Businessman launches emergency floods appeal

A Hyde restaurant owner has launched a campaign to raise funds to help those affected by unprecedented monsoon rainfall in his native Bangladesh. 

Mizanur Rahman Mizan, owner of Adnans, was a former international hockey player for his country, before coming to Manchester and starting a successful catering career. 

In 2007 he started the Just Help Foundation, which aimed to assist those in need both here in Manchester and Sylhet, the part of Bangladesh where he was born. 

Tameside has a large community of Bangladeshi families, many who have family and friends in the areas worst hit by the recent flooding across large parts of the country. 

There are thought to be  a considerable number of deaths, with up to 25 per cent of the 15 million inhabitants being displaced from their homes, of which a large number have been badly damaged. 

Mizanur’s Foundation has people on the ground in the affected area, who have been helping from day one, but they urgently need support to fight the possible outbreak of disease and hunger, as much of the crop has been devastated.

Donations can be made through the Sylhet Emergency Floods Appeal page, which will assure all monies get direct to those directing the relief efforts.

The appeal has already helped more than 1,000 families with emergency food packages, but aims to help many thousands more.

The Just Help Foundation has recently funded the opening of an Eye Hospital in Sylhet, with the support of Tameside Rotary. The facility has been offering cataract operations to those unable to afford this basic procedure.

The aim right now is to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by the flooding. 

report by Andrew Richardson