No other significant community figures were seen at the Friday event.
The event, organized by the Bangladesh High Commission, took place at a venue in London on Friday. This was the first event arranged by the Bangladesh High Commission following the 5th August in Bangladesh. A British Bangladeshi MP and Minister,Catherine West MP, Arsenio Dominguez,Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Journalist Zulkarnain Saer Khan, Apart from the community journalists who had attended similar events during the Awami League's tenure, UK BNP and its affiliated party members, and some BNP and like-minded professional leaders residing in the UK, no other significant community figures were seen at the Friday event.
This was the first public event-level gathering during the tenure of the new High Commissioner, following the controversial departure of the recently ousted Muna Tasneem during the Awami League's term. It has been reported that after seventeen years, receiving invitations to this event required numerous requests from London High Commission officials, similar to those in other European countries. Nearly hundred individuals shared their personalized digital invitations on Facebook.
A controversial businessman, known for running a work permit business and displaying Sheikh Hasina's photos throughout his Whitechapel visa consultation establishment, was also seen at the event. The controversial businessman removed the huge signboard with Sheikh Hasina's picture overnight, right after Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh.
Even during the Awami League's tenure, the UK High Commission was crowded with Awami League leaders and businessmen showcasing photos of those who benefited from them, along with politically influential businessmen from Bangladesh.
During the program organized to celebrate the 55th Independence Day of Bangladesh, Abida Islam, Bangladesh High Commissioner, requested help and support from the British Bangladeshi community.
The High Commission was unable to issue a press release about the event until 3 PM the day after.
Journalist Munzer Ahmed Chowdhury, known for his professional journalism in Bangladesh and his recognition throughout the Sylhet division beyond his district almost twenty Year's ago, later worked as the news editor for Channel I Europe and the weekly Surma in London at least 12 years ago. A significant portion of original news and analysis in Bengali and English about the Bangladeshi community in Britain is credited to him.
He states that over the past 14 years, since the tenure of the late Mohamed Mijarul Quayes (former High Commissioner from 2012 to 2014), he has received invitations to every event. However, when asked why he never went to the High Commission, he replied, "I am a professional journalist. The BBC even quoted me as a source during their news coverage of the tragic Grenfell Tower incident in London. When the son-in-law of former Finance Minister Lotus Kamal mysteriously died at his home in Kent, I went to the scene—seeking news is my profession."
"Writing news daily for at least twenty-two years has been my profession. As a professional journalist, I haven't found it necessary to go to the Bangladesh High Commission. If there's a need for news, I speak over the phone with whoever is in charge at the time."
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