Warm welcome for Bangladeshi Editor

CIVIC welcome . . . (from left) Abdul Shahid; Councillor Jilad Miah; Shameem Ahsan; Mostafa Uddin Nilu; Oldham Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle; and Councillor Mohib Uddin

THE editor and publisher of a major Bangladeshi newspaper received a rapturous welcome when he dropped into Coldhurst Lifelong Learning Centre.

Shameem Ahsan, who edits and publishes the Daily Khowai and is chairman of the Rotary Club in the Habiganj region, was greeted by 150 excited onlookers.

He enjoyed a civic reception with Oldham Mayor, Councillor Jim McCardle.

Mr Ahsan said: “I’ve really enjoyed meeting the people of Oldham. I’ve had a great welcome and found the people here very friendly.”

Mr Ahsan visited the UK to take part in the Rotary Club International conference in Birmingham.

Councillor Mohib Uddin, is originally from the Habiganj region.

He said: “It means a lot that Mr Ahsan has come here today.

“Oldham has the highest proportion of people from the Habiganj region outside Bangladesh.

“Because they don’t have elected mayors in Bangladesh, someone who is the chairman of a Rotary Club, like Mr Ahsan, is very much a local figurehead, who enjoys a high status.”