dal in 1989and founder convener of Jatiyatabadi samajiksanskritik Sangstha (Jasas) Moulvibazar distbranch. He was the Joint secretary ofBangladesh Shilpokala Academy (BangladeshArt Council) Moulvibazar District Branch, ECMember Bangladesh Shisu Academy Moul-vibazar Branch. He was the member of the ECcommittee of Moulvibazar district press club.District Correspondent of the Dainik Dinkal(National Daily). He was founder secretary ofBangladesh National Association of Journal-ists Moulvibazar dist branch, FounderSecretary of Bangladesh Human Rights or-ganisation Moulvibazar, Founder secretary ofMoulvibazar district photographic society,founder Chief secretary of Bangladesh youngtourist club.

Mr Mostafa Saleh also introduced TV report-ing from outside the country as soon asBangla TV had been established. At presenthe is the representative of channel STelevision in Cardiff. He received Lord Mayor’sCommunity Award in 2001 for his contribu-tion to the community.

Moin Uddin is a renowned businessmanand a loving and caring family man. Son ofAlhaj Ahad Uddin, Mr Uddin was born in1966 in the village of Mathurapur of thenumber 4 Dhigalbak Union of Nabiganj, asub district of Greater Sylhet. Though he isoriginally from Nabiganj, he resides perma-nently in Sadipur, Sylhet with his family.

Moin Uddin started his education in Dhigal-bak Government Primary School. He wenton to further his education in DhigalbakHigh School, however, came to the UK withhis family before completing his due. On ar-riving in the UK, he joined Leeds RoundhyHigh School from where he obtained hisGCSE’s (then known as GCE O- Levels). MrUddin then joined Kingston College tostudy A-levels, from where he went on torun his own business.

At present he has several businesses pre-dominantly in the Surrey area. He is also thefounder and owner of the Rose View Hotel.Rose View is the first five star rated hotel inSylhet and also has the accolade of beingthe first five star rated hotel outside of thecapital Dhaka.

Mr Uddin married Salema Uddin in 1988.

Mrs Uddin is the daughter of Mokadas Aliof Ganganagar. The couple live in Surreyand are blessed with four children; two sons(Nasir and Naveed) and two daughters(Nasreen and Nafeesa). All of his childrenare currently in education.

Moin Uddin is also a dedicated communityworker. He is the trustee of Surrey MuslimCentre and is also involved with theBangladesh Caterers’ Association and Nabi-ganj Education Trust among other associa-tions.


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Nobab Uddin wears many hats. He is the ed-itor of Janomot, Britain’s oldest Bengalinewsweekly, and also a Quantity Surveyorby profession. He was born in Shahbander(Fatehpur) Munshibari village in Moulav-ibazar district in Sylhet division ofBangladesh. He came to United Kingdom inJuly 1978.

Having completed his Building and Con-struction studies in Vauxhall College in Lon-don, he later obtained a BSc (Hons) degreein Quantity Surveying from South Bank Uni-versity, also obtaining a Diploma in Leader-ship and Management. Initially a QuantitySurveyor with Walter Jenkins Construction,he subsequently worked for London Bor-ough of Enfield; he later joined City of West-minster as its Technical Manager. In 1996 hemoved to RSL with Toynbee Housing asTechnical Services Manager. In October2007 he took over as Stock Investment Man-ager of One Housing Group, London.

He is a member of Chartered Institute ofHousing, The Guild of Builders and Contrac-tors, The Royal Institute of Chartered Sur-veyors, The Institute of Leadership &Management (ILM), Society of Surveyorsand National Union of Journalist.

He is one of the founder members of theLondon Bangla Press Club and was the firstTreasurer of the club, which was formed in1993. During the late 90’s as managementof Janomot changed, Nobab Uddin tookover the responsibility of the Chief Executiveof the journal.

