Keep an eye on the vulnerable during Ramadan As many British Muslims begin to plan for a month of fasting whilst they endure, reflect and build solidarity among fellow Muslim men and women, it is also a time to reflect on what has impacted this community in recent years and protect the most vulnerable moving forward.  Having grown up in a Muslim family, I can imagine many Muslims are beginning to prepare psychologically for a change in their routine where they refrain from eating and drinking between dawn and nightfall. As they break their fast they are going to consume extra sugar content. The weather condition this year is a blessing due to shorter days and chilled temperatures. A few years ago one of my colleagues had to break his fast due to dehydration and exhaustion on an unbearable hot summer's day. Extreme heat can be a threat to many people’s lives. This is particularly the case when there are underlying health conditions and those who are elderly. Living conditions &

Mumtaz Khan began her journey in Tower Hamlets where she learnt the tools to serve her community through social work and then as a local councillor in the East End.  During the pandemic, she lost her father and mother in law. This is her story. Early Life in Tower Hamlets Mumtaz and her five siblings, along with their mother, arrived in the mid 1970s to join their father,  to live in Spitalfields, Tower Hamlets.   They emigrated from Bangladesh to make Britain their home.  ‘There was a huge   struggle for my father to get us into the education system. There was a long waiting list. I also came at a time when east London was not the same east London that we were able to walk around quite safely these days,’ says Mumtuz. Fear, attack and racism She remembers the brutal killing of Altab Ali in 1978 by white racists which was a turning point for Bengali struggle in the East End.   The place where Altab Ali was killed was a minute walk away from where Mumtuz lived. ‘Dad kind of given us qui

CEO of Bangla Housing  reflects on his struggle in Britain, career in community development and Covid campaign to challenge Covid misinformation. EARLY LIFE Bashir Uddin was born in Bangladesh. He came to the United Kingdom in 1966 as an 11 year old boy.  He observed, at the time, he was one of few young boys from Bangladesh among young adults.  He stated that:  ‘And they are keen to work in the factories, as labourers and, and people started to bring their sons and nephews to the country… People didn't bring their families because they didn't think the point of bringing the family… you have to look after them, you have to have feed them’ Those who came from Bangladesh were economically beneficial to the family who they have left behind.  These men would   work for six months, a year or a couple of years, and then go back to Bangladesh and stay there for another six months, and then come back to the UK. This would be their routine pattern. He stated that:  ‘I don't think, a

Due to the severity of Covid-19 amongst Bangladeshi communities in Britain, BritBanglaCovid has organised Health & Social Care Crisis Public Meeting on 23 August 2020 at 3pm.  You can hear from doctors,  care worker, carer and domestic violence sufferer and many more! Have your say on the subject matter in order for our government, councils and community activists to take action.  If you want to take part in the event, you must register on EventBrite and have your say. This is urgent! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/health-social-care-crisis-for-britbangla-tickets-115043678740

Shajida Ali lost her sister and brother-in-law to Covid. She feels anxious when people don't comply social distancing guidelines. EARLY LIFE OF SHAJIDA Shajida Ali's father came to the United Kingdom (UK) in 1962. When she was 7 months old, Shajida,  her mother and two brothers came to the UK in 1982. Three of her sisters remained in Bangladesh who were already married off. When they came to the UK they, at first, stayed in the East End. Later they moved to Berkshire for a year but she says: ‘My mum had to move back because there were no Bengalis and there was no community. We could not live like that; so we moved back to east London. I have been living in east London since then.’ Although Shajida has been living all her life in the UK, she goes back to Bangladesh to see her siblings. Her brothers talked about racism and being attacked when she was young. She remembers Canon Street Park where she played during her childhood. ‘Most of our neighbours were Bangladeshi. Even to thi

In a challenging time, we need to work with like minded people and organisations for the same cause. BritBanglaCovid endorses and supports the work of King's College London for the interest of Bangla-Britain in times of Covid-19. If you know of anyone who fits the criteria please ask them to contact Julie or Ansar from Swadhinata Trust. 

Ritha Chowdhury shares her experience of Covid on BritBanglacovid. Her Uber driver husband lost his job, 300 colleagues on furlough scheme and many redundancies. She knows two people died of Covid. She is now the main breadwinner of her home.

BRITISH BANGLADESHIS ARE TWICE LIKELY TO DIE FROM COVID THAN THE WHITE POPULATION.  WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

Nurun Nessa explains her experience as a migrant housewife, mother and Covid-19. She was born in Sylhet, Bangladesh. She married when she was 16. Her husband came to the UK as a manual laborer. She then joined him in 1986 with her 5 children. Since coming to the UK the household lived in many different parts of London until they were housed by Tower Hamlets Council. She has been living in Wapping since 1997. A number of her neighbours have died of Covid.