Speakers at the commemoration event said Shahab Uddin Ahmed Belal was a “friend of people in need”

London, 12 July: At the commemoration and memorial publication of the late journalist and community activist Shahab Uddin Ahmed Belal, speakers called him ‘a friend of the needy’’ and said that Shahab Uddin Ahmed Belal thought of others without thinking about himself and that charitable work was one of his vows. This rare man will live in the hearts of East London Bengalis. He loved people with his life, stood by people in crisis and was a social and political person.

Senior politician Sultan Mahmud Shariff was the chief guest at the memorial meeting held on 11 July at the Weekly Potrika newspaper office in East London. Speakers spoke under the moderator of Ansar Ahmad Ullah. Shahab Uddin Ahmed Belal’s wife, Ayesha Ahmed, sons Hasnath Ahmed, Koyer Ahmed, Muhit Ahmed, Azad Ahmed and daughter, Mohima Ahmed, were also present at the memorial event.

Editor-in-Chief of Potrika Mohammad Belal Ahmed, Editor-in-Chief Mohammad Emdadul Haque Chowdhury, Human Rights Leader Abdul Ahad Chowdhury, film actor Shadhin Khosru, London Bangla Press Club’s Vice-President Barrister Tarek Chowdhury, Channel S Head of News Kamal Mehdi, Press Club Treasurer Saleh Ahmed, Ex-Councillors Nooruddin Ahmed and Salim Ullah, Rainbow film festival’s Mustafa Kamal, former London Bangla Press Club treasurer A S M Masum, community activist Sirajul Islam, Abdul Malik Khokon, Jamal Ahmed Khan of Chabbishe TV, Shahed Rahman of UK Bangla Reporters Unity, Hasnat Chowdhury, Mohammad Hasnat A Khan, Shah Mustafizur Rahman Belal of Bisshobangla, poet Qayoum Abdullah and journalist Rumana Rakhi of Runner TV also spoke among the journalists.

Wife Ayesha Ahmed, daughter Mahima Ahmed, sons Hasnat Ahmed, Koyer Ahmed, Muhit Ahmed, and Azad Ahmed, nephew Amanur Rahman and brother-in-law Shahajan Ali spoke on behalf of the family.

The speakers remembered various events of Shahab Uddin Ahmed Belal’s working life. Every voice echoed that he was the friend of people in need. His position as an articulate person in the arena of social work, journalism, and politics was unquestionable.

It should be noted that Shahab Uddin Ahmed Belal got involved in the anti-racist struggle of the Bengali community at the end of 1975 and was elected as a councillor in the Tower Hamlets Council for two terms, along with playing an active role in social welfare work. He played a memorable role in dealing with the housing problem of Bengalis. He was the founder and general secretary of the UK Jubo League. He was the leader of the National Coordinating Committee to rekindle the spirit of the liberation war of 1971. Shahab Uddin Ahmed Belal, who lived an illustrious life, passed away on 26 January 2018.

Shahab Uddin Belal’s commemorative booklet, edited by journalists Ansar Ahmad Ullah and A S M Masum, was distributed at the event. The editorial board included veteran leader Sultan Sharif, activist Rajonuddin Jalal, journalist Sayem Chowdhury, youth leader Jamal Ahmed Khan, journalist Juyel Raj, Apu Roy, and Sarwar Kabir. In the booklet, Shahab Uddin Ahmed is remembered by journalists, writers, and community prominent persons.