From community to celebration: NEBA 2025 champions Bangladeshi excellence in the North East

The North East Bangladeshi Awards (NEBA) celebrated its fourth successful edition on 6 October 2025 at The FED, Dunston, marking another milestone in recognising the outstanding achievements of the British Bangladeshi community across North East England.

What began in 2022 as a regional celebration has grown into one of the most anticipated events on the North East’s multicultural calendar, honouring individuals, businesses, and community leaders whose contributions enrich the region’s cultural and economic fabric.

This year’s event was co-hosted by award-winning TV presenter Jeff Brown, Former Lord Mayor of Newcastle Cllr Habib Rahman, and Henna Ahmed, combining elegance, humour, and heartfelt community spirit.

Among the distinguished guests were:

• His Excellency Mohammad Jobayed Hosen, Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh (Manchester)

• His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenants of Tyne and Wear, Major Nigel Wyrley-Birch and Susan Wear

• Mayor of Gateshead, Cllr Freda Geddes

• Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Cllr Henry Galagher

• Mayor of South Tyneside, Cllr Jay Potts

• Mayor of Berwick upon Tweed, Cllr John Robertson

• Cllr Ehtesham Haque, Sunderland’s first Bangladeshi Mayor

These esteemed guests joined civic leaders, sports personalities, and community representatives in presenting awards to this year’s winners. Attendees also included members of the Newcastle Eagles men’s and women’s teams, representatives from the North East of England Africana and Caribbean Communities Association, the North East Rwandan Association, and numerous South Asian community groups, highlighting NEBA’s ever-growing reach and influence.

A total of 32 awards were presented during the evening, celebrating excellence across diverse sectors from business and community leadership to sport, education, and public service.

Since its inaugural ceremony in May 2022, NEBA has evolved into a cornerstone of unity and pride for the region’s British Bangladeshi population, amplifying their contributions to the wider North East community.

Six Special Recognition Awards were presented to honour exceptional service and lifetime achievement:

• Late Abdul Latif, Lord of Harpole – posthumous recognition for his legacy as former owner of Newcastle’s iconic Rupali Restaurant

• Cllr Ayrin Khan – the first Bangladeshi female councillor in Berwick upon Tweed

• Syeda Chompa Begum – founder of Al-Falaq Counselling CIC, supporting women through grief and trauma

• Nakkita Charag MStJ – recognised as a Member of the Most Venerable Order of St John for voluntary service

• Syed Dulal – author, lyricist and singer

• Dr Wali Tasar Uddin MBE – for outstanding community leadership

The prestigious ‘Shuley Alam Award’, named in memory of the late equality champion and founder of CREST, was presented to Shila Laskar. The award was accompanied by the unveiling of a blue plaque in Shuley Alam’s honour, commemorating her lifelong dedication to equality and community empowerment.

• Rising Star Award – Enayet Zaman, young boxer

• ‘Maa’ Award – Mrs Rehana Hoque, the city’s first Muslim female lifeguard

• Public Sector Recognition Award – Hassan Kajee

• Community Centre of the Year – Sunderland International Community Centre

• Bangladeshi Women in Leadership Award – Cllr Sajna Ali (Darlington)

• Bangladeshi Person of the Year – Cllr Ehtesham Haque, Sunderland’s first Muslim Bangladeshi Mayor

At the heart of NEBA lies a proud tradition of honouring excellence within the curry and catering industry, a cornerstone of Britain’s culinary and economic landscape.

Cllr Habib Rahman entertained guests with an interactive curry-themed quiz before announcing the regional Restaurant and Takeaway of the Year winners.

Restaurant of the Year Winners:

• Gateshead – Jashn

• Newcastle – Day of the Raj

• South Tyneside – Namaste

• Sunderland – Mumbai Silk

• North Tyneside – Shampan

• Teesside – Sheesh Mahal

• Darlington – Babul’s

• Durham – Bay Leaf

• Northumberland – Amran’s

• Highly Recommended: Bay Leaf of Cramlington

Takeaway of the Year Winners:

• North Tyneside – Ruchita Tandoori

• Northumberland – Green Chillies

• Gateshead – Makani

• South Tyneside – Spice Hut

• Durham – Spice Venue Remastered

• Teesside – Spice Hut

• Ashington – Taj Tandoori and Balti

• Morpeth – Mya’s Spice

• Newcastle – Spice Hut

Presented by Cllr Rahman, the trivia highlighted the industry’s remarkable heritage and economic value:

• First curry house in Britain: Hindoostane Coffee House, opened in 1810 by Bengali entrepreneur Sake Dean Mohammed

• Curry restaurants in the UK: Around 12,000, employing 100,000–150,000 people (BCA)

• Economic contribution: Approximately £4.5 billion annually

• Popularity: Third most popular food in the UK (2025), after pizza and Chinese cuisine

• Britain’s national dish: Chicken Tikka Masala

• First curry house in the North: The Anglo Asian (Ocean Road, South Shields, 1958)

• First in Newcastle: Kohi Noor (1969) and Rupali (1977)

The 2025 NEBA ceremony once again underlined the immense impact of the British Bangladeshi community across the North East celebrating excellence, heritage, and shared progress.

As Cllr Habib Rahman noted, “Events like NEBA remind us that our community’s strength lies in unity, hard work, and contribution to society. It’s a celebration of who we are and what we bring to this region.”