Baking star Nadiya Hussain at the top of Bangladesh power and inspiration 2016 list

Great British Bake Off champion, Nadiya Hussain, has been crowned the most influential British Bangladeshi at a prestigious awards ceremony in London’s City Hall.

Into its fifth year, the British Bangladeshi Power & Inspiration (BBPI) list is a celebration of the success of the UK’s Bangladeshi community.

Guests at the event on Tuesday (local time) included a wide spectrum of the British Bangladeshi community including leading entrepreneurs, social activists and global philanthropists.

Notable guests included British politicians Lord Karan Bilimoria, Paul Scully MP, Anne Main MP, Karen Buck MP, Sir Keir Starmer MP, Ronnie Campbell MP, GLA Member Murad Qureshi and Bangladesh High Commissioner Mohammed Abdul Hannan.

The list recognises and celebrates the hard work, contribution and efforts of the pioneers, leaders and role models who reinforce positive perceptions of the community by helping to shape Britain for the better with their ideas, example, talent and success.

This year list shows hundred inspiring British Bangladeshis in 21 different categories from Arts and Culture to Public Services, Finance, Future Leaders, Medical Research, sports and Technologies among them.

Among the most influential in the list are British Ambassador to Peru Anwar Choudhury Ambassador to Philippines Asif Ahmad, Musician Shapla Salique, Choreographer Akram Khan, Noshad Shah, MD of Goldman Sachs, Professor Moorad Chowdhruy, Chief Executive of Habib Bank AG Zurich, Businessmen Iqbal Ahmed OBE, Amin Ali and in Politics three MP’s Rushanara Ali, Tulip Siddiq and Rupa Haque.

Nadiya Hussain, who rose to fame on the hit baking show, scoops the ‘Person of the Year’ 2016 award – presented only in a year where a pioneering achievement took place. The previous winner of this award was The Honourable Judge Khatun Sapnara, the first British Bangladeshi promoted to a senior judicial position at the Crown Court.

Speaking before the event Nadiya Hussain said, “I would like to thank the British Bangladeshi Power & Inspiration for naming me the Person of Year 2016. To be part of such a unique celebration of the Bangladeshi community is a fitting culmination of what has been an incredible year for my family and me.”

To mark the fifth anniversary of the publication of the BBPI list, the organisers announced the launch of the BBPI Foundation, which will provide both financial and mentoring support to disadvantaged young British Bangladeshi students. More information about the Foundation will be announced in the coming weeks.

Abdal Ullah, Founder of the British Bangladeshi Power & Inspiration Award said:

“I am delighted with the success the BBPI has achieved over the last five years. From humble beginnings the list has become an incredible testament to the exceptional contributions made by British Bangladeshi community. Every year it becomes harder to put forward just 100 outstanding individuals.

“I am also excited to announce the launch of the BBPI Foundation. This will allow us to support the next generation of British Bangladeshis, to ensure our community continues to thrive and inspire.”

 “Among 100 inspiring powerful British Bangladeshis we have 50 percent new entrants this year. There are many younger people who have already achieved a lot and they are the role models of next generation. Launching BBPI foundation will help talented British Bangladeshis to be the future leaders of wider community," said judge of the event Syed Nahas Pasha.

The full BBPI 2016 list can be found exclusively on www.bbpower-inspiration.com.