When the then editor of Janomot relin-quished his position in 1997, Nobab Uddintook over as editor, a position he still holds.From 1990 to 1994 he was the General Sec-retary of BWAG in Camden, London. He wasinvolved in sports from an early age, wherehe represented his school and district at anational level in both badminton and ath-letics.Because of his keen interest in During theearly eighties he decided to form a culturaland promotional organisation called, LinkPromotions, which has been staging playsand cultural shows since then in UK. Besideshis journalistic activities, since 1982 NobabUddin has written and successfully stagedseveral stage plays throughout the UK.

Nobab Uddin is the author of many plays,three books, and two more which are in theprocess of being published.He is married with two children.

Nobab Uddin

SECTOR: Media

SYED MONSURUDDIN

SECTOR: Media

when he was a student at Dhaka College backin 1989. In his school days, he had flairs towardjournalism as one of his uncles was a journalistwho inspired him a lot.

Having finished his college studies, he got en-rolled at the Department of Political Science,University of Dhaka and started contributing toweekly Ekota and Daily Bangla Bazar. He wasthe university reporter to both the newspapersand was elected Executive Member to Journal-ist’s Association of the University. During the pe-riod, he regularly contributed to other nationaldailies on issues related to politics, educationand culture. For a considerable period of time,he was attached with the first phone-in pro-gramme of BTV– ‘Ovimot’- anchored by Md. Ja-hangir. The programme gave Monsur greaterexposure to social and natural realities ofBangladesh.

After his Honours and Master degree in PoliticalScience from the University of Dhaka – hejoined Bangla Bazar as Senior Reporter in 1996.He used to look after Education bit. His readerthoroughly enjoyed his informative pieceswhile his critics were always apprehensive.Syed Monsur came down to England in 1997and joined the Bangla TV in 1999, as the elec-tronic media started its maiden journey. He waswith the News Room of Bangla TV and con-

tributed greatly to its growth and development.After a year with the Bangla TV, he joinedweekly Surma in 2000 as News Editor where hehas been serving as the Editor since 2006. Hecontributed greatly to the newer look of theSurma that is widely recognised by his readerand colleagues. For a brief period, he was thefounder News Editor of ‘Bangla Express’ – ashort-lived another weekly publication ofSurma News Group.He is a member of London Bangla Press Club,was in the Executive Committee of the club andfounder member of Bishwa Shahitto Kendro-London.Throughout his academic life he was also in-volved progressive student politics.Appreciated as ‘funny and lovely’ by his sonSadaf, Syed Monsur is from Charabhanga Vil-lage of Madhabpur upazilla, Hobigonj. His fa-ther is Syed Muhammed Idris and mother isRafia Khatun Chowdhury. Along with his wifeHadi Jannah and daughter Shompritee, theylive in Chigwell, Essex. His hobbies include read-ing, gardening, travelling and cooking.


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Zafar was born in 1956 in Mirsarai, Chit-tagong, his father late Al-hajj Nurul AhmedChowdhury and Mother late Samona AfrozBegum. Zafar comes from a high respectablefamily he was a freedom fighter in 1971 Liber-ation Movement, his father was Chairman ofEast Pakistan Welfare Association and be-came President of Bangladesh Action Com-mittee in Teesside during 1971 LiberationMovement and worked tirelessly along withthe then President Abu Sayeed Chowdhury.

Zafar has two brothers Iqbal and Ashraf and asister Zesmin. Zafar is married to Polly who isa Nursery Nurse, they have two children,Sheully graduated in Permaculogy and Rai-han completed Masters in Human Resources.

Zafar graduated with BA (Hons) along withDiploma in Higher Education in Social Workat the University of Sunderland. He also hasPost Qualification, Diploma in Practice Teach-ing, Diploma of Forensic Joint Investigation inChild Protection at the University of Teessideand has a Diploma of Acting in Drama andFilm Technique. Zafar has made significant contributions inSociety and held a number of important po-sitions, including being a Chair of BangladeshWelfare Association, Vice-Chair of Islamic As-sociation, Chair of Multi-Cultural Association,Vice-Chair of Racial Equality Council and Law

Society, Chair of Mela Association, Director ofCommunity Venture, Chair of Park Commu-nity Council, School Governor, Member ofRadio Cleveland Advisory Council and manymore. Currently, Zafar is serving as Justice of thePeace (JP), Chair of Park Labour Party, EthnicMinority Officer of Constituency Labour Party,Vice-Chair of Partnership Forum ClusterGroup, Director of Middlesbrough CAB andGeneral Secretary of Tees Valley BangladeshiAssociation.Zafar is employed as Senior Practitionerwithin the Children’s Services, for 20 years.

