About – Bangla Centre

About About About

An Independent Bangladeshi Community Organisation

Historically, Bengal has been credited with resource affluence and rich arts and cultural heritage, and continues to maintain profound multilateral relations with Scotland since the mid-17^th century. In order to serve a Scotland-wide remit, Bangla Centre was established as an Independent organisation in Glasgow in June 1985 by a few Bangladeshi arts and cultural enthusiasts. Indeed, in respond to a growing demand for arts and cultural opportunities in Scotland, the Centre emerged as the expanded organ of ‘Sunday Bangla School and Social Club’ which had been operating in Greater Glasgow area since the late 1970s.

Become A Charity Organisation

Bangla Centre is now a Scottish charity and is entered in the Scottish Charity Register since 30th of July 2015 by The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

Bangla Centre Charity number is – SC 045854

Charity Bank Details :

Account Name : Bangla Centre

Account Number : 00143431

Sort code : 80-83-33

To unequivocally and resolutely ensure that the vibrant Bangladeshi community in Scotland thrives, it is imperative to foster an environment of fairness, equality, and inclusivity. Every individual within this community should be deeply valued, empowered to reach their full potential, experience optimal health and wellness, and actively participate in all aspects of Scottish society.

A heartfelt commitment lies in elevating the visibility and significance of the Bangladeshi community within the diverse fabric of a multi-faith, multi-racial, and multi-cultural Scotland. By recognizing and celebrating the richness that this community brings to Scotland’s cultural tapestry, we can forge stronger bonds among its members while fostering a sense of unity among all citizens.

Through collaborative efforts rooted in respect for diversity and shared values, we can create a harmonious space for every individual within the Bangladeshi community to flourish. By amplifying their voices, addressing their unique needs, and providing ample opportunities for growth and development, we can ensure that no member is left behind.

Furthermore, by fostering understanding and appreciation among different communities across Scotland’s social landscape, we can build bridges between cultures while nurturing an atmosphere of mutual respect. This will not only benefit the Bangladeshi community but also enrich Scottish society as a whole.

In this collective journey towards inclusivity and social cohesion, it is crucial that stakeholders from various sectors come together with a unified vision. By leveraging our collective strengths and resources through collaborative initiatives driven by compassion and empathy towards one another’s experiences, we can pave the way for a brighter future where everyone feels valued as equal citizens of Scotland.Together let us champion diversity while embracing our shared humanity to build a future where every member of the Bangladeshi community thrives alongside fellow Scots in harmony.

With a steadfast commitment to promoting and bolstering the excellence of the vibrant Bangladeshi community, our mission is driven by the unwavering goal of advancing social inclusion through a wide range of impactful programs.

We firmly believe that education is at the core of empowerment, which is why we dedicate ourselves to implementing initiatives that foster educational opportunities for individuals from all walks of life.In addition to our dedication to education, we recognize and appreciate the profound impact that the arts, culture, leisure, sports, and welfare have on shaping vibrant communities.

By actively engaging in these areas, we aim to create an atmosphere where creativity thrives and cultural diversity flourishes.Our tireless efforts are fueled by a passion for uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds under one common purpose – to build a stronger and more inclusive society.

By harnessing the power of collaboration and fostering meaningful connections within our community, we strive to uplift every individual and ensure that their voices are heard.Together, let us embark on this journey towards excellence as we pave the way for a brighter future filled with endless possibilities for every member of our beloved Bangladeshi community.

To promote creative initiatives aimed at disseminating the rich attributes of Bengali art and culture in order to foster greater understanding and mutual respect among the Scottish and minority ethnic communities for the promotion of a healthy multi-racial, multi-faith and multi-cultural Scottish Society.

History:

Bangla Center was established in Glasgow in 1995. Since then, it has been serving the local community with its diverse range of services, including cultural events, language classes, and support for the Bangladeshi community in Glasgow. The centre aims to promote and preserve Bangladeshi culture and heritage while fostering a sense of community cohesion and integration. Over the years, Bangla Center has become a hub for cultural exchange and a valuable resource for individuals and families of Bangladeshi origin in Glasgow and surrounding areas .The remarkable impact of its presence continues to play an indisputably vital role in fostering and nurturing diversity, effectively bridging the gaps that exist between various communities within the city. With a particular emphasis on inclusivity, it actively promotes harmonious relations among communities as diverse as African, Chinese, and Scottish. Furthermore, it seamlessly integrates with the broader local community, creating a cohesive and interconnected social fabric that celebrates unity amidst diversity.

Becoming A Charity Organisation

The esteemed Bangla Centre has achieved a significant milestone by attaining the status of a Scottish charity. With great pride, it was listed in the prestigious Scottish Charity Register on the 30th of July 2015 by none other than The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). This remarkable achievement is further underscored by the fact that The Bangla Centre now holds the distinguished charity number SC 045854, solidifying its commitment to serving and empowering communities in Scotland and beyond.

We have achieved our incorporated status on January 24, 2023, and obtained charity number SC052283 under the legal name The Bengal Center SCIO.

Meet Our Management Committee

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (MC) EXECUTIVES

The Centre aims to achieve this by – Familiarising and popularising the profile of Bengali language and literature, arts and culture in Scotland; Organising Bengali cultural activities and offer performances in dance, short plays, drama, songs and music; Disseminating the rich attributes of Bengali arts and culture among the indigenous Scots through easily understandable performances; Bringing the community together, especially involving the young members via its diverse activities; Maintainingclose contact with mainstream schools, and other cultural groups and organisations serving similar purposes; and Strengtheninglinks and partnership with the voluntary, statutory and community sectors, and promoting inter-community and cultural links between Bangladeshis and others including host Scots.

