I have attended a good number of get-together events of Bangladeshi mariners held in UK. However, participating personally in their grand events held in Southshields on 27th,28th and 29th of June,2025 was exceptionally great and memorable. Credit goes to Mr. Khademul Insan and his team who worked hard for a period of six months to make these functions a fantastic success.
Sixty-four BD mariners participated in the functions mostly from UK but mariners from Bangladesh, UAE, Singapore, Australia, Canada and USA were also present. Counting wives and children, the total number of guests exceeded one hundred and fifty (150). The three days functions were held at different venues.
The first meeting was held in the evening of 27th June,2025 at Southshields Football Club,1st Cloud Arena. I was immensely pleased to see and meet so many BD mariners. I also met a few mariners whom I had known through Internet but had never met face to face before. One example is that of friend M A Baten (from Singapore) whom I met physically for the first time on this occasion. This event consisted of short speeches, a little bit of music and dinner.
The second function was held in the evening of 28th June,2025 at St. Catholic Academy Sports Hall, Mill Lane, Hebburn. This event was more elaborate one. The chief guest was the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Her Excellency Abida Islam. I was asked to be the first speaker. About half a dozen BD mariners also delivered speeches. However. the main speaker was Her Excellency Abida Islam. Mr. Anwarul Hoque acted as stage secretary.
When dinner was served, I found Her Excellency Abida Islam at the round table at which I was sitting. Other guests around were Forqanul Quader, his wife, Mohammed Qasem, Khdemul Insan and his wife. During our conversation during the dinner, Her Excellency said that before taking this Post (High Commissioner of Bangladesh to UK), she had served as Ambassador in South Korea and Mexico. She informed me that her father had served as SDO (Sub-Divisional Officer) in Quetta (Capital of Balochistan Province, Pakistan) before 1971. Her Excellency asked me which part of Pakistan I belonged to. My answer was Peshawar, North of Pakistan.
Her Excellency had a pleasant personality clad in traditional Bangladeshi sari. Many mariners along with family members came to her table to meet her. She stood up from her seat and spoke to them warmly and courteously. One mariner (AKM Golam Kibria,28th Batch) presented his double twin daughters to the High Commissioner. I also presented my book, “MY BANGLADESH” to her. Her Excellency Abida Islam travelled from London to Southshields and back by train. She was accompanied by Captain Kazi ABM Shameem, the Maritime Counsellor, Bangladesh High Commission, London.
The third meeting was held on 29th June,2025, in the morning at the Southshields Beach (Amphitheatre). Some mariners played cricket also.
It is interesting to note that in these fabulous functions, members from 2nd to 50th Batches of Marine Academy, Juldia, Chittagong were present. Our friend Mohammed Qasem boasted that he was the seniormost mariner, belonging to the third Batch of Juldia Marine Academy. However. I was the seniormost being from the second Batch of the Academy. The junior most mariner present in the functions was Mahadi Hassan belonging to the 50th Batch of Bangladesh Marine Academy, Juldia, Chittagong.
In the end, I would like to thank and congratulate Khademul Insan and his team for arranging very successfully such grand functions for BD mariners.
Note for BD mariners: A new book of Doctor Sajid Hussain ( ex-Commandant, BMA) has come up. The title of the 400-pages book is, “TECHNOLOGICAL BRILLIANCE OF MARINE ENGINEERING”. Almost all aspects of Marine Engineering have been presented in this book containing a lot of information regarding this field. The book is worth reading. This book has been published with the support of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), London.
Mubashir Ahmed (Khan); London 20.09.2025
Email. Mubashira2050@gmail.com
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