麻豆约拍

Anyone can relate to the basic human instinct of wanting to give back to their country of origin. For migrant communities within the UK who often come from the developing world, this can be a much lauded goal that is not so easily attainable. However, Abu Taher Muhammad Abdullah has one such success story and he鈥檚 setting the benchmark for his peers.

Some of Dhaka's many street-children.

Born in the rural village of Kumradi in Dhaka鈥檚 Narsingdi district, Mr Abdullah completed his Law degree at Dhaka University and came to London to complete his barrister鈥檚 training at The Bar at Lincoln鈥檚 Inn during the late 60s. His first impressions of the city were memorable, "I first found London very disciplined and orderly. There are so many more cars now than there were then, and everyone was friendlier! The pace of life in London has much changed."

Like many students, he worked alongside studying. Despite the hours, Abu became a successful barrister in less than three years.听 "I was very fortunate- incredibly, by studying two days a week and working five, I became a law pundit!"

How the orphanage looks from outside.

His father had been the founder of the Kumradi Darul Ulum Orphanage in 1933 in their hometown. Abu had always been actively involved in the charity project whilst growing up, and continued its running after his father鈥檚 death in 1959. But during Abu鈥檚 absence from Kumradi, while studying and working abroad, the orphanage had closed down. It became his long-help ambition and intention to reopen it and while practising as a barrister and living in Finsbury Park, he vowed that one day he would return to continue his father鈥檚 work.

Later Abu set up a successful solicitor鈥檚 office in East Ham and finally took early retirement in 1999 and returned to his home village of Kumradi with the sole intention of reopening his father鈥檚 orphanage. 鈥淎fter retiring I had scope to take pleasure in doing something I was not able to do before; now that I had time at my disposal I could focus on the 鈥榖igger picture鈥欌��.

Accommodation at the orphanage

And focus he did, personally funding the project to get it running again from scratch. After five long arduous years, the Kumradi Darul Ulum Orphanage reopened in 2004. It is now housing over 50 young boys aged between 6 and 9 from the surrounding villages, where they are educated and housed. A new wing is currently being prepared for young girls.

Vocational training at the orphanage.

"Orphans should not be orphans- they should be given opportunities!" Abu exclaims with conviction. Alongside the orphanage, he has opened a non- profit making Vocational Training Centre where its trainees earn money while learning a range of skills including embroidery, metalwork, welding and IT. He stresses the importance of such centres; 鈥淭his project is meant for the poor; the whole point is to train these people with life skills so they can earn money instead of starving on the street. It鈥檚 a widespread problem which I and others like me are trying to tackle. 鈥�

I enquire about how funds are raised for his projects and Abu admits that he does not actively seek charity in Bangladesh and has refused government money given its track record for corruption. "I don't want dirty money or any interference, accepting state funding means you may as well hand over the running of the organisation to them." And so, the orphanage and training centre depends mainly on the charity of those he knows personally and his own funds.

Abu currently divides his time between London, Dhaka and Kumradi, telling me it has been a long, but rewarding process. With respect, I ask of he ever tires, given his age and the obstacles he has faced? 鈥淓veryone has capability- intentions are what maters. I feel completely at ease with what I am doing- I have all my faculties about me!鈥�

More of the residents

At the steady age of 72 I can't help but agree with admiration.

Post Script:听 In case you were wondering why there are no photographs of Abu Taher Muhammad Abdullah, his modesty and steadfast avoidance of the limelight meant my efforts to persuade him to have his photograph taken all fell on stony ground.