Launch of “Ajker Shatabdi” Special Issue on Dr Ahmed Ullah

London, October 05 (Special Correspondent/OurVoice): A special issue of the literary magazine Ajker Shatabdi dedicated to researcher and community activist Dr Ansar Ahmed Ullah, along with a new poetry anthology titled Before Writing Poems in Britain, was formally launched at a literary gathering in East London on Friday.
The event, themed “Launch and Conversation with Authors and Well-Wishers,” was organised by the UK Bangla Reporters Unity with support from the British Bangla Progressive Writers Association. It was held at the Pure Chai Café seminar hall and drew a large audience of British Bengali writers, poets, journalists and cultural figures.
Councillor Muhammad Islam, Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Croydon, attended as the chief guest, while Md Sajidur Rahman, President of the UK Bangla Reporters Unity and Joint Convener of the British Bangla Progressive Writers Association, chaired the session.
Editor of the magazine and the anthology Muhammad Shahed Rahman delivered the welcome address, and the event was conducted by Mizanur Rahman Miru, Secretary of the UK Bangla Reporters Unity.
Following the formal unveiling, a number of guests addressed the gathering, including senior journalists Hamid Mohammad, Matiar Chowdhury, actor Shadin Khasru, Abdul Malik Khukon, Syeda Naznin Sultana Shikha, poets Dilu Naser, Mashuk Ibne Anis, Mujibul Haque Moni, and several community activists and media professionals.
Poet Imdadun Khanam, Poet Asma Matin, Poet Faisal Ayub, and recitation artist Fahmida Deepa presented poetry readings.
Speakers praised Dr Ansar Ahmed Ullah for his decades of contribution to research, journalism and British Bengali community work. Dr Ullah, who recently earned a doctorate for his research on racism in Britain, was commended for his scholarship and social engagement.
In an emotional address, Dr Ansar Ahmed Ullah expressed gratitude to the organisers, writers and well-wishers, reflecting on his decades of research into British race relations, migration, and community history. The Ajker Shatabdi special issue features articles by both British and international contributors, including Dr Sam Halvorsen, Professor Alastair Owens, Professor John Eade, Dr Chris Tang, Dr Sean Carey, Rajonuddin Jalal, Syed Anas Pasha, Julie Begum, Shamim Azad and others.
The evening also saw the launch of Before Writing Poems in Britain, a poetry anthology featuring seventeen British Bangladeshi poets. The collection, edited by Muhammad Shahed Rahman and published by Oxford Bangla Publications (a division of Sanglap Media Group), includes works by Nuruzzaman Moni, Hamid Mohammad, Mujibul Haque Moni, Dilu Naser, Mashuk Ibne Anis, Lutfur Rahman Kamali, Mujib Eram, Jawaher Hossain, Mizanur Rahman Miru, Foyzur Rahman Foyez, Faisal Ayub, Situ Miah Kamali, Fahmida Yasmin, Debarghya Chakraborty, Muhammad Saleh Ahmed and Salma Begum.