Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem has expressed deep sorrow over the death of the legendary British-Bangladeshi entrepreneur and British curry industry leader Enam Ali, MBE.
In a condolence message, the High Commissioner said, “I am deeply shocked and profoundly saddened at the sudden passing away this morning of Enam Ali MBE, a legendary British-Bangladeshi entrepreneur and British curry industry leader."
She said Enam Ali was not only the ingenious pioneer of the prestigious British Curry Awards, but also a standard-bearer in popular branding and profiling of the Bangladeshi curry industry in Britain’s mainstream culinary, social and media circles.
"Enam Ali will always be remembered for his exemplary leadership, inspirational enterprise, dedicated philanthropy and community services not only by the British-Bangladeshi community but also by the mainstream British hospitality sector," said the High Commissioner.
She hoped that late Enam Ali’s life and works will motivate young British-Bangladeshis in taking leadership to promote the British curry industry and serve the community.
The High Commissioner conveyed her deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family members of late Enam Ali and prayed to Almighty Allah for the salvation of his departed soul. "May Allah grant Mr. Enam Ali Jannatul Ferdous, Ameen."
Enam Ali, also the founder of Spice Business Magazine, died in a UK hospital on Sunday morning.
Read: FM mourns death of British Curry Awards founder Enam Ali
At the age of 62, he breathed his last at a hospital in Surrey of British Columbia after being admitted there for the past few weeks.
Born in Sylhet district in 1960, Ali went to the United Kingdom in 1974 to study Law. But later he decided to pursue a degree in hospitality and management.
In 1989 Enam Ali founded Le Raj Restaurant in Epsom, Surrey. He launched the restaurant magazine Spice Business in 1998. In 2005, he introduced the "British Curry Awards", and there had never been such a great recognition event in the Curry industry before.
Enam Ali received Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2009 for his contributions to the curry industry and was awarded "Freedom of the City of London" in 2011.
His two namaz-e-janazas will be held on Tuesday. The first Janazah will be held at East London Mosque after Zuhr salah and the second one at Epsom Cemetery in London, said his family.
He will be buried at Epsom Cemetery, Downs Road, in London later.
He is survived by his wife and three children, family members, friends, and a community in which he was deeply involved and influenced.