Bangladesh Community’s Colourful Celebrations

Published on: 29 Apr, 2012
Updated on: 1 May, 2012

Youngsters ready for a colourful dance.

Guildford’s Bangladesh community came together for a colourful and lively celebration to mark the anniversary of the country’s independence in 1971, and Pohela Boishak, the first day of the Bengali calendar.

More than 350 people packed into Fairlands Community Hall on Sunday afternoon, April 29, to enjoy an event that was hosted by the Bangladesh Cultural Society (Guildford).

The afternoon was compered by Yameem Deedar, the owner of the Shahin Indian Restaurant on Woodbridge Hill, Guildford. Many of those at the event either own, work for, or have relations at restaurants in Guildford that speciaise in food from the Indian sub-continent.

Guests included the Mayor and Mayoress of Guildford, Terence and Angela Patrick; borough councillor for Worplesdon David Elms; and Osama Khan, the director of under-graduated studies at the Surrey Business School at the University of Surrey. Mr Khan is also the Muslim chaplain at the university.

The afternoon was a time for members of the Guildford Bangladesh community and their guests to enjoy music, drama and dance. Performances by younger members of the community easily won over delighted parents and friends.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Guildford with members of the Bangladesh Cultural Society (Guildford). Yameem Deedar, is third from the left.

Mr Deedar said to the audience: “We are not a large community, but over the last eight years we have engaged more and more with Guildford Borough Council, our MP, and in religious and cultural events.

“We do try to be humble and co-operative with local charities, sports activities and community programmes.”

The Mayor, Terence Patrick, responded by saying: “We are grateful and appreciative you being a part of Guildford’s community.”

Some of the adults got into the action with a short sketch.

Mr Khan read a few lines from a Bangladesh national poem and added: “We take pride in our independence, heritage and culture. We are grateful to the Bangladesh Cultural Society (Guildford) and to the children for their singing and dancing.”

Live music from a Bangladesh band visiting from London.

One of the other organisers of the event, Mashuk Miah, the owner of two take-away restaurants, Miah’s in Worplesdon Road and Purbani in Stoke Road, said that all the various Indian restaurant owners in Guildford know each other and get on well with one another. He came to Guildford in 1986. His first restaurant was the Gulshan in North Street, after which he opened the Raj Doot in Burpham.