UK Diaspora Join Hands and Urge to Support Bangladesh's Devastating Flood Response

Dhaka and London, 9 September 2024: The recent floods in Bangladesh have left nearly 6 million people facing devastation and uncertainty. In collaboration with crucial UK Bangladeshi diaspora members, Oxfam hosted an urgent webinar that underscored the diaspora's immense potential to support affected communities.

Participants at the webinar called for collective action, stressing the need for financial contributions and sharing skills and resources. They urged us to join hands to help provide not just short-term relief but also support for rebuilding lives and creating resilient communities for the future.

The recent webinar brought together prominent members of the UK Bangladeshi diaspora, community leaders, businesspeople, and other representatives to focus on urgent responses to the floods. The discussion highlighted the critical need for immediate aid and long-term recovery efforts, with a clear message to the diaspora to contribute their financial resources, skills, and expertise.

Oxfam has been on the ground since the start of the floods, delivering life-saving aid, including clean water, sanitation facilities, food supplies, and medical care. But the needs remain enormous. The webinar clarified that the diaspora's involvement is vital in scaling these efforts.

Rafique Haider, President of the British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BBCCI);Bashir Ahmed, Former President BBCCI; Sheikh Aliur Rahman OBE Group Chairman, London Tea Exchange; Baroness Manzila Pola Uddin, Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom; Apsana Begum, MP for Poplar and Limehouse; Dr Sheikh Ramzy, chair oxford Islamic center; Julian Francis, development practitioner; Rohima Miah, Director of international trade affairs, UKBCCI; Mahmud Hasan MBE, CEO Apasen and Ashish Damle, Oxfam's Country Director in Bangladesh sparked the discussions.

They highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach in addressing the severe flooding crisis in Bangladesh. It was emphasized that through coordinated efforts between Oxfam and the UK’s Bangladeshi diaspora, significant and tangible impacts can be made in supporting the affected communities.  Historically, the diaspora has been a reliable force in humanitarian causes, but the current crisis demands more organized efforts to fully leverage their financial contributions, skills, and resources.

During the webinar, Halima Begum, CEO of Oxfam GB, said, "As a British Bangladeshi myself, I know our community's generosity. Oxfam's work is vital, and working with the diaspora we will help support the long-term effort that is so desperately required to sustainably future-proof Bangladesh from climate change, and rebuild the areas and lives so terribly affected by this latest wave of floods.”

Aziz ur Rahman, Patron of Oxfam GB, the webinar facilitator, urged participants to act swiftly and leverage the diaspora's potential in financial contributions and sharing skills and resources to support disaster relief. He highlighted the consistent generosity of the UK's Bangladeshi community, which has historically rallied for humanitarian causes, but stressed the need for more structured and sustained engagement.

With 2.4 million Bangladeshi diaspora members worldwide, including 700,000-800,000 in the UK, their collective action holds great potential for supporting Bangladesh. Along with these insights, the webinar began with a briefing on the scale of the disaster. Due to floods, homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods have been destroyed, leaving millions without access to necessities like food, clean water, and shelter.

The scale of the recovery needed is immense, with rebuilding homes, restoring infrastructure, and providing access to safe sanitation being central challenges.

Aziz ur Rahman, Oxfam GB's Patron and Md. Sariful Islam, Head of Influencing, Communications, Advocacy, and Media of Oxfam in Bangladesh, moderated the session. The webinar also featured discussions from community leaders, including Dr Wali Taser Uddin MBE, President of European Bangladesh Federation; Dr. Hasnan M. Husain, MBE; Imam Ahmed, President of the Midlands Region UKBCCI; Mohammed Emdadul Haque Chowdhry, Editor of Weekly Potrika& Former President of London Press Club; Former mayor Cllr Jyotsna & Cllr Sams Islam; and Cllr Hena Chowdhry, Former Mayer.

The webinar concluded with a shared commitment from all attendees to continue exploring concrete ways to assist in the flood response. Oxfam has launched a Bangladesh Floods Appeal (https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/current-emergencies/bangladesh-floods-appeal/), where the diaspora can contribute. All donations raised will go directly to the most affected regions.