Emdad Rahman: During a press conference at Portcullis House, Westminster, Abdal Ullah, Ayesha Qureshi MBE and Nobab Uddin launched the first ever British Bangladeshi Power 100 list. The list is a compendium of individuals who – through ideas, innovation, intervention and participation – are influencing the British Bangladeshi community in Britain today.
Speaking about the list Ayesha Qureshi MBE said: “This is a resource which is concise and will become a point of reference for everybody in the years to come. We wanted to recognise not only the achievements of the British Bangladeshi community but the extent and the breadth British Bangladeshis are reaching out to.”
Chief Advisor Nobab Uddin added: “This has been learning experience for me, to see so many names making such dazzling contributions.”
Abdal Ullah, the Power List founder, cited the example of Noorjahan Begum, a teacher at Mulberry school for girls: “This is what inspiration is about. Here we have a unique and fantastic woman educating the next generation of Rushanara Ali’s.”
Among the speakers was Anne Main MP (MP for St Albans) and Chair of the Britain-Bangladesh All Parliamentary Group. She said: “We are very interested on how the Bangladeshi community is represented in the UK. This was not easy; it could have been a 1,000 list. This list has integrity as a list genuinely chosen on merit and I applaud the fact that everyone included here is through value alone.”
She added jokingly – “There is one person on the list who made it from twenty quid and I’ve asked him for his secret. The time is right and the fortieth celebration of Bangladesh has proven to be the ideal moment to launch this publication.“
“Uncle” Frank Dobson MP, whose daughter in law is a Bangladeshi biology teacher, said: “I remember taking part in marches and rallies 40 years ago. The Bangladeshi community was worried about employment and housing. It was on its knees and petrified of what was happening back home. Forty years on and this very same community has blossomed beautifully.
“The first change Bangladeshis have made is to British society. You have transformed British culture with your language, religion, culture, and transformed our eating for the better. Last weekend I attended a school awards ceremony and felt very inferior. There will be young people from amongst those recipients and many others around the country who will go on to make huge contributions not only to the Bangladeshi community but even more so to the wider British community.”
Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green & Bow, said: “This is not an easy list to compile, like Anne said the list could easily accommodate 1,000. There’s so much going on in the community and I’m thrilled to support this effort. Having had a sneak preview, it’s clear that there is diversity within the list: men, women, recognition for the arts, journalism, the military. In years to come this country will be amazed by the talent and promise in our community. I wish the team every success and I hope that this list generates a discussion and helps to redefine our image in this country. The overall perception of us and our contribution is changing but we are not there yet. There’s a long way to go and these initiatives will help tremendously.”
Abdal Ullah thanked his team and the Bangla media for their support.
The British Bangladeshi Power 100 has been created and edited by Abdal Ullah and Ayesha Qureshi MBE. The rankings have been determined by an advisory committee of leading Bangladeshi UK based newspaper editors headed by chief advisor Mohammed Nobab Uddin, Editor of Janomot Bengali Newsweekly, the oldest ethnic newspaper.
The list has also been consulted on widely among a selected group of leading figures in the community. Each person or organisation named on the list has earned their place on merit after a confidential, impartial and thorough debate. This will be an annual publication.
*For more information, visit www.bbpower100.com.