London: A new initiative titled ‘Bridge to Bangladesh’ was officially launched in London, aiming at strengthening collaboration between the United Kingdom-based Bangladeshi diaspora and Bangladesh’s ongoing development priorities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event was organised jointly by Oxfam and members of the British-Bangladeshi community. It brought together policymakers, diplomats, diaspora leaders, parliamentarians, academics, development professionals, and second-generation British Bangladeshis to explore concrete pathways for diaspora engagement beyond traditional remittances, as stated in a press release today.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK, Abida Islam, highlighted the significant role of the diaspora during her address at the ceremony. ‘Our diaspora has done more than sending money home. They’ve built communities, shaped narratives, and stood by Bangladesh in every crisis. Bridge to Bangladesh recognizes their power to now co-author its future,’ she said.
The British-Bangladeshi community, comprising over 650,000 members, is one of the most established and influential diaspora groups globally. This community is concentrated in cities like London’s Tower Hamlets, Birmingham, and Luton, and includes a significant number of policymakers, elected officials, entrepreneurs, academics, healthcare professionals, and public leaders.
The diaspora contributes more than $1.5 billion annually in remittances to Bangladesh, making the United Kingdom the second-largest source after the United States, based on official estimates. The newly launched platform seeks to channel diaspora resources, skills, investments, and global advocacy into Bangladesh’s national priorities, including climate resilience, gender equality, humanitarian efforts, and inclusive economic growth.
Ashish Damle, Country Director of Oxfam in Bangladesh, emphasized the importance of the initiative. ‘This is not just about nostalgia-it’s about nation-building. The diaspora can offer not only capital, but ideas, networks, and influence. We want to unlock that potential and turn it into sustainable impact,’ he stated.
Oxfam officials and development experts at the event noted that Bangladesh currently lacks a robust institutional framework to fully harness the potential of its global citizens. The ‘Bridge to Bangladesh initiative’ is designed to fill this gap through a multi-functional engagement ecosystem.
Baroness Pola Uddin, a member of the UK House of Lords, praised the initiative as ‘a timely structure for collective ambition,’ emphasizing that ‘the diaspora is not an extension of Bangladesh-it is a part of Bangladesh.’
Professor Naomi Hossain of SOAS University of London stressed the importance of equity in such efforts, stating, ‘Development without dignity cannot succeed, and diaspora inclusion must reflect values of equity and respect.’
Halima Begum, Chief Executive of Oxfam GB, reflected on Oxfam’s longstanding relationship with Bangladesh. ‘For over 50 years, Oxfam has stood beside Bangladesh in moments of struggle and triumph. Today, we are proud to stand with the diaspora-with people like me, who carry Bangladesh in our hearts even when we are far from it,’ she said.
The initiative also aims to bridge intergenerational divides, inviting second-generation British Bangladeshis to take active roles in Bangladesh’s development through knowledge exchange, investment matchmaking, youth leadership, cultural diplomacy, and global advocacy.
The launch programme was moderated by Aziz-ur Rahman, Patron of Oxfam GB, and featured a presentation from Md Sariful Islam, Head of Influencing, Communications, Advocacy and Media (ICAM) at Oxfam in Bangladesh. Participants at the event signed up to join the platform, which is now operational with a dedicated website. Organisers called upon UK-based Bangladeshis-from business leaders to students-to engage through this new platform.