Luton Lions raised £ 22,898 for Bangladesh flood victims
News desk
shottobani
London: A group of young men led by Dr Monjour Ahmed with Shahed, Kamal, Mostaque, Shamim, Khudael, Sujel Miah, Mugsy, Naheem, Rana, Mitu, Jimmy, Gias, Aziz, Rizwan, Nabeel, Aminur, Sujel, Abdal and Muhibur who had teamed up with Luton Lions embarked on an epic trek in aid of the people of Bangladesh whose livelihoods were decimated due to flash flooding in Sylhet region.
On Sunday, 3rd July, the group walked 37 miles from Bangladesh Youth League (BYL) in Luton, the home of local Shahid Minar, to the heart of the British Bengali community, the Central Shahid Minar in Altab Ali Park.
The group left Luton around 5 in the morning. It took the best part of 12 hours, arriving at Altab Ali Park soon after 5pm.
The funds raised will be held by BYL Luton and distributed to local charities on the ground, in and around Sylhet, where the need is greatest. A committee has been formed to ensure funds are distributed transparently. BYL Luton will be donating 100% of the funds received.
The team was welcomed at Altab Ali Park by former president of Bangladesh Youth League (BYL) London, Noimuddin Riaz, former General Secretary BYL London, Nooruddin Ahmed, founding General Secretary of BYL Luton, Ansar Ahmed Ullah, former Chair & current EC member Maruf Ahmed, youth leader Jamal Khan, former Tower Hamlets Speaker Ahbab Hussain, Tower Hamlets Cllr Rebeca Sultana, London Bangla Press Club’s Treasurer Saleh Ahmed, ATN’s Head of News Mustak Babul, community worker Husna Matin, Nazma Hussain, Smriti Azad, journalist Shahed Rahman, journalist Shah Mustafizur Rahman Belal, journalist Ahad Chowdhury Babu, journalist Imran Ahmed, Salam Jones, Foisol Uddin amongst many others.
In a brief address to the press, Dr Monjour Ahmed said, ‘The young people felt because the devastation was of epic proportions…so an EPIC challenge was needed to get donations coming in thick and fast.’
BYL Luton’s Chairperson Sujel Miah thanked all for supporting their cause and said, ‘It was an incredibly tough challenge. Many succumbed to various injuries, but everyone pulled together and kept moving. There were seventeen walkers from Luton Lions running club, from the Bangladeshi and Pakistani community, the youngest being 16 and the oldest 54 completed the epic challenge.