First reports on the first ever Community Conversation in Brick Lane London E1: Series begins with Abdus Salique
London
Monday
11 January 2010
By © Muhammad Haque
We held the first of a long overdue series of conversions in the community today.
The event took place in a Bangladeshi curry house, Sheba, in Brick Lane shortly after lunchtime today. It went on for almost three hours. I chaired it.
Although the event didn’t have a title, I have decided to give it the title of Community Conversation and the related description afterwards. The event and the context in my view fit that title and the description.
The Community Conversation took place around Abdus Salique’s work in the community.
It was the first such event, where members of the community relate events focussing on the particular role of one of our members. It is the first ‘peer to peer recognition of a member of the community’ that has taken place in this context.
The defence of the community in the context of events that are taking place in Brick Lane, in East London and in the UK.
And in Bangladesh today.
Close friends, campaign colleagues and supporters attended the Community Conversation with Abdus Salique.
Those who spoke included a former mayor of the Borough of Tower Hamlets, Doros Ullah, Motobbir Ali [Motob] from the Sheba restaurant, Abdul Kalam Azad, a community activist and friend, Shundor Miah, campaign colleague and friend Babul close friend and colleague, Osman Gani, neighbour, friend and colleague, Azmal Hussain. fellow businessman in Brick Lane and Zia Uddin Lala, a school friend and confidante.
Incidents recalled ranged from Abdus Salique’s readiness to start activities at very short notice to defend the community at times of crisis to his willingness to provide support to anyone in need of urgent help. In the past decades, many crises had threatened the safety of the community in East London. Abdus Salique’s interest in cultural events and his sense of mischief as a trigger for debate, and even swift action, were also remembered.
These and other traits of character were definitely being missed in the recent past following Abdus Salique’s decision to spend more time in Bangladesh and less in London.
[Next reports will have pictures from the Community Conversation]