Bangla Centre is now the vibrant Bangladeshi Community organisation for educational, cultural and recreational activities for both the indigenous and Scottish Bangladeshis. The Centre has for a number of years sought through the medium of Arts to keep alive the rich aspects of Bengali culture which might otherwise be lost to young Bangladeshis growing up in a predominantly European culture. For years Bangla Centre’s program of dance, songs, music, short-plays and ‘dance drama’ have been interspersed with spectacular performances in Glasgow by visiting famous Bengali artists, notably versatile popular singers Manna Dey (widely branded as Indian playback singer), Abdul Jabbar, Bangladeshi-origin British ‘Kathak’ Dance Artist – Akram Khan, popular Bengali writer-columnist and journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, as had powerful Bengali writers and poets Kazi Nazrul Islam, Rabindranath Tagore and Jasim Uddin upheld Bengali as a rich language and literature. Of equal importance, the Centre has striven to forge links with other cultures, notably Asian and Scottish.

Bangla Centre is indeed a multi-dimensional voluntary organisation, devoted to the promotion of multi-racial, multi-faith and multi-cultural understanding and education through the medium of high quality arts, exhibition, cultural workshops & shows, and theatrical performances, recreational outings, GYM and sports, AQA-awarded GCSE qualification in Bengali Language and literature, etc.

Balgrayhill Community hall :

By taking the proactive step of securing a long-term lease on the esteemed Balgrayhill Community Centre, our mission is to guarantee that not only the vibrant Bangladeshi community, but also other BAME communities and local residents, are bestowed with unfettered access to an extensive array of invaluable services and engaging activities. This strategic decision demonstrates our unwavering commitment to fostering inclusivity, promoting diversity, and nurturing a thriving sense of community within this remarkable facility. With this secure foundation in place, we envision an environment where everyone has ample opportunities for personal growth, social connection, and cultural enrichment.

The Community Centre is located in one of the most deprived areas of Glasgow. Therefore, we are eager to develop a program that fosters unity among our members and the local community.

Through this provision, all local residents will have the opportunity to experience a service that is equal, inclusive, and values and empowers all citizens. Our goal is to ensure that everyone is healthy, fully engaged, and feels like an integral part of the community. Many of our members already live in and around the Springburn area and already feel connected to the local community.

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Bangla school :

Preserving the mother tongue is the most powerful instrument for the preservation and development of both tangible and intangible heritage. In order to ensure children and young people originating from Bangladesh do not have gaps in mother tongue/language or cognitive development, since June 1985, the Bangla Centre has been running a Bengali language school to provide Bengali children and young people a unique opportunity to learn and maintain proficiency in language education.

The Bangla School has been operating since 1978 as a Bengali language and educational initiative to serve the needs of Bangla-speaking community members in Scotland, especially the Western Scottish regions, and remains at the heart of Bangla Centre. The School, which operates on weekends, offers courses and classes in Bengali language and literature, numeracy and computer literacy, song and music, dance, drama, art and painting, the religious culture of Bangladesh, etc. Between 1992 and 2008, a total of 38 students of its former pupils have been awarded the University of London / AQA Awards of GCSE qualification in ‘Bengali’ lan- guage and literature. It is worth mentioning that from 1980 until her retirement in 1996, Mrs. Salma Islam, popularly known as ‘Mother Head Teacher’ of Bangla School, devotedly contributed to the development of the School.

The Bangla Centre, as an Equal Opportunity employer, appoints teachers, workshop organisers, development workers, etc, in line with the existing recruitment rules. Notably, in 1994 and 1995, with the financial as- sistance of the SRC/DPAV, it employed Ms. Ruth Davidson as Cultural Development Coordinator. Further- more, since 1990, Mrs. Shakuntala Datta, acting as Cultural Instructor, has been devoted to raising the cul- tural profile of Bangla School pupil and the Centre’s young artists, with performances ranging from songs and dances to ‘dance dramas’, that have occasionally been presented to large crowds at magnificent venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and beyond.

The Centre encourages its teachers to take up the educational training courses now being offered at the City’s colleges and universities. Previously, two of its teachers were awarded Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Educa- tion Diploma certificates by Moray House, Edinburgh.

Currently, Bangla Centre employs five Teachers for its Bangla School classes, including a Cultural Instruc- tor. Talented individuals from within the Bangladeshi Community in Greater Glasgow and beyond are select- ed for and engaged in the Bangla School. The Centre maintains regular relation with the International School of Shawlands Academy, the Bilingual Support Unit of GCC Education Services, and the Bengali-origin

teachers working in Scotland to provide feedback to its own teachers as well as preparedness of its students sitting for the GCSE examination in ‘Bengali’ subjects.

The School offers all essential and necessary Bangla educational courses and amenities, and has the following unique features:

* Well-trained and efficient Bangla-speaking teachers;
* Provision of updated version of books and stationeries;
* Well-furnished and secured class rooms;
* Flexible class-time and duration;
* Cultural tours for immersion learning;
* Provision of audio-visual equipments to enhance learning;
* Provision of pure drinking water, snacks and beverages.

Star of the Month :

School Gallery :

Teaches and School committee :

About About About

An Independent Bangladeshi Community Organisation

Become A Charity Organisation

Meet Our Management Committee

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