Profile continued:

Respected as a community leader in Scotland, Dr Uddin chairs the Council for Bangladeshis in Scotland, was a founder of Edinburgh’s Central Mosque and is a director of the Shahjalal Mosque and Islamic Centre. Dr Uddin is also Chairman of the Commonwealth Society of Edinburgh and the BanglaScot Foundation. He is a founding Director of the Edinburgh Mela (the vibrant festival founded by Edinburgh’s South Asian communities) and the Edinburgh Bangladesh Samity.

Dr Uddin’s humanitarian work impacts on people in many countries. Typically, Britannia Spice was one of the first restaurants in Edinburgh to organise a benefit after the Boxing Day Tsunami. Dr Uddin was also a key fundraiser for the 2001 Gujarat earthquake appeal and on the Rotary Club committee which raised money for “shelter boxes” after the Kashmir earthquake in 2005. He regularly supports Save the Children, the Great Scottish Walk and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

In Bangladesh, Dr Uddin’s efforts have touched thousands of people over the years. Following the disastrous cyclone in 1991, he was instrumental in raising over £140,000 which was used to build a concrete cyclone shelter and Baharchara-Ratnapur High School. In 1998 he was involved in raising over £220,000 to enable Onneyshan to oversee the construction of a model village and training centre. Dr Uddin is Director and Chief Co-ordinator of the Sylhet Women’s Medical College and Hospital, a Trustee of the Bangladesh Female Academy and an advisor to the Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technologies in Dhaka.

Much has been said and written about the diminutive British-Bangladeshi with the sincere and winning smile. The fact that the Scots, not known for their unreserved acceptance of