In recognition of Zafar’s outstanding Contri-bution in Society he was invited to a Recep-tion held by his Royal Highness the Prince ofWales at St James’s Place in June 1997 to markthe 50th anniversary of India, Pakistan,Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Zafar was also in-vited along with wife Polly to a Receptionheld by The Lord Chancellor and the Speakerin the House of Lords in 1997.Zafar was a finalist in the category of theCommunity Champion Award in Teesside2006. Zafar is considerate, honest, deter-mined to help, besides his full time employ-ment, he works tirelessly in voluntary sectorsfor the benefit of the community and generalwelfare of the people.

ZAFAR UDDIN – JP

SECTOR: Community Relations & Social Care

Ansar Ahmed Ullah


Ansar Ahmed Ullah is a community activistwho has lived and worked in the UK since thelate 1970s. He has worked as a youth, socialand community worker and has been an ac-tive anti-racist campaigner.

Ansar Ahmed Ullah became involved in com-munity activism in 1979 by being one of themembers who founded Bangladesh YouthLeague in Luton against the backdrop of mo-bilising young people to challenge racial vio-lence’s of the late seventies and the earlyeighties.

In 1980 upon arrival in the East End of Lon-don, Ansar Ahmed Ullah got involved withthe Federation of Bangladeshi Youth Organi-sations (FBYO), a national umbrella organisa-tion, representing youth groups from acrossthe country.

As a cultural activist Ansar Ahmed Ullah hasbeen involved with various cultural activitiesfrom publications to events that included po-etry, drama and film making. He has film mak-ing experience, with Channel 4 'People toPeople' (1983-84) series, as researcher and hasworked with famous film director Ruhul Aminas a Assistant Director, on 'Moviewallah', 'AKind of English' which were broadcast onChannel 4.

He was instrumental in founding Joi BanglaSounds, Joi Bangla Band and was associatedwith individuals of some of the greatest Asianartists Britain has seen including Asian DubFoundation. Since 1992, he has been involved with the UKbranch of ‘International Forum for SecularBangladesh’ known in Bengali as the ‘NirmulCommittee’, to combat the rise of extremismand to seek justice for the victims ofBangladesh War of 1971.

In 1997 Tower Hamlets Council formallybranded the area around Brick Lane asBanglatown (& electoral ward in 2001). He wasone of the founding members of the commit-tee that erected the central Shahid Minar inAltab Ali Park in 1999.Ansar Ahmed Ullah is also a founder memberof the ‘Baishakhi Mela’ and was involved in set-ting up a group called the ‘Swadhinata Trust’. Ansar Ahmed Ullah is currently involved withthe International Bangladesh Foundation (IBF)chaired by Lord Avebury of All Party Parlia-mentary Human Rights Group. He has cam-paigned and worked for the welfare of theentire community throughout his career.


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In July 2009 Abdal was appointed as a NonExecutive Director of the Bart’s and The Lon-don NHS Trust Board. Abdal is the first British Bangladeshi Muslimto join the Council of Queen Mary Universityof London a former member of the Educa-tion Commission of London Government. Political from an early age, graduated with adegree in Politics, chaired the Youth Parlia-ment, London assembly candidate in 2004,elected as councillor in 2006, short listed inWimbledon as a prospective parliamentarycandidate in 2007, all this at only 31. Abdal has extensive experience with a num-ber of London’s strategic bodies. He was amember of the Police Authority (MPA) forsix years, he also chaired the City of LondonPolice Committee. He is currently a Trusteeof Thames Water Trust and the Centre of theCell Ltd. Abdal was chosen by the Home Secretaryto be the convener of the Muslim youth taskgroup aftermath of 7/7 London Bombing.Abdal has represented the UK on many in-ternational delegations sponsored by theHome Office and the Foreign & Common-wealth Office.Abdal was instrumental in securing the per-mission from the Mayor of London to stagethe first ever Eid celebration in Trafalgar

