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Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Centre wins Heritage Lottery Fund grant

16 Jul 2015

Project to mark courageous schoolboy’s legacy commemorates 30th anniversary of his death

The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust has been awarded a £50,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a project exploring ‘The Legacy of Ahmed’.

Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the death of 13-year-old Ahmed Iqbal Ullah, murdered in Manchester in 1986 after defending younger Bangladeshi boys from racist bullying.

The project will commemorate Ahmed in an exhibition event to be held in Manchester Central Library on his birthday, 14 October 2016.

Through building an oral history and documentary archive, the Trust wants to share the history of the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Memorial School built by Ahmed’s mother in their home village in Bangladesh and of the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre at the University.

The project will also trace the history of the South Manchester Bangladeshi community, particularly exploring the lives of women involved in the Bangladeshi Women’s Organisation, ‘Ananna’, which is also nearing its 30th anniversary.

It aims to provide an opportunity for the many people who remember Ahmed to reflect on his life, to ensure his memory is sustained and to record, archive and share the positive efforts made in his name in Manchester and in Bangladesh.

Ahmed’s mother was delighted by the HLF decision and said: “Ahmed gave his life for pride, honour and dignity and I would like people to remember him.”

The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust works to celebrate Manchester’s diversity by collecting and sharing the histories of the many groups living in our city. Visit:

From the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife, The Heritage Lottery Fund uses National Lottery players' money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about.  Visit: