Did you know…the history of the Bengali Workers’ Association in Camden?

The Bengali Workers’ Association (BWA) was established in 1976 and over the years has steadily grown from being a small group of community activist based in temporary porter-cabins to being one of the largest community-led voluntary organisations in Camden, serving over 5,000 residents from different backgrounds.

Since 1990, BWA has been based in a multi-purpose building called the Surma Community Centre, which has been a focal point of the community and a venue for a wide range of community based activities and services.

They work with those who are socially excluded by providing a local hub that encourages and enables their involvement in the wider community. By involving members they are able to ensure that communities’ needs and priorities are brought to the fore and that residents in neighbourhoods that we work in have tools to get involved in whatever way they want.

Today the Bangladeshi Community is well-integrated into Camden life and many members now work as professionals in the area.

Founder of the Bengali Workers’ Association, Abdul Momen was born near Calcutta in 1938 and his childhood was disrupted by his father’s career in the postal service. The regular moves across Bengal meant Mr Momen attended eight schools. He was also a witness to the horrendous Bengal Famine of 1943, when he was horrified by the sight of extremely thin women begging for the starchy water from cooked rice.

His life changed completely in 1969 after he received a scholarship to do a doctorate in English at Leeds University. In 1971 he was appointed Asian Community Officer in Camden.

In February 1976 Mr Momen founded the Bengali Workers Action Group, now the Bengali Workers Association. This acted as an advice centre for issues such as immigration, accommodation and welfare. Today the Association continues to act as a support for members of the Bengali community as well as working closely with NHS Camden, the police, and local and national government.

It was all volunteer-based at this stage but as more Bangladeshi migrants arrived — all of them instantly bee-lining it from the tarmac to Surma — Camden Council realised the demand and started funding it.

BWA soon became the largest and for a while, the only Bengali-specific support group in the borough. “There are of course other vital services now, like Hopscotch and KCBNA, but because it was the first it has a real reputation,” says Mariam Hassan, Surma’s youth and communities manager.

“People are very passionate about this place, chances are their parents and even grandparents have used and probably still use our services. It is a pillar of the community.”

So what goes on at Surma now? Although they still offer the same essential support and advice, the group has transformed in accordance to the needs of locals, and as such, acts as much more of a community hub.

Surma offers crucial opportunities to breakdown cultural barriers. Whether that’s while twiddling your thumbs waiting for the kids dance class to end, sharing a curry at the weekly lunch club or, at the age of six, doing your homework alongside Somalis, Brits and Bangladeshis.

Parts of this article were published in the eustontowner.

Find out more about the Bengali Worker’s Association here.