Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has expressed deep shock at the death of Enam Ali MBE, the founder of the British Curry Awards.
In a condolence message, Momen said, Enam Ali MBE has left an exemplary role in the advancement of the curry industry in Britain, especially for Bangladeshis.
The Foreign Minister said that Ali was a very well-known face of the Bangladeshi community in Britain. He has brightened the face of Bangladesh with his hard work and talent.
Besides, his contribution to the development and progress of the Bangladeshi community in Britain will be remembered, added the minister.
He wished eternal peace to the departed soul and extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved family members.
Enam Ali, also the founder of Spice Business Magazine, died in a UK hospital on Sunday morning.
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.
Read: PM mourns death of Awami Swechhasebak League president Nirmol Ranjan
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-janaza 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.