Our Staff
Centre Manager: Gulam Mustafa Choudhury
Gulam Mustafa Choudhury started his career initially in finance, as a banker, in 1979 but his passion was in becoming involved as an active member of the community.
In 1996, he started broadcasting work as a presenter of Radio XL, a radio programme for the Bangladeshi community in the United Kingdom, which he still presents today. He discusses issues facing the local community, interviews guests and encourages the community to take part via audience requests.
Mr Choudhury applied for and joined Walsall Bangladeshi Progressive Society in Walsall in 1996 as the Centre Manager for this charity, based in the Pleck area of Walsall. Together with other community members he has worked tirelessly to create a facility in the heart of the community, offering a range of courses and programmes, such as IT training, English Language Classes, Health and Wellbeing and Drugs and Alcohol awareness. He has helped community members develop key skills to increase their job prospects. Mr Choudhury also recognised the importance of providing an information, advice, and support service for the community.
Mr Choudhury is recognised for his outstanding contribution to his community. He has received many prestigious awards, most notably the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2006, in recognition of his exceptional charitable work. He was Presented with the Award by the Lord Lieutenant in the West Midlands and was invited to a reception at Lancaster House, hosted by the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
Mr Choudhury was also the founding president of the Birmingham Bangla Press Club, and the Chairperson of the Walsall Bangladesh Network.
Mr Choudhury remains an active member of the community and is highly regarded for his charitable work both in the UK and in Bangladesh where many of his family still live.
Chairman: Mohammed Noor Miah
Noor Miah emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1969. He started his own business in the early 1970’s
and has become a very successful businessman in the hospitability industry.
Noor Miah has been highly successful in acting as an advocate for the Bangladeshi community in
Walsall. He has been recognised for his role in developing local community organisations. He
assisted in establishing the Walsall Bangladeshi Progressive Society, where he took on the role of
Chairman, and has duly held this position to the present day.
In addition to this role, Noor Miah has been celebrated for his involvement in social and cultural
activities as the Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Caters Association in the Midlands region. He is
also a trustee of the Balagonj Osmani Nagar Garib Kolan Trust, an organisation that provides aid to
deprived people in Bangladesh. Mr Miah also plays an active role as a trustee and Chairman of the
Masjid-E-Usman in Walsall.
Mr Miah is valued for his strong character and sincere desire to help develop the local community.
He is a role model to others and conducts himself with integrity and honour.
Niaz Ahmed Jaigirdar
Niaz Jaigirdar started his career in the travel industry in the heart of the Asian community in Birmingham. With over 25 years of experience in this industry, Niaz was recognised for his outstanding contribution to his community and involvement in various social and cultural events. Niaz has earned a reputation as a determined and hardworking individual, developing key skills whilst conversing with and assisting the local community.
Niaz has also worked for the Civil Service, in the Department for Works and Pensions and the Office for National statistics. This further broadened his knowledge of the tribulations faced by the residents. He realised the inequality of services available to the community.
In April 2021, Niaz joined the Walsall Bangladeshi Progressive Society with a genuine interest in helping the underprivileged and those in a position of vulnerability within the community.
Jahura Chowdhury
Jahura Chowdhury joined the Walsall Bangladeshi Progressive Society in 2006, employed as a Women Development Officer. Her qualifications and previous experiences has allowed her to excel in this role, providing advice and guidance to local citizens, helping them in acquiring employment and enhancing their skills.
Jahura has undertaken various forms of in-house training including workplace health and safety, CV development, and General Data Protection Regulation compliance courses. This has allowed her to co-ordinate a variety of successful classes and training programmes, such as language courses for adults, Bengali classes for younger children and sewing classes.
The local community has benefitted from Jahura’s management of recreational activities and day trips to various locations in the UK. Having worked with the local community for many years, Jahura has still maintained a strong level of enthusiasm and interest in working alongside our staff members to serve the community to the best of her ability.
TRUSTEES
Meet Our Trustees