Man, 100, raises more than £70,000 for Covid-19 victims while fasting for Ramadan

HARRIET BREWIS

The Evening Standard

The 100-year-old St Albans man was inspired by Colonel Tom Moore

Dabirul Islam Choudhury is fundraising for those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in both the UK and Bangladesh by walking laps of his community garden while fasting for the religious festival of Ramadan.

Following in the footsteps of national treasure Colonel Moore, Mr Choudhury began walking 100 laps of his 80-metre garden on April 26 to raise £1,000.

However, just like the vaunted World War Two veteran, he hit the target within hours.

Since then Mr Choudhury’s JustGiving page has raised more than £73,000 for the Ramadan Family Commitment (RFC) Covid-19 crisis initiative, run by British-Bangladeshi television broadcaster Channel S.

He plans to continue fundraising for the entire month of Ramadan – which this year runs from April 23 to May 23 – while continuing to observe religious fasting.

The RFC initiative raises money for vulnerable individuals during the 30-day period, which is observed by Muslims worldwide as a time of prayer, reflection and community.

Mr Choudhury is “one of the highest respected individuals” in his community and fundraisers said his involvement in the RFC has been inspiring.

“As an individual he is very bright and very bubbly, full of life,” said RFC project leader Farhan Musad Khan.


“We like to invite people who have got a legacy, who have contributed a lot, who are inspiring and Mr Dabirul Choudhury is one of the highest respected individuals in our community.

“He has a huge following within his family, friends and religious community.”


Mr Choudhury plans to continue fundraising for the entire month of Ramadan (PA)
Mr Choudhury was born on January 1 1920 in British Assam, now modern-day Bangladesh, and moved to London to study English literature in 1957.

He became a community leader in St Albans and has been responsible for many community and fundraising projects over the years.

He is also an accomplished poet and has published thousands of his own poems.

His son, Atique Choudhury, told BBC London: “When we started, we started at a small pace but he’s been increasing his number of laps he’s doing.

“The problem we have is that we have to try and stop him because he wants to carry on.”