Square in 2006, also currently planning forthe Eid in the Park open air prayers event inTower Hamlets A councillor in Tower Hamlets since 2006,serving as a cabinet member in his role aslead member for Cleaner Safer Greener, Hisvision and enthusiasm has attracted exten-sive media coverage.Abdal’s wife Ayesha Qureshi who workedfor London 2012 was awarded the MBE in2005 for her service to London Olympic bid,she’s an award wining international lawyerworking out of Dubai and London offices.

Abdal Ullah’s, own professional career expe-rience ranges from working for one of theUK’s top consulting firm, His other past ex-perience has been working in the health,education and community developmentsectors.Outside of work and politics, Abdal Ullah,recently became a father to a bay boy Adil,has founded the annual Safer Neighbor-hood Tournament Cup with cash prizes andthe appearance of the FA cup, FA CharityShield the Barclays Premier League trophy,he also presents an annual TV show live onChannel S. He is the president of StepneyFC, the team is sponsored by TATA a multinational Indian company.

Cllr. Abdal Ullah

SECTOR: Politics

Cllr Motin-Uz-zaman

SECTOR: Politics

Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman, has served as theMayor of Tower Hamlets since May 2010 andhe has been an elected Labour Party Council-lor since 1998. Motin Uz- Zaman was electedas a Councillor in Tower Hamlets for St. Mary’sWard in 1998 and then subsequently has beenan elected Councillor in Mile End East Wardsince 2002. He is a well-known Councillor anda veteran politician in Tower Hamlets Council,London.

He has served as a Cabinet Member oversee-ing many portfolios, which includes leadingon Adult Health and Wellbeing, Environmentand Crime Reduction, Equalities and Social In-clusion. He has been involved in improvingand instigating some of the housing regener-ation currently taking place in the Borough.He has served as a Board Director on East EndHomes, Poplar HARCA, Tower Hamlets Com-munity Housing, Cityside Regeneration andTower Hamlets Primary Care Trust. His dedica-tion, hard work and zeal has made him a veryprominent politician in Tower Hamlets. He wasborn in 1969 in Amria (Barobari) of Sunam-gonj, and came to the UK with his late father,Md. Isaq Chowdhury, and late mother, SundorBibi, in 1973.

Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman got involved inpolitics very young in his pre-university days.

He was the President of the Bangla Society atQueen Mary College, London University. Later,whilst doing post graduation in St. Hugh’s Col-lege, Oxford University, he became the Gen-eral Secretary of the Graduate Society (MCR).Councillor Uz-Zaman became a member ofthe Labour Party in 1987. His primary atten-tion has always been to improve the quality oflife for people living and working in TowerHamlets. Prior to becoming an elected mem-ber he has been instrumental in developingthe study support programme in the boroughand campaigned to ensure the borough hadappropriate representation on school govern-ing bodies, reflecting the school population.He began working for school developments,and became the local governor of StepneyGreen School in 1990.

He currently works for Barts and the LondonNHS Trust as Head of Patient and Public En-gagement. As a dynamic leader, he is veryproud to have represented the people ofTower Hamlets and is indebted to them forthis opportunity. He knows that there aremany challenges ahead and we need to pulltogether to overcome these challenges. Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman is married to Nar-gis Bahar and father of a daughter (Proma)and three sons (Faiyaz, Abiyaz and Rayyan).


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Abssar Mohammed Waess was born inBoro-bari, Amria, Sunamgonj, Bangladesh in1967.His father is late Alhaj Abdul Boshor MashukMiah, and his mother is Mrs Badrun Nessa.Mr Waess moved to the UK with his family in1975. He completed his education in Berk-shire, before completing a HND in Aero-space Engineering at North East WalesInstitute of Technology. He obtained a de-gree in Aeromechanical Engineering fromCity University, London in 1991.

