North East Bangladeshi Award formally recognised the late Shuley Alam in its inaugural NEBA 2022. This initiated wider debate and exploration resulting in former Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne Cllr Habib Rahman the winner of NEBA 2022 Bangladeshi Person of the Year award to petition the South Tyneside Council to recognise the late Shuley Alom with the City’s Blue Plaque.

This historic plaque was unveiled on the 15th July 2023, Shuley becoming only the first Bangladeshi women to receive the prestigious Blue Plaque! This plaque was unveiled by the Mayor of North Tyneside at the CREST building.

NEBA is proud to have triggered conversation and inspire a whole generation of British Bangladeshi people of the North East to highlight, advocate and promote fellow Bangladeshi peoples achievements!

Shuley Alam sadly passed away aged 46 on the 15th July 2020 losing her battle to cancer. Shuley leaves behind 3 children, Iqbal aged 28, Shameela 24 and 10 year old Laila.

Shuley was born in Bangladesh. She was aged 4 when she moved to the UK, with her parents, 4 brothers and 1 sister. Shuley lived and received her education in South Shields.

At an early age she demonstrated her abilities and willingness to bring about changes, tackling barriers, inequalities, and injustice. Difficulties that are all too common and familiar to people of (BAME Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) backgrounds.

Shuley joined ApnaGhar, a specialist centre that supports BAME women, as a volunteer and eventually made it to the Management Committee.

Shuley’s first full-time job was working for a local supermarket, moved to the DSS in Newcastle. She was looking for ideal job. A job in which she can bring a real change to people’s lives. To influence and implement changes to give wider access to services and provisions to BAME groups.

Most importantly to challenge the deep-rooted inequalities and systemic racism that existed within our society.

In 2000 she secured the post of Client Engagement Advisor working for the Training & Enter-prise Network of South Tyneside.

As an advisor she began to realise the extent of the challenges in South Shields, this led her to successfully establish the Compact for Race Equality in South Tyneside or simply known as CREST.

Shuley was the project director of CREST from 2003 until her death, inspiring, motivating young women and women in general. Challenging and shaping racial equality in South Shields. Shuley has left a huge legacy in South shields and one of which is the CREST.

Shuley rightly so and deservingly was recognised in the 1st NEBA 2022 when we award her Special Recognition Award which was collected by her son Iqbal and brother Abby. May Allah almighty grant her the highest of heavens. Ameen