106-year-old British Bangladeshi Dabirul Islam Choudhury OBE passed away

Bangla Mirror Desk : 106 year-old Dabirul Islam Choudhury passed away leaving behind a legacy of faith, resilience, and service.

During the height of the COVID pandemic, he inspired the world by walking daily throughout Ramaḍān while fasting, raising over £420,000 for charity. His quiet determination showed that age is never a barrier to doing good and that sincere intentions can move hearts across the globe has been made an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Dabirul Islam Choudhury raised more than £420,000 by walking 970 laps of his garden in Bow, east London, during the Islamic holy month between 23 April and 23 May this year. From the money raised for a charity called the Ramadan Family Commitment, £116,000 was donated to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) while the rest was distributed among 26 other charities.

These funds were used for various charitable programmes such as the distribution of food for the poor and needy, affected by the epidemic in different countries, including Bangladesh.

Dabirul was inspired by the feats of a fellow centenarian, Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised £33 million for the NHS by walking laps of his backyard.

Dabirul had initially stepped foot in the front yard of his London flat with a goal of raising just £1,000 but the response to the initiative soon became overwhelming.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Leader of the Opposition Labour’s Keir Starmer have also heaped praise on Dabirul’s fundraising initiative. “I feel proud they have honoured me for the efforts I have done,” Dabirul is quoted as saying by The Independent. Born on January 1, 1920 in Kulanj village in Sunamganj, Dabirul moved to Britain in 1957 to study English literature. After his completing studies, he became involved in community work while maintaining a job. His wife Khaleda Dabir Chowdhury is a leader of the UK  Bangladeshi Community.