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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 18th January 2014
Leading Lights
Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor
The Bangladeshi Beauty with Brains Farzana Munny is one of the most famous young women of Bangladesh and a beautiful, passionate, committed entrepreneur. I have spent two weeks studying her empire here in Dhaka for a radio series I am working on. Farzana has a thriving beauty business as owner and CEO of two salons in upmarket areas of Dhaka that cater to the rich, the famous and those mortals who just want to feel and look good. The brand is called Que Bella and is growing so fast that more of Farzana’s fantastically designed boutique beauty houses are likely to be built over coming years. With different buildings like a VIP spa all in a spacious complex set away
Farzana Munny
from the road in secure surroundings, just entering the place is relaxing. Farzana has appointed a capable manager called Laila (another entrepre-
neur who supports NGOs) to run one of her salons in the diplomatic quarter of Dhaka. But this entrepreneur always gives back to socie-
Married woman cheats seven fiances she met on dating website out of £36,000 Mother-of-two Sidra Fatima, from Yorkshire, cheated seven future husbands out of £36,000 after joining match-making website. She, with the help of her former-husband, used two identities to convince prospective suitors into the wedding scam. Posing as a prospective bride on the dating website, she lured the wouldbe husbands out of cash and gifts worth £36,000. But once the men handed over the cash and jewellery, she called off the ‘’relationships’’ or stopped answering their telephone calls. Fatima, 33, who has previously admitted to a string of fraud offences, was given a 12-month jail term suspended for two years on Friday 10th January. Her former husband Raja Haider Ali was jailed for a total of 30 months. In one of her website profiles Fatima, who lives in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, described herself as a simple person learning from life and finding herself. ‘’I am looking for someone who knows the meaning of love - someone who can touch my soul,’’
Sidra Fatima
Raja Haider Ali
she claimed. But Bradford Crown Court heard that Fatima and Ali were working as a team to attract would-be husbands with Ali acting as her brother or cousin during meetings. Prosecutor John Harrison reportedly said: ‘’The various suitors were not told that Fatima and Ali were married. Following the initial meeting Fatima would agree to a marriage. She would then insist that the complainant hand over money to pay for the wedding and also purchase items for the wedding to give to her in the form of a dowry. The defendants made significant sums from this fraudulent activity. It was, the prosecution say, an audacious if simple fraud.” It is believed that the seven victims included men from Yorkshire and from Southern England. Only one of the victims had the strength to come forward after he saw
media coverage of the police investigation into the scams. One man said he honestly wanted to marry Fatima who appeared to be a clever, smart and humble person, while another said another proposed marriage had fallen through because of his involvement with Fatima. Fatima, 33, admitted fraud offences against seven would-be husbands and also pleaded guilty to further charges of mortgage fraud and insurance fraud relating to a property in Huddersfield. The court heard she gave false details about her employment and income to obtain a £171,000 mortgage on the house, which had been owned by Ali, and she later obtained an insurance pay-out of £25,000 after submitting a bogus burglary claim. Fatima, who was said to be the sole carer for her two children, had her 12month jail term suspended
ty. She is a tremendous philanthropist and, even in her salons, tends to employ tribal girls from the hill tracts who are able, through her, to become empowered and support their own families. Farzana holds several directorships and is one hundred per cent committed to Bangladesh. She would never leave, she told me, even though she could easily move her business to New York or London. “I want to stay here,” she commented. “I was always interested in beauty and fashion, which is why I set up my own business.” How did she do it, I wanted to know. “Well, even though there have been some ups and downs, maybe it was due to my passion. I have now 170 workers who are empowered. It makes me feel proud and happy to contribute something to my country.” Her business has progressed by leaps and bounds over the last five years. She does design,
makeovers and brides and most times when I asked for her in Dhaka her staff told me she was running around styling brides or working on another aspect of her business.
I love my people, no matter what, I want to stay here and do something for my country
“In the modern world, women have to work alongside men too. That encourages me to do more and to do better. I believe our country provides many job opportunities for women to pursue their own careers. The government also provides small loans to small and medium entrepreneurs so anyone who wants to, can start their own business and the interest is low. It encourages women to be more independent and to do better day by day.” Farzana commented.
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I wanted to know what life was like for businesswomen in Dhaka. “Well, take a look at me,” smiled Farzana enigmatically. And she has plenty of ambition- but in a positive way. “What do you want?” I asked her. “To do good for the people, she explained. “To do something better for the country. To do a lot of things for women, especially. I really want to work for underprivileged children. I love my country, I love my people, no matter what, I want to stay here and do something for my country. All my workers are happy, they have smiles on their faces. I can do anything for them.” Farzana certainly deserves to be in demand and her incredible spirit of giving is unusual. She is generous, sincere and affectionate and full of energy. I hope she will progress further in life, even though she is already one of Bangladesh’s most significant ladies and has already touched the stars.
Police community support officer accused of rape and blackmail Kabeer Yousaf, 30, has been charged with blackmail, rape and misconduct in a public office, as well as extorting money and taking sexual favours from prostitutes. Yousaf was arrested during an indepth investigation into the trafficking of women from Eastern Europe as sex workers. The civilian employee is suspected of demanding money in return for keeping quiet about their activities. Anti-corruption investigators believe he took hundreds of pounds while working on the job in Upton Park, East London. The married police officer appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with blackmail, rape and misconduct in a public office. The court was told he is accused of blackmailing women at a brothel on St Stephen’s Road near Upton Park Tube Station. According for two years after Judge Burn heard that she also suffered from mental health problems including depression. She will have to take part in a high level activity programme under the guidance of the probation service.
to the charge, he visited the illicit business in September and offered to keep police away in return for £500 a week. The rape charge states that the PCSO demanded that one of the women perform a sex act on him on December 22 in lieu of payment. Yousaf was arrested 24
hours before his court appearance as part of what the Met described as an ‘ongoing investigation’ by its Human Trafficking Unit. Yousaf worked in the Green Street East ward of Newham borough, alongside PCs, a sergeant and an inspector. His role involved high-visibility patrols, meeting members of the community and dealing with low-level antisocial behaviour. Yousaf has been ordered to appear at Southwark Crown Court on January 24.
Man charged with murder of Sameena Zaman
Leicester: 44-year-old Mohammed Zaman appeared in court on Monday 13th January, after been charged with the murder of 34-year-old Sameena Zaman. The body was found at a house in Down Street, Belgrave, on Wednesday,
January, 8. Dressed in jeans and a fleece-lined dark jacket, he spoke only to confirm his name, address and age. Magistrates adjourned the case to Leicester Crown Court for a preliminary hearing later this month.