This is a translation version of the original video documentary which was than transcribed and translated from Bengali to English. A book with the title of History of Bangladeshis in Greater Manchester has been published and it will be distributed to the libraries, schools and universities. The interview took place on 4 November 2007, so information about his personal family information may have been changed.
8.42 Mohammed Kacha Miah
8.42.1 Life in Bangladesh: Muhammad Kacha Miah, son of late Siddek Ali was born in 1st of January in 1938 in the village of Chonawagaon, Bishwanath, Sylhet. He has 5 sisters and 1 brother. His mother’s name is Musammad Afthra Bibi and she is still alive and is able to read the Quran without using glasses.
His father was a farmer and used to work on his own land. His father studied up-to 4th grade in the British era. He was able to read and write letters very well and he was also able to understand and interpret official documents of landowners and he often used to help to interpret and understand non-literate people with their official landowning documents.
His father was always interested in education and he always used to respect education and used to teach his son Muhammad Kacha Miah to read and write and also how to do maths. He also used to bring story books for his son to read. His father was his best teacher. There wasn’t any school in his village at that time. Therefore his father admitted him in a primary school in their neighbour village Battapara.
Another child from his village also admitted in the school at the same time. The teacher in that school was Mr Shrigobindo Proshonno. He was a great respected gentleman. While admitting he smiled to Mr Muhammed Kacha Miah and said that he was also the teacher of his father and he was happy to have Muhammad Kacha Miah as his teacher.
It was quite troublesome for Muhammad Kacha Miah to travel to school. He used to go to school with his friend from the village who admitted with him at the same time. They had to cross a river over a very small and weak bridges made of bamboo and were often scared as neither he nor his friend knew how to swim. The regular pedestrians were good and often used to look after them so they could cross the bridge carefully. They studied in that school for one year.
In 1965, a voluntary primary school was built in their village in the north Land of Makunda River. There were about 20-30 students in that school. All the student’s parents had to pay 50 Paisa fees for each child going to the school. The money was paid to the teacher. Later after the school became a government school. In 1958 he passed his primary education form that school. That time he started to learn how to write landowning official documents from Mr Singerwali’s relative Mr Moulana Sikandhar Ali. After learning he used to work part time on filing official documents and he was able to earn his own money needed for fees at school.
In 1969, he admitted in class 6 in “Eklimia Junior High School”. That time the only high school in Bishwanath district was “Ramshundhor High School”. Luckily a current Politician Anam Shafiqul was a classmate in his High School and they used to study together in High School. With his motivation, he became involved with Awami league. He passed the class 8 in 1961 and he then admitted in class 9 in “Moinpur High school”.
8.42.2 Journey to the UK & Immigration:
In 1963 during school holidays he went back to his village and in the next day afternoon he went to visit the Singerkach Market and the post office. While visiting post office he met a respected elder of the Village and said hello to him. The elder recognised him and was happy to see him and asked him when he came back to village. They started talking and the elder asked him- “Nephew, lot of people are going to England through the voucher, have you applied for a voucher? If you didn’t, then you should apply as soon as possible. This could turn your fortune.”
He then started thinking about it and he became very frustrated. His Metric exam was drawing near and he also didn’t want to miss the opportunity to come to England. He became confused and was having hard time making the right decision. He then finally came to conclusion and made the decision that he would go to England. On an evening he went to see his cousin Rojob Ali. He was surprised to see Kacha Miah.
They started talking and Kacha Miah asked his cousin that he had heard that his cousin had forms for the voucher to England. Mr Rojob Ali said that he did had some forms but there was none left at the moment. There he gave the full address of British High Commission in Dhaka and instructed him to write a letter to them for a request of application form for the Voucher and the British High Commission in Dhaka would then send a form to his home address within a few days. He had dinner in his cousin’s place and returned home about 9.30pm. His parents were worried about him being usually late and he then had to explain the situation to them.
The application form for the Voucher was in English language and he didn’t have any trouble filling in the form. He posted the form on the next day, when he received the form. He kept his receipt from the post office and returned to his student apartment. Even though he was living in the student apartment, his mind was always at the post office of his village and he was very impatient for the reply.
Every weekend he went back to the village to enquire at the post office about his reply. After 10-12 days when I visited Post office, I heard that I had a letter from the British High Commission in Dhaka. The Postmaster knew that Kacha Miah was still at his student apartment that’s why he didn’t deliver the letter to his home as he knew Kacha Miah would come to enquire at the post office and thought it would be best and safe to hand Kacha Miah’s own hands. He returned home with the letter and completed the form and posted it to the British High Commission, 14/2 Tupkhana Road, Dhaka.That was the address in 1963.
After 5/6 weeks he one day went to the post office. That day about 20-25 other people were also waiting there as well. By the time the post master came in it was already evening and he said it’s time to close the post office. After looking at the gloom and depressed faces, the post master said that he would make an exception and said he would only say the names of the people whose Boucher has arrived but he would do the delivery at 10 o’clock next morning. About 15/16 vouchers arrived that day and he started calling out the names. After calling 5/6 name, Muhammad Kacha Miah’s name was called and Muhammad Kacha Miah became so happy after hearing his name that he can’t express it in words.
