During his term as the information minister. about two years ago. Barrister Nazmul Huda went to London to launch a government backed Bengali language newspaper there. The local Bengali newspapers, established in the British capital for years, at first gave the newcomer a sympathetic but cautious welcome.

But soon we realised that the minister had other things in mind, said Mohib Chowdhury. editor of Notun Din, a Bengali newsweekly in the Eastend of London, the chairperson of the recently created Bangla Press club based in London, and a caterer. "In an informal meeting with the minister, we were sitting at the back of the restaurant where the minister was talking with his party men. Mohib said, on a recent trip to Dhaka.

"There we were most surprised to hear the Minister declare that all advertisements from the state organisations of Bangladesh operating in the UK must proceed to the newly launched paper.

"What about the other newspapers.?' Someone enquired.

"They will simply not get any,” replied the minister calmly.

"When a strong and loud protest was made instantly by some newsmen in the room, the minister looked up and said. "I though this was only a party meeting. I did not know outsiders were present.'

Mohib said that the decision of withholding ads from the local newspapers, the number of passengers in the Biman flights from london to Dhaka fell by 30 per cent.

"KLM. British Airways really exploited this opportunity and launched publicity campaigns with us taking away many Bi man customers."

But now things are beginning to look better as the authorities have probably realised that they could not go far without the help of the media.

The role of Bengali media in Ihe UK was further enhanced when the Bangladesh Caterers Association. UK was convinced by the media to send a group of established businessmen on an investment drive in Bangladesh

"One hundred top ranking Bangladeshi businessmen in the UK came to Bangladesh on a chartered Blman aircraft in order to explore the market and invest." said Mohib sitting on a comfortable sofa of his hotel room in the Motijheel area.

The British High Commissioner in Dhaka. Peter J Fowler, the Dhaka stock exchange. and other organisation and business houses have had talks with the visiting businessmen.

"Some of the visitors have bought shares in the market and some have gone as far as considering establishment of large scale industries in Bangladesh." Mohib said adding that the Bengali media in Britain would always encourage Investments in Bangladesh.

There are three lakh Bangladeshi nationals living in Britain and quite a large number of people among them are well-known businessmen. and they want to do something in their country of origin.

Moreover, the young generation born and brought up in the UK should also be given the chance to explore .their roots, Mohib said.

"We are now seriously talking with the Parjatan Corporation, Bangladesh Biman and the local governments In Britain to promote this sector," Mohib said.