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 17 November 2007, so information about his personal family information may have been changed.

8.47     Shamsuddin Ahmed MBE    

8.47.1  Life in Bangladesh: Shamsuddin Ahmed, son of Late Komor Uddin Ahmed, was born in the village of Sataihal, Nabiganj, Habigong. His father’s economic condition was better off compared with other people. His father used own agriculture lands and substantial amount income from this. His father had a business as well. Shamsuddin Ahmed completed his primary education in “Sataihal Primary School”, went to “Dinarpur Junior High School”, then went to “Habigonj High School”, then again went to “JK & HK High School” and completed the Secondary School Certificate (S.S.C) planned to come to Britain.

8.47.2  Journey to the UK & Immigration:

Shamsuddin Ahmed came to UK in 1958, at that time there was no immigration control for the Common wealth Citizen and it was easier to enter and remain in the UK with any difficulties. He was very keen to come to the UK; he made the arrangement to obtain the passport without telling his family anything about this. At that time it was very difficult to obtain the international passport. This is because if his family or any of his relatives knew about it, then they would try to stop him going to the UK.

After lot of effort, he was able to find an official recognised person who helped him get a passport. Since he was only 15-16 years old, he had to admit in high school again. At the time of the Second World War his uncle was working on the Merchant ship. That ship was bombarded and his uncle escaped from the ship by using the life buoys. Therefore there was always worry in his family.

Shamsuddin Ahmed says that, when he first got his passport, he was worried how he will manage the travel expenses for the journey. But later on after trying hard, he was able to convince his family and his relatives and they helped to arrange the money needed for him to travel to the UK.  Shamsuddin mentions that it took him about £1700 for travelling to the Heathrow Airport.

During that time there was no requirement to get a visa to come to the UK. The requirement for a visa system started in 1982. Before that a passport as a commonwealth citizen was enough in order to obtain entry to the UK but for the European there was visa requirement for them to enter the UK.

Shamsuddin Ahmed flew from Dhaka to Karachi and finally arrived at Heathrow Airport. From there he got on a bus and went to one of his relatives places in Earls Court. He spent a night with one of his friend and they provided him with good hospitality during his stay. On the next day he left his friend’s place and took a train from Euston, London to Manchester Piccadilly.

One of his uncles and cousins received him from the Piccadilly and went to his uncle’s house by a black taxi. He was surprised to see the meter fitted at the Black Taxi, which he has seen it for the first time. He was more surprised to see that when people came to see him they gave him money as a gift, one pound to five founds he received from each individual. That time people were very loving and caring. Some people also given him good advised, which he remembered.

8.47.3  Life in the UK:

He was very keen to continue his study, therefore he admitted to a language school in Mosley Street, Manchester and also attended in Commerce College in cheethamhill.  He used to attend meetings with Malik Bokth of “Jomiotul Muslimin” in Manchester. At that time Malik Bokth was the General Secretary of Manchester based “Pakistan Association” and “Jomiotul Muslimin”. Mr. bokth was impressed with his work, he shown affection and treated him as a younger brother. Some times Malik Bokhs used to take him far away from the work. He used to help the Bangladeshi community throughout the North West by reading and writing letters.

The restaurant known as “Salimar Restaurant” in Manchester city centre, was the centre place for all the community leaders to meet on regular basis to discuss many issues and provided the services to the Bangladeshi Community. This restaurant has been demolished. The people used to come to the restaurant, if they lost their way or were in need to get a service.

The restaurant owners also had given support to those people who arrived newly to the UK with no jobs or a place to live. It was a shelter house for food and accommodation. They also provided assistance to find job for the new comers. His business partner was very keen to help others. His partner used to visit the ill people, even though they are living far way. It was not easy to travel anywhere, like it is now. There were only a few private car owners. Just for that reason his partner was seen as a respected person in the community.

The restaurant business was not good at that time but there were free meals for the visitors. They provided the community services rather than concentrating on business. During that time he had the opportunity to work along with the senior community leaders to deal with any community matters.

During that time the Asian people did not get the job in places like Tesco or any other big stores. Also there were difficulties in purchasing houses; the estate agents did not provide any information to the Asian customers as they do now. There was also condition attached from the vendor that no black buyers.