As soon as he arrived home that evening he informed his father about the news. His father became depressed after hearing this and said to him: “I understand, you won’t be able to finish your Metric Exam then.” The next day at sharp 10.30am he received his voucher and he went straight back home. After few days he took the Voucher to Dola Miah, the owner of Masum Travels in Kajirbazar. He went there with all the necessary documents needed for the preparation of the passport and asked Mr Dhola Miah to prepare the passport. Within 4/5 weeks the passport was prepared.
Application for visa was made in Dhaka high commission and a date was given for interview. He had given his interview on the date but his passport had different date of birth then his date of birth in his application, so he had to fix the error in his passport and had to give an interview again and he also had to bring relevant documents such as school certificates to prove his date of birth.
He came back with his visa being issued and he gave this new to his father first. That time the price of Dhaka-London ticket was 1600 rupees. People had hard time trying to earn their ticket.
So in the end a gentleman offered that he would lend him 1600 rupees but his father would have to pay that within 3 months and they would have to pay some interest too. His father agreed to this. He then handed the money to the travel agency and made his ticket from there.
His father always used to farm in his own land, though he never asked his son to help him with his farming. His father didn’t wanted his son to get distracted from his studies and therefore always thought of the best possible way to provide him an environment where he can study well.
He sometimes used to bunk school and go fishing with other boys. His father didn’t like that. He was the youngest in the family therefore everyone in the family wanted him to concentrate on his studies.
In 23 December, 1963 he came to the UK. He travelled from Dhaka to Karachi to Rome then to the London. He left Bangladesh in 22nd December in 8am in the morning after taking farewell from all his relatives. His father and his uncles as well as his teacher accompanied him to the train station. It was really sorrow for him to leave his family and friends behind in Bangladesh. We had to walk 5 miles from home to rail station. After waiting for about 20-30 minutes, the village train that goes to Sylhet arrived and we departed on that train.
After arriving to Sylhet he took his ticket and other relevant documents from Masum travels and bought the train ticket from Sylhet to Dhaka. His father, elder brother and three teachers wanted to go with him to bid farewell, therefore he bought 6 tickets. The price of each ticket was 7 rupees at that time. The train departed at 7 o’clock in the afternoon and arrived at Dhaka at 6-30am. They rested at a hotel and he met one of the people we know from Masum travels. He suggested the others should go home and that he will take him to the airport.
He met another person who was also going new there and they chatted all the way. While they arrived at Heathrow airport they had to wait in a queue for medical check-up. After the check-ups, they both went outside together and the passenger who was travelling with him was delighted to see his brother. He hugged him and was really happy to see his brother.
His brother asked him who was he, therefore he replied that we met together and travelled together. He showed him the address that he was going to go. He replied that he would take him to that address. Therefore they got on a taxi and about 40 minutes later they arrived there. The place was Bricklane in london.
They got something to eat and then they travelled to Fullham by subway train. He met his uncle there and was really happy to see him. His uncle said to him that his other uncle was coming to London to take him to Oldham. Therefore the next day his Uncle arrived and from Euston Mainline; they took a train to Manchester Piccadilly. From Manchester they took a bus to Oldham.
He arrived at 70 Middleton Road in Oldham. He started living at his Uncle’s Place. About 7-8 people used to live in the 2 bedroom house. In 1964 he first claimed Unemployment benefit from the Local Labour. That time the benefit per week for a single person was £2.10.
8.42.3 Employment:
He saw in one of the adverts in the newspaper that Dunlop Mill was recruiting people for employment. Therefore he applied there and got a job. There were people from different backgrounds working in that factory.
In 1965 he started working at Delta Mill in Royton, near Oldham. He worked there till 1980. A first he was an assistant supervisor for the machine operator. Then he started working at Countaulds Ltd Cedar Mill. He used to work there in night shift. He started working there in 1986 and in 1991 the mill was shut down. In 2003 he was successful in receiving state pension.
8.42.4 Housing:
He bought a house in 1986 at Eleanor Street. He is still living there with his family.
8.42.5 Social & Family:
He also volunteered in many community associations’ such as “Pakistan Welfare Association”. It was established by a union of East Pakistan and West Pakistan people. It was combination of Bengali and Pakistani people and it was established by Mr Mofojul Hussain in Oldham. The first Mosque in Oldham was built with the help of this Pakistan Welfare Society.
In 1971, Oldham Bangladesh Association was established. Since it was established he worked vigorously with the local community and took active participation. In 22 September 1998 the historical election was held in Oldham. Mr Khacha Miah, was voted as the press publicity secretary. No other historical event in Bangladesh politics happened in Oldham others than this.
In 1969 he got married in Chattok District. He has 5 sons and 2 daughters. His elder daughter got married in 2005. His youngest daughter has completed B.A Honours in Management and Business. His eldest son is an electric engineer and a skilled builder. His second son is working in Manchester Santander Bank. The other two sons are still at college continuing with their education. He is living a happy family life.
8.42.6 Independence of Bangladesh:
He has been a supporter for Awami league since his high school. He was also involved in establishment of ‘Oldham Bangladesh Youth League’. Mr Mokbul Ali and Mr Assoddor Ali also joined after he invited them. In 1971 during September he handed the cheque to Mr Abu Syeed Chowdury at London Bangladesh House. That day Mr Khacha Miah went there with three other People to hand in the cheque.
8.42.7 Conclusion:
Kacha Miah said “we have to work together in the future to develop a better environment for our next generation so that they can all the facilities for better education”.