Rizwan Hussain

Rizwan Hussain (Bengali: রেজওয়ান হুসেইন Rezwan Husein; born 7 December 1973) is a Bangladeshi-born British television presenter, barrister and an international humanitarian worker. He is also a former Hindi music singer and producer and is best known for presenting Islamic programs and charity events on Islam Channel and Channel S. Hussain was CEO of the east London-based Global Aid Trust (GAT) education charity, until his resignation in response to the broadcast of Exposure: Charities Behaving Badly, an episode investigating charities allegedly promoting extremist views.[1][2][3]

For the Pakistani cricketer, see Rizwan Hussain (cricketer).

Rizwan Hussain
রেজওয়ান হুসেইন
Born (1973-12-07) 7 December 1973
Habiganj, Sylhet, Chittagong, Bangladesh
NationalityBritish
EducationBachelor of Laws,
Master of Laws
Alma materUniversity of Derby
Nottingham Trent University
City University London
University of Huddersfield
Lincoln's Inn
OccupationTelevision presenter, barrister
Years active1991–present
Websitepit.uk.com/rizwan/

Background

Hussain was born in Bangladesh, and moved to the United Kingdom at a young age with his parents. His parents settled in Loughborough, Charnwood, Leicestershire. His late father was a retired soldier of the British Army.[4]

Education

Hussain studied at the University of Derby where he studied Law and then at the City University London where he studied to become a barrister and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 2006. Subsequently, he went on to qualify as a lecturer at the Nottingham Trent University by completing a PGCE in Further Education. He is currently undertaking a research LLM (Masters) on the subject of Anti-Terrorism legislation in the UK at the University of Huddersfield.

Career

Hussain is a lecturer of law who has worked as a human rights lawyer. He has also been a police officer, journalist, actor and singer. He is a television presenter on Islam Channel and Channel S, and is known for presenting Islamic and charity shows.

In the late 1990s, Hussain became interested in music, began performing under the band name Sargam, and eventually became known as a songwriter of popular albums, including B-Boy, featuring songs such as "Harr Pal Mujko" and "Jaan".[5] He has appeared on the top Asian music shows on Vectone TV and ATN Global. During his music career, he had a hit single in the UK's Asian charts, which he was performing at various notable stadiums such as Wembley Arena in London, White Pearl in Birmingham and also in Scotland at the Central Park Glasgow.[6]

Media and charity work

In 2005, after performing the Hajj, Hussain left his music career and decided to work with Islamic-oriented channels and charity organisations, such as Muslim Aid, Muslim Charity and Islamic Relief, on presenting many charity events on Islam Channel and Channel S.[4][6] On Islam Channel, he is a presenter, producer and documentary director, and currently presents a children's program called National Qir’at Competition. On Channel S, he has presented Islam Essentials, which gives answers to people's questions about Islam in English and Bengali, as well as flagship contemporary youth discussion show Thinking Allowed.[7]

Hussain travelled to Bangladesh during the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr in 2008 which left millions homeless. He went with Muslim Aid to assist in delivering water, food and clothing goods to the affected communities, alongside Abdul Jolil Miah and Sheikh Abdur Rahman Madani.[8][9]

Attack in Bangladesh

On 14 April 2008, Hussain was assaulted by Bangladeshi airport officials at the Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. He was assisting an elderly woman with her daughter who had ticket problems, but entered a restricted part of the airport. He was then suspected of human trafficking by the officials, and was taken into a room, and beaten up for up to 55 minutes by the security officers. Later he was forced to sign a false statement, admitting to be involved with human trafficking. The effects of the attack included broken bones of his right leg and left arms, and bruises to most of his upper body, leaving him unable to walk.[10][11][12]

An investigation was carried out of the incident, which resulted in the suspension and arrests of the officers involved in the attack, and there was much campaign against the attack by the Bangladeshi community in the UK, with media attention by Channel S. On 26 April 2008 demonstrations were held at Altab Ali Park near Brick Lane and Whitechapel,[13][14] campaigned by the Bangladesh Human Rights Coalition, with petitions being signed online, demanding the trials of the officers, and apologies from the Caretaker government and the military.[15]

References
  1. Gander, Kashmira (19 February 2015). "Rizwan Hussein: Chief of Global Aid Trust 'resigns' over charity's alleged links to extremism". The Independent. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  2. "Radical preacher at Islamic charity event promotes extremism". The Telegraph. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  3. Evans, Martins (18 February 2015). "Islamic charity under spotlight after being accused of promoting extremism". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  4. "Rizwan Hussain Biography". Purple i. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  5. "B-Boy - by Rizwan Hussain". Punjab2000.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2006.
  6. "Rizwan Hussain Biography" (PDF). Nooria Mission. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  7. "Rizwan Hussain Media". Retrieved 2 January 2009. Purple i
  8. "Update:£3 million for Cyclone Devastated Bangladesh". Muslim Aid. 4 January 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
  9. "Update:Muslim Aid Emergency Relief Response to Cyclone Sidr". Muslim Aid. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  10. "Beaten up by Bangladeshi officials". BBC London. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  11. "UK Barrister Rizwan Hussain Beaten in Bangladesh". 23 April 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009. SACC
  12. "Biman boycott call". The Asian News. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  13. "Rizwan Hussain - BAF officers jailed for violence at airport". Channel S. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009. News, via: YouTube (Bengali/Sylheti)
  14. "Justice for Rizwan Hussain - Demonstration tomorrow". 25 April 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  15. "Justice for Rizwan Hussain". Bangladesh Human Rights Coalition. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
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