Ms Rushanara Ali

BCA Awards 2010 launched during milestone year for curry industry

5th July 2010, 11:59am

The UK’s only pressure group for the nation’s burgeoning curry industry, Bangladesh Caterers’ Association (BCA), announced a series of year-long celebratory events to mark 50 years since its inception.

It is also the 200th year since the first ever curry restaurant opened its doors to the UK public.

The 50th anniversary events will provide the perfect opportunity for the industry organisation to celebrate its heritage, highlighting over five decades of unfettered commitment and extensive government lobbying protecting what has gone on to become the nation's favourite dish.

At the same time, the anniversary celebration at this year's award ceremony will serve to highlight the challenges the curry industry and its dependent communities currently face, as they collectively look forward to the next 50 years of business in UK and servicing the majority of UK diners.

Speaking at the event, Bajloor Rashid, president of BCA, said: "Our unique cuisine offers opportunities for enterprise and ownership. We established the curry industry, with hundreds of thousands of jobs created and billions added to the Treasury. Now it is the government's responsibility to preserve it."

Ms Rushanara Ali, the first ever Bangladeshi MP, said: "We're all making history together. As the first British Bangladeshi MP, I hope this is the beginning of our presence in public life. My father came to Britain in the 60's during the labour shortage. He worked in Claridge's, as well as in restaurants. The British Bangadeshi catering industry is the backbone of our community and the springboard of success for future generations."

Keith Best MP added: "The UK's curry industry has got to the heart of the British people and public, making curry the nation's favourite dish. You are Britain. You are success, but success comes with trouble; we need to pay tribute to you all for the struggle to get to where you are today. This is a part of British heritage that we must preserve."

The BCA represents 12,000 British-Bangladeshi restaurants across the UK and was established in 1960 to represent the Catering Industry run by the ethnic Bangladeshis.

At present, the industry employs more than 100,000 people, mostly Bangladeshi in origin, with an estimated yearly turnover of £4 billion.

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