Humayun Islam is a special person, and his invitation to the King’s Coronation on the 6th of May proves the point. With a guest list of 2000 dignitaries and royals, including MPs, Humayun rubbed shoulders with Prince Harry, Priminster Rishi Sunak, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Brunei and the First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, to name a few influential representatives.
Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India and Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, were joined by Radha Mohan das of Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple, and Aliya Azam, education and interfaith coordinator at the Al Khoei Foundation, providing King Charles with an inclusive event that was well represented throughout the world. 450 recipients of the British Empire Medal (BEM) attended, and Humayun Islam is one of those recipients.
For those who don’t know Humayun Islam ( there won’t be many), he is a charismatic and inspiring figure in West Yorkshire. He is the CEO of the charity BEAP Community Partnership (Bradford East Asian Project) and a board member of the local football governing body ‘West Riding County’. He holds the title of ambassador for Football (FA) and Cricket in West Yorkshire.
In 2021, Humayun was awarded The British Citizens Award for his work in the community, and he wore it proudly to the King’s Coronation. It is a tribute to a man who gives up so much of his time, dedicating himself to making Bradford and West Yorkshire a better place.
Through Humayun’s dedication and ability to inspire, he built, along with his hard-working team, a $1.3 million Midland Road Sports Complex and set up the Bangla Bantams in 2015, encouraging more South Asian fans to attend Bradford City’s home matches.
Humayun is a respected figure throughout West Yorkshire. His story beyond this memorable day at the Coronation will inspire many – especially those making a difference in their communities.
Let’s scroll back to the day itself – the invitation asked guests to arrive at Victoria Tower Gardens, a small gardens space situated in the centre of Westminster, between the Houses of Parliament and the Thames at 7 am, not wanting to be late Humayun arrived at 6.15 am to find others had been waiting since 5 am.
Full security detail checked each guest – Humayun commented on “how smooth and coordinated the entire process was.” Stewards ushered the guests through to find their seats inside Westminster Abbey; sadly, cameras and phones were prohibited. A respectful atmosphere took over the Abbey as everyone watched in amazement as the events unfolded.
The ceremony was planned perfectly; Humayun commented, “No one does it like the UK,” as he reflected on the five-hour affair that displayed the fine details that went into each aspect of the occasion.
Attending in traditional South Asian attire, wearing his British Empire Medal and British Citizen Medal, Humayun stood out amongst a sea of people from all different cultural backgrounds and regions – something he was very proud to be part of. Humayun described his experience as “once in a lifetime”, and it is clear how much of an impact it has made on him.
While the King’s Coronation is a momentous event, it is one day in the calendar; Mr Islam and his team deserve recognition for the time a dedication made to community projects every day. I asked Humayun how he found the time to be on the board of many sporting organisations and community projects – his answer was, as you expect, gracious and complimentary of others.
He said, “I have a wonderful family and am blessed with a supportive wife.” His team at BEAP, the board members and the staff contribute to making his projects successful. His energy is infectious, and he can get people on board, work as a team, and inspire the delivery of projects – creating excellent opportunities for young people who otherwise wouldn’t have them. Humayun considers these moments “priceless” and never forgets where he started and what he had to do to get to this pivotal moment.
Humayun’s story is one of many people in Bradford and West Yorkshire who are making a difference in their communities – and I, for one, am very inspired by his work. Humayun’s best advice to anyone looking to make an impact would be, “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; just learn from them and keep going.”
Humayun Islam is a testament to what can be achieved by following your passions and working hard. However, he is at pains to emphasise that he made mistakes along the way, “lots of ideas didn’t work the first time”, but his commitment and the support of others enabled him to take risks, and he learnt from his mistakes, and that’s what makes a difference.
Humayun proves that great things can happen when you stay true to yourself, focus on your passions, and never give up. Humayun Islam has undoubtedly made a mark on his community and beyond and can reap some deserved rewards.
