British Bangladeshi mother awarded in U.K. Parliament alongside Bollywood actress, cricketer and rugby Paralympian

Winners with Lord Wajid Khan: Hasina Momtaz (pink headscarf), Manisha Koirala (yellow saree), Dr Ayaz Bhuta MBE (wheelchair), and Lord Wajid Khan (dark suit)

Campaigning mother awarded in U.K. Parliament alongside Bollywood actress and humanitarian ambassador, Manisha Koirala, cricketer, Azeem Rafiq, 2020 rugby Paralympian gold medal winner, Dr Ayaz Bhuta MBE. 

Hasina Momtaz, a mother from Croydon, UK was awarded at a ceremony highlighting resilience and hope against the odds for her triumph over adversity following the death of her only child who was killed by an uninsured driver. 

Hasina’s son, Sami, was killed in 2014 at the age of 18.   Speaking at the award ceremony, attended by politicians, community campaigners, and media, Hasina said: “On the 3^rd June 2014, I received the news that no parent wants to receive, that my son had been killed. He had died within minutes of being struck by an uninsured driver. With those few words, my world collapsed. I spent the next few years relentlessly campaigning and lobbying the CPS to prosecute the driver and to raise awareness of road safety, alongside being involved with international charity RoadPeace, even appearing in the media to highlight the issue.” 

Hasina was presented with her award by Lord Wajid Khan, Baron Khan of Burnley, in Portcullis House, part of the Houses of Parliament, on Friday (27^th October).  

The award also recognised Hasina’s efforts in setting up Soul Gems London, a faith inspired jewellery brand in Sami’s memory, during  the height of the 2020 lockdown. During the initial throes of the pandemic, when the world was shrouded in isolation, Hasina's jewellery became a beacon of connection, allowing people to send tokens of love and remembrance to their dear ones. Her business, born out of adversity, became a source of joy and comfort, uplifting spirits and creating meaningful connections during a time of profound separation. 

Hasina said: “Although the Collections will find resonance with Muslims, the universal messages of hope, gratitude and patience engraved on them have resonated with people regardless of faith. In an often turbulent world, perhaps through something as small as a beautiful piece of jewellery, barriers between communities and faiths can be broken down”.   

Charity is a big part of what Soul Gems London stands for and the brand has supported National Charity Week, which has raised millions since its inception, by donating its collections for auction with proceeds going to the charity effort organised by students across the UK. 

Speaking about the challenges of dealing with an arranged marriage, divorce, single parenthood and the death of her son, Hasina concluded by saying: “Life will never be the same again, but somehow, we carry on breathing and living and finding purpose and meaning in our lives as well as finding connection with and supporting others”. 

Hasina’s career background is in media and crisis communications, where she advised not one but two London Mayor’s, Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson, working on international breaking news stories such as the London bombings.  Communications was an interesting choice of career for Hasina as, coming to the UK at the age of five from Bangladesh, she was unable to speak a word of English and was bullied terribly at school because of this. 

However, determined not to let this stop her, Hasina became the first in her family to attend university and graduated with an honours degree from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). 

In a change of direction following Sami’s death, Hasina repivoted her career and went from advising politicians into the international humanitarian development sector, , and is currently Deputy Director for Media, Campaigns and Public Engagement for ActionAid U.K., an international charity which works with women and girls to eradicate poverty, fight for justice and centre the voices of women and girls globally. Hasina is currently the only British female of Bangladeshi origin to hold a senior leadership team role in communications in a mainstream global charity. 

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Fatima Patel, Managing Director of Asian Standard newspaper said: “In honouring Hasina Momtaz, we celebrate not only an extraordinary individual but also a symbol of resilience, triumph, and the indomitable human spirit”.