At that time he had to struggle a bit to find a job. There was a crisis of finding employment. Since he was educated, some people advised him to take the job of a contractor in the bus and some advised him to carry on with his education.

The radio in the black taxi, double decor bus and the non co-operation from your own colleagues were the first experience in the outside of his home country, but he tried to adjust with the new experiences and he soon got used to it. When the winter season begun, he was feeling very cold as it was his first winter in the UK. He was struggling to cope with the first winter.

8.47.4  Employment & Business:

He had an opportunity to meet with another well known community leader know as Abdul Matin. For the goodwill and the reputation he was working along with Malik Bakth, he was given the partnership for restaurant in Blackpool for just five hundred pounds (1961).

In 1962 – 63, he became a partner of “Salimar Restaurant”, situated in the heart of Manchester City Centre. His uncle’s friend Rois Miah also liked him, he was a very well known community leader and respected person. He advised him to go to Blackpool, his uncle also welcomed his suggestion and it was agreed that he should go to Blackpool. He went to Blackpool and got admitted to the Catering School.

At the same time he was working in the restaurant as a part time waiter. The head waiter was not keen on teaching him how to become a good waiter. A few days later he was able to become a full time waiter without receiving any training.

He used to get one pound per week working as a waiter, customers used to give tips for the services. He was enjoying working seven days a week.  He was a responsible and a hard working person and earned a good name for himself in few days. Therefore he was able to find a job in the “Everest Restaurant” in Manchester. The weekly wages was seven pound and fifty pence.

In 1962 – 72, he became a partner of “Salimar Restaurant”, situated in the heart of Manchester City Centre. In 1972, he purchased a restaurant called “Samiul Kosher” in Dickenson Road, Manchester and he run this business for short period of time and sold the business. He became a managing partner of “Babor Restaurant” in Preston. While he was running this business, he had the opportunity to become sleeping partner at Gate of India in Chester. In the same year he left the Babor Restaurant and moved to Chester and get involved with the “Gate of India Restaurant”.

In 1977, he decided to end the partnership with Gate of India and purchased a restaurant call “Romna Garden”. He was successful in running this restaurant until 1984. In 1985, he opened a restaurant call “Monsoon” and run this restaurant until 1993.

In 1994, he purchased a restaurant known as “Agra Port” Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. In 1999, he sold this restaurant and purchased another restaurant known as Country Spice, Hope, Flintshire, North Wales. Till now he is running this business successfully.

Currently he is working with local authority in the Social Service department as a home visitor. Shamsuddin Ahmed shared an experience of racial discrimination. He went with one of his English friends for a holiday. They had been enquiring about the bread and breakfast hotel, when they came to know that an Asian is going to stay here, they replied no vacancies.

His English friend then wrote an article to the newspaper saying that the English people where receiving treatment from the Indian doctors but Asian people refused to get place in the bread and breakfast which wasn’t right.

He also added that during late 50’s and early 60’s people in Blackpool did not like Indian food. They used to say that the smell of Garlic stays in their mouth and many other things but Indian Curry became a famous food in the UK.

8.47.5  Housing:

While he was working in Blackpool, he used to live in terrace house and he used to share the accommodation with other colleagues. The landlandy used to provide bed sheet and cleaning services. When he moved to Manchester, he used to live in private rented accommodation in All Saint, Manchester. He purchased two bedroom house in Ardwick, Manchester, he paid £350.00 for this.

He then moved to Chester and purchased a semi-detached house with 3 bedroom with other modern amenities, he paid £9,500.00 for the freehold price.  In 1982, he sold this house purchased another 4 bedroom detached house in Chester. In 1992, he sold this house and purchased 4 bedroom detached house in the same area, where he is residing now.

8.47.6  Social & Family:

At the beginning, the first generation people had the intention to earn money and go back to their home country and to be settled there, but when people brought their family in the UK, the original intention to leave the UK had been changed.

In 1968 he got married but he did not bring his wife to the UK until 1972. Many other people had done the same thing. When he brought his wife and a son, he received advice and suggestions from many of his friends that Chester is the best place to live. He moved to Chester and found that there is no Mosque or any Association where people can hold any meeting and community activities.

