Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Muslims urged to support overseas charity project during Ramadan

by LAUREN CODLING

BRITISH MUSLIMS have been urged to donate to causes overseas during Ramadan, as a leading charity revealed details of its work with young Bangladeshi cancer patients.


The UK charity, World Child Cancer (WCC), launched the Gift of Growing Up appeal in April. It aims to increase survival rates for patients in countries such as Bangladesh and to also help children who need support and accessible treatment.

Currently, in Bangladesh, the survival rate of children diagnosed with cancer is 10 per cent. In comparison, the UK survival rate is 80 per cent.

To mark the month of Ramadan, all donations made before June 30 will be doubled by the UK government – meaning all support goes twice as far for children with cancer around the world.

Arian, from Bangladesh, is currently receiving treatment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), which is supported by WCC.

His father, Mahmud, said the family initially thought Arian was suffering from tonsillitis. They were shocked when they were told the three-year-old had been diagnosed with cancer.

“No parent expects to be told their child has cancer. Naarghita (Arian’s mother) did not know how to react,” Mahmud said. “What is a mother supposed to do when their child is suffering from this disease?

“I was very emotional. It was heart-breaking for us and we have been praying ever since that Arian can recover.”

The emotional strain has been tough for the family, but Mahmud revealed the financial pressure has exacerbated the situation. It is unclear how long Arian will stay in hospital, so his parents are concerned about the size of their medical bills.

While Naarghita stays in the hospital with Arian, Mahmud is forced to travel miles away so that he can continue to work and provide support for his family. “I have to buy medicines, go to work and try and be here for my family all at the same time,” he said. “I pray every day for our situation to improve.”

According to the charity, over 6,000 children are expected to develop cancer in Bangladesh this year. However, there are only six hospitals with facilities to care for children with the disease.

Teenager Adil is currently receiving treatment for blood cancer. The 13-year-old initially visited three different hospitals before receiving a diagnosis at BSMMU. An aspiring scientist, Adil misses his home and wants to go back to school.

“I want to help the world and be a good man in the future,” he said.

Shahena Ali is an ambassador for WCC. Her hope is that communities will donate to the appeal, as it can help children like Adil to have a future.

“Children can’t deal with this situation themselves. It is something we can help with, the gift of growing up, but also hope for the future and the strength to survive,” she told Eastern Eye.

Ali, who is of Bangladeshi heritage herself, has close ties to the country. She has visited hospitals on behalf of WCC to see first-hand the experiences of children and their families.

Describing a recent visit to a facility in Dhaka, the 41-year-old said it was “devastating” to see children as young as nine months old in such situations.

“Children being cared for were from very poor backgrounds. I found it so disheartening to see the deprivation some of them came from,” she told Eastern Eye. Ali recounted seeing families who travelled for miles to come to the hospital. Some children who were in a visibly unwell state were forced to make a five-hour journey to receive treatment.

Ali, from Essex, said British Asians often may not realise the amount of work that UK-based charities do to help projects in south Asian countries.

“(WCC’s cause) really resonated with me and I thought it was a much-needed area that has been overlooked,” Ali, who is a nutritional therapist, said. “There needs to be a lot more awareness out there.”

Ali has urged UK Muslims to donate to WCC during Ramadan. Traditionally, Muslims are obliged to give 2.5 per cent of their savings to a charity during the holy month.

“It would help enormously especially with this match scheme by the government,” Ali, a practising Muslim herself, said. “But it is also an opportunity for all Asian communities to get involved,” she added. “The work being done in developing countries such as Bangladesh needs to be broadcast.”

Donations to WCC before June 30 will be doubled by the UK government. Visit www.worldchildcancer.org/donate for details.

More For You

Brothers deny assaulting police during Manchester Airport brawl

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Brothers deny assaulting police during Manchester Airport brawl

TWO brothers accused of assaulting a man inside a Starbucks and later attacking police officers at Manchester Airport are standing trial, with the prosecution arguing they used "unlawful and extreme violence".

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and his older brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, both from Rochdale, are said to have acted aggressively on July 23 last year while at the airport to pick up their mother, who had arrived on a flight from Qatar.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends a prayer meet held for his long life at the Dalai Lama temple in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

THE Dalai Lama said on Saturday (5) he hopes to live until he is more than 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday (6), and as China insists it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama told Reuters in December he might live to 110.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave by mid-July

Daytime temperatures meeting or exceeding set thresholds of 25°C

iStock

Met Office warns of potential third UK heatwave by mid-July

Key points

  • Met Office forecasts rising temperatures by mid-July
  • Possible third heatwave after record-breaking June
  • High pressure system likely to bring hot air from the Atlantic
  • Yellow rain warning and flood alerts issued in parts of Scotland and Cumbria

Possible heatwave to return by mid-July

The UK could experience its third heatwave in a month by mid-July, the Met Office has said. Forecasters expect rising heat and humidity during the second weekend of July, following two weekends of unusually warm weather in late June.

June was officially the hottest on record in England, and the return of high temperatures could mean another heatwave for parts of the country. However, the Met Office cautioned that it is too early to confirm how hot conditions will get.

Keep ReadingShow less
crypto

Two men have been jailed for defrauding investors of £1.5 million through a fake crypto investment scheme. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Two jailed over £1.5m crypto investment scam

TWO people who duped investors of £1.5 million by selling fake investments in crypto have been jailed for 12 years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.

Raymondip Bedi, of Bromley, and Patrick Mavanga, of Peckham, conned at least 65 people by cold-calling them between February 2017 and June 2019. They operated companies including CCX Capital and Astaria Group LLP.

Keep ReadingShow less