Surmar dhau Report :: Britain’s MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) title has been awarded to the well-known personality of the Bangladeshi community in Britain and prominent businessman of Britain-Bangladesh Dr. MG Maula Mia. He was awarded this title by His Majesty the King of Britain for his outstanding contribution to the Bangladeshi community and social welfare. On the recommendation of the British Prime Minister, the title was announced in the New Year 2024 honors list in “The London Gazette” published on December 30 by His Majesty the King of Britain. In 2023, the only Dr. from Birmingham. MG Maula Miai received this honorable title.
The recommendation was made by the British Prime Minister to His Majesty the King of Great Britain. The announcement was made in the New Years’ Honours List 2024, where he was honoured for his services to the Bangladeshi community and for charity, announced on the 30th December 2023. M G Moula Miah is the Chairman of the Rajnagar Business Group (UK and Bangladesh) and Moula Foundation, a family-run foundation which promotes charitable activity in the UK and Bangladesh. His business group, which also consist of restaurants, hotels, Surmar Dhau News Publications, recruitment agency, superstores, and agro industry. His restaurants have had consistent social impacts since the beginning and established a remarkable reputation amongst the Solihull and Birmingham population. Since 1987 the Rajnagar International, Solihull has been a platform for social change in support of the Bangladeshi community over the last 37 years, establishing a innovative and authentic Bangladeshi Cuisine in the late 20th century, where his creative initiatives brought greater recognition and limelight to British and Bangladeshi culture combined.
M G Moula Miah was one of the founding members of the ‘Dine Bangladeshi’ Campaign, to establish Bangladeshi cuisine as its own identity and bring recognition for the nation’s own cuisine instead of a generic, Indian cuisine labelling. He also served as the leading figure for the West Midlands’ Bangladeshi restaurants and was the President of the Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs association, West Midlands – an organisation which represented the interests of Bangladeshi-owned restaurants, this made national and international news and media coverage, where they constantly approached the Parliament, campaigned and protested to support the petitions and asylums to allow foreign workers and skilled staff for the hospitality industry, to aid the shortage of staff.
He is currently serving as the President of the UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry (UKBCCI), a mainstream British Bangladeshi business organisation with headquarters based in London, which aims to promote bilateral trade between Britain and Bangladesh, building a bridge between the two nations for greater economic interests of both countries. His passion since the start of his journey was to take lead and initiative for the representation of Britain’s Bangladeshis on a national platform.
Since the 1980’s, his chain of restaurants have also worked closely with their local councils, contributing to the promotion of social diversity and community cohesion in the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. Furthermore, for numerous years, M G Moula Miah worked closely within Bangladeshi social welfare organisations such as the Bangladesh Welfare Association (Birmingham) to provide guidance, advice and support for Bangladeshis that have newly settled into Birmingham. Overall, within the city M G Moula Miah has shown dedication to the region’s Bangladeshi community for both business and social welfare representation.
His business group have continually partaken in a range of local and international charitable causes which include support for local schools in Solihull, fundraiser dinners and notable charitable support for OXFAM, PHAB, CRP, SHINE, The Alzheimer’s Society, British Asian Trust, Flood Reliefs and many others. On an international level, he has personally set up the ‘Moula Foundation’, a family-run foundation which conducts charitable activities in Bangladesh during floods, disasters, COVID-19, Food shortages and on an ongoing basis over the last 3 decades, has helped to develop schools, colleges, village roads, shelter, providing clothing, food, water and prayer facilities in aim of improving the quality of life for those struck with poverty or with difficulties with their standards of living.
M G Moula Mia, eldest son of late Alhaj Mostafa Mia and Maymuna Khatun of Bahadurganj village under Rajnagar upazila of Moulvibazar district, two daughters Barrister Saliha Sultana and Master of Arts, Fashion Designer Fabiha Sultana and two sons Master of Science, Trainee Chartered Accountant at KPMG Tausifur Rahman and Under Graduate Chemical Proud father of engineering student Mustafizur Rahman. His wife is Farhana Begum Chowdhury.
In response to being awarded the title of MBE. MG Maula Mia said – it is an absolute achievement. This achievement is not only for me, but for the entire Bangladeshi nation. This honor is not just one person; Glory to all of Bangladesh. Through this, expatriate Bangladeshi businessmen in the UK will be encouraged to come forward for more social and humanitarian work. I am always conscious of establishing a positive influence in my business and professional life. Playing an active role in developing mutual relations between the Bangladeshi community and encouraging them to do influential work for the welfare of Britain’s multicultural society. I will strengthen my role for the British Bangladeshi community and continue my social service activities in the UK and Bangladesh inshallah.