Mr Waess’ career began when he joined hisfamily’s restaurant business in 1991. Hequickly made progress, and started his ownwholesale frozen food company – EurasiaFoods – while studying for his degree. Healso set up a catering supplies companycalled Lais Brothers Ltd.

In 1996, he opened The Blue Cobra restau-rant in Reading. Eleven years later, Mr Waess took another pi-oneering step and opened Xen, also in Read-ing. Currently, Mr. Waess is investing anddeveloping an industrial scale, aqua cultureproject, known as ‘Hail Hawor Project’, inMowlovi Bazar, Bangladesh, with the view tocultivate fish, pack, and export to the over-

seas market. He was one of the originalfounders of the Guild of BangladeshiRestaurateurs.At present, Mr Waess is the Secretary of thatorganisation and also the President of theThames Valley Region branch.Recently, he helped to form the EthnicCatering Alliance, an organisation that links restaurateurs who offer Asian cuisine.

Mr Waess was a founder director of theBangladesh British Chamber of Commerce,and currently holds the position of DeputyDirector General. This organisation hashelped to promote strong business links be-tween Bangladesh and EU countries.

He also helped to form the Bangladesh As-sociation Greater Reading (BAGR) in 1993 ofwhich he is the Vice President. This organi-sation helped to raise funds to convert achurch into a mosque and community cen-tre. Having shown to be dedicated to helpinghis community, Mr Waess was appointed asthe first ethnic trustee to the Berkshire Com-munity Foundation. Mr Waess is married to Jafrin Khan Waess,and is a father of four children; Imran,Samian, Labiba and Safwan.

Abssar MohammedWaess

SECTOR: Catering

Ms Rekha Waheed

SECTOR: Arts (Novelist)

Ms Rekha Waheed is currently one of the mosttalented British Asian writers. Born in WestLondon, Ms Waheed became an instant suc-cess after releasing her debut novel, ‘The A-ZGuide to Arranged Marriage’. Her distinct stylehas been described as bridging the gap be-tween old world traditions with new worldsavvy. Ms Rekha Waheed secured a two bookpublishing deal with Headline PublishingGroup. Her second novel 'Deshi Girl' is set tohit British bookshelves in the autumn 2009.

The publisher has also secured the sequel toMs Waheed's debut novel 'The A-Z Guide toArranged Marriage', which is scheduled to belaunched in the spring of 2010. Rekha Waheedis currently represented by MBA LiteraryAgency. Ms Waheed completed her MSc inEconomic Development at SOAS, University ofLondon and during her time there held theposition of treasurer of the Islamic Society.

Whilst pursuing her passion for writing Ms Wa-heed travelled the world as a Corporate Con-sultant. However, she soon caught theattention of a literary agent delivering publicreadings at the Harrow Writers club. She hassince released her debut novel and co-founded Monsoon Press Publisher. Through

Monsoon Press, she is also working with theArts Council and Penguin to raise the profileof British Ethnic and Muslim literature. MsRekha Waheed has previously sat on theboard of Women in Publishing and is an activepromoter of improved literacy programs inthe British Bengali Community. In addition, MsWaheed has worked voluntarily as a treasurerfor a Bengali community organisation.

Ms Rekha Waheed is continuously generatinginterest after reading at the London 2006 andSpitalfield’s 2007 Literacy Event. Her unveilingof the intricacies of Brit-Asian experiences forthe mainstream in an adept manner has re-sulted in her being cited as one of Asiana’sFaces to Watch in 2006. A regular guest for theBBC Asian network, Ms Waheed consistentlystresses the need for literature that caters fordiverse urban ethnic communities that ex-poses the challenges of British- Asian culture.Ms Rekha Waheed is set to become a familiarface


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first print october 2010 editor in chief who website 2010.pdf · 2014-06-21 · first print october...

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