British Bangladeshi - Business

Business

Further information: Business of British Bangladeshis and Bangladesh Caterers Association UK

The curry industry turns over up to £4 billion a year, and is viewed as recognition of Bangladeshi success, through awards such as 'The British Curry Awards'. Brick Lane, known as Banglatown, is home to many of these restaurants, and is now regarded as London's 'curry capital', with thousands of visitors every day. The restaurants serve different types of curry dishes, including fish, chutneys, and other halal dishes. Although the curry industry has been the primary business of Bangladeshis (see Cuisine), many other Bangladeshis own grocery stores. Whitechapel is a thriving local street market, offering many low-priced goods for the local Bengali community. In Brick Lane there are many Bengali staples available, such as frozen fish and jack fruits. There are also many travel agents offering flights to Sylhet. The biggest Bangladeshi property developer is Mr Jubed Ali based in Liverpool worth 350 million,he is on the Sunday Times Rich List.

Many Bangladeshi businesses located in the East End wish to maintain a link with Sylhet, for example the weekly Sylheter Dak or the Sylhet Stores. There are also many money transfer companies; in 2007 a firm called, First Solution Money Transfer went into liquidation. Company chairman, Dr Fazal Mahmood, admitted the business owed hundreds of thousands of pounds to the public. and claimed that the firm had lost control of the money it handled due to a lack of regulation. Other large companies include Seamark and Ibco, owned by millionaire Iqbal Ahmed, Taj Stores, and many others. In 2008,Guild Of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs members raised member concern that many restaurants came under threat. The government announced a change in the immigration laws which could block entry to the UK of high skilled chefs from Bangladesh. The law demanded these workers speak fluent English, and have good formal qualifications. However, the changes however did not take place.