UK Bangla Reporters’ Unity Holds Reception and Exchange of Views with Portsmouth’s Lord Mayor

Bangla Mirror Desk :

Lord Mayor Councillor Abdul Kadir highlights community unity, cultural heritage and plans for a Bangla school in Portsmouth.
A reception and exchange-of-views meeting between the leaders and members of UK Bangla Reporters’ Unity and Portsmouth’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Abdul Kadir, was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour at Portsmouth City Council on Thursday, 15 October.
The Lord Mayor warmly welcomed the delegation upon arrival and hosted the guests. The meeting was conducted by Abdul Bashir, General Secretary of UK Bangla Reporters’ Unity.
Welcoming the delegation, Councillor Abdul Kadir, the 100th Lord Mayor of Portsmouth and the city’s first British Bangladeshi Lord Mayor, expressed his appreciation for the visit and highlighted the importance of unity, mutual understanding and respect within the community.
At the beginning of the meeting, greetings were also delivered by Muhammad Shahed Rahman, President of UK Bangla Reporters’ Unity and a former college principal.
Among those who took part in the exchange of views were Ahbab Hossain, former Speaker of Tower Hamlets Council; Sajidur Rahman, Associate Editor of UK Bangla Guardian; Shah Mostafizur Rahman Belal, Editor of BridgeBangla24; Imdadun Khan, Senior Vice-President of UK Bangla Reporters’ Unity and Editor of Bhatir Kantha; Mirza Abul Kasem, the organisation’s Treasurer and News Editor of Jagannathpur Times; Asma Matin, Assistant Secretary; A. Rahman Oli, Assistant Secretary and Editor of Channel NRB UK; Abdul Kadir Chowdhury Murad, Chief Reporter of Ion TV; and Imran Talukdar, Reporter at Bangla Sanglap and the organisation’s Secretary for Event Management and Facilities, among others.

Lord Mayor Emphasises Unity and Community Development
Addressing the gathering, Lord Mayor Councillor Abdul Kadir spoke about Portsmouth City Council’s role in local governance and his responsibilities as the city’s ceremonial civic leader.
He said his principal objective as Lord Mayor was to strengthen unity, mutual understanding and respect among the people of Portsmouth.
“We are committed to strengthening relationships, promoting unity and supporting development. We want to help build a peaceful and prosperous Britain,” he said.
He also outlined his vision for a modern Portsmouth that makes progress in industry, culture and commerce while working towards a safer, drug-free community.
In this regard, he sought the cooperation of journalists from UK Bangla Reporters’ Unity, emphasising the importance of objective and responsible journalism in informing the public and supporting positive change.
The Lord Mayor also stressed that holding public office had not distanced him from ordinary people or his community.
“Becoming Lord Mayor has not taken my feet off the ground. I remain a person of the people, close to the community, and I will continue to stand alongside them,” he said.
Commitment to Bangla Language and Cultural Heritage
Councillor Abdul Kadir reaffirmed his commitment to preserving his Bangladeshi roots, mother tongue, literature and cultural heritage.
He said that, with the cooperation of the Bangladesh High Commission and other relevant stakeholders, he hoped to establish a Bangla school in Portsmouth in the near future.
He also expressed his ambition to promote Bangla literature and culture among people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, helping to strengthen intercultural understanding across the city.
He concluded by expressing his determination to contribute to a peaceful and progressive Portsmouth and a more enlightened Britain.
Town Hall Tour and Exchange of Gifts
Following the meeting, the Lord Mayor guided members of UK Bangla Reporters’ Unity on a tour of Portsmouth’s Town Hall, introducing them to its history, heritage and notable features.
During the visit, the Lord Mayor presented a commemorative Town Hall crest to the organisation’s President and General Secretary. Each attendee also received a pin as a gift.
In return, representatives of UK Bangla Reporters’ Unity presented Councillor Abdul Kadir with a commemorative crest and a gift of appreciation in the form of a mug.
The gathering concluded on a cordial note, reflecting the importance of cooperation between community organisations, public representatives and the media in promoting mutual understanding, cultural heritage and community development.