In 1977, General MAG Osmani came to Chester and as soon after that meeting a Bangladeshi Association was formed.  Don Miah became the first Chairman and he was elected as a General Secretary.

In 1967, he was also involved in establishing a Mosque in Manchester. Malik Bakth, Dr Din and Abdul Matin also had taken the leading role to establishing this Mosque known as the “East Pakistan Islamic Centre”. It was also known as a religious institution. He always played a supportive role with the senior leaders.

He is also involved with many organisations in the North West. He was the founder chair of Bangladesh & Asian Development Council. He was serving as a director at the “Citizen Advice Bureau”. He was a member of the North Wales Police Diversity Forum, member of the Cheshire Police constabulary, founder vice chair of Cheshire, Holton, and Warrington Racial Equality Council. Beside that he was involve with National Federation of Pakistan Association UK, Lions Club International, Chester Chamber of Trade, GSDWC and many other organisations in the UK and Bangladesh.

In Chester, he was the first person to organise Arabic Lessons for the children. The lesson took place in the front room of his staff quarter. At a Later stage, Johirul Haq managed to find an Imam (Religious Teacher) to do the Islamic teachings and run the five times payer. At the beginning the Imam did not get any wages or salary but the food and accommodation was provided.

He received many awards for his outstanding contribution in the community work including MBE. He was nominated for an MBE award in 1990 by an English person and he has been awarded one in January 2001. He came to know this person in 2001 and now this gentleman has passed way.

 8.47.7  Independence of Bangladesh:

During the liberation moment of Bangladesh, he played an active role. Although he was not affiliated with any British political parties or wings but he maintained the communication with British higher up official like MPs and Lords.

In 1971, Muhbubur Rahman returned from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and told him that the situation in Bangladesh is not very good, if the political situation get worse then we have to do something for the nation.

Later on, when the independent movement developed in East Pakistan then they first proposed to organise a meeting to get support for the independence of Bangladesh. Duly to the public meeting was called and an Action Committee was formed from this meeting.

There were about thirteen action committees in different towns and cities in the whole of the North West and his restaurant became a central meeting place to co-operate with other action committees.

On a later stage this location had been changed to “Manjil Restaurant” owned by Najir Ahmed. The Action committee played a vital role to lobby the British government to get their support for the independence of Bangladesh. At that time it was very difficult to meet with the higher up government officials such as British ministers, MPs, Mayors. There was a lack of race relation policies exit at that time.

Mr. Uddin also mentioned that in April 1971, Abu Syed Chowdhury (First President of Bangladesh) convened a meeting in Coventry, where Mr. Chowdhury taken the responsibility to take the leading role to manage and co-ordinate 5 regional committee (this committee also known as steering committee). Each regional committee nominated a person to work with Mr. Chowdhury for the campaign of independence movement in the UK, Dr. Kobir Chowdhury was elected as member of steering committee from the Northwest.

Mr Uddin stated that during the liberation war, Mr. Abdul Matin was a president of Northwest region played a vital role to lead the Action Committee throughout the UK. Mr Mohibur Rahman, Latif Ahmed, Bosarat Ali, Khondaker Nazir Uddin, Moksud Ali, Nazrul Islam, Abdul Wahid and many others played an important role as well.

8.47.8  Conclusion:

Mr Ahmed is a successful business man, also known as community leaders for his outstanding community and voluntary work and fundraising for various disaster charities.  He has worked tirelessly on welfare, race relations and integration issues for many years raising the profile of human rights and race issues locally and beyond.

Recently Mr Ahmed was invited to Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in recognition of his services to the British Hospitality Industry. The Mayor of Wrexham said “It is no exaggeration to say that you are true ambassador for Wrexham”. Also Mark Tami MP said “Mr Ahmed is the ambassador for this area”.

In his concluded remarks, he added a bit of advice to the community. He said they should concentrate on education, to take care of the young stars and not to get addicted to drugs, respect the elderly and all the institutions including Mosque and religious school (Madrasa). He also acknowledges his wife’s contribution for providing inspiration and support for the community work.