A late Bangladeshi businessman and councillor thought to be behind the first curry house in the North-east has been honoured with a blue plaque
Although Wahiduddin Ahmed Kutub passed away in 2007 but his achievements across Newcastle will now live on thanks to the tribute at the Newcastle Bangladeshi Association premises in Elswick Road. Lord Mayor Habib Rahman, performed the unveiling on Saturday morning with Mr Kutub's family and friends watching with pride at the event coinciding with the Independence Day of Bangladesh.
Not only was Mr Kutub a community leader and campaigner for social justice and racial equality - but he is also attributed for opening up the first ever curry house in the North East itself, with the Rajah restaurant in Newcastle's Cloth Market in 1965.
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He also played a substantial role in Muhammad Ali's 1977 visit to South Shields - where Ali and his then new wife Veronica saw their marriage blessed at the Al Azhar mosque in Laygate.
Mr Kutub is said to have visited the special ceremony, which attracted massive crowds. He was also the first minority ethnic and Muslim to be elected as a Newcastle City Councillor when he represented the Fenham Ward for Labour in 1986.
Mr Kutub went on to establish the Tyne Wear Community Relations Council, where he served as chairman from 1975 though until 1983. He was a chairman for Northumbria Police's Communities Group, a governor for three schools in the locality, and a member of Newcastle City Council's housing and economic development committees.
Mr Kutub was also appointed to the Home Secretary’s Council on Racial Relations in 1978, founding the Greater Sylhet Council - a charity organisation set up in 1993 to assist the welfare of the Bangladeshi community nationwide.
Born in 1932 he sadly passed away in 2007, but his contributions towards a more diverse and accepting society in Newcastle live on.
During the ceremony , Lord Mayor Habib Rahman gave a speech alongside members of Mr Kutub's family, as well as Hari Shukla MBE. A flag was raised at the centre itself, to mark the Independence Day of Bangladesh commemorating the country's declaration of independence from Pakistan, 26 March 1971.
Lord Mayor Habib Rahman said: "This morning going into this afternoon we are unveiling the blue plaque in recognition of Wahiduddin Ahmed Kutub who was the city's first person of colour elected as a councillor in the late 80s.
"Among some of his amazing contributions to this part of the city [are] making our city a diverse city for us all to live and work and study in."
Wahiduddin's son Mehtab Kutub was among those to attend.
He said: "It's a very emotional, fabulous honour. I'm very, very grateful to the City of Newcastle for the respect they've paid my father.
"He loved the city and I know he would have been very, very proud to see all of this going on."
Wahiduddin's daughter Aafreen Kutub added: "This is an incredibly special occasion, and as a family we're just really honoured that my dad's contribution has been recognised. It's been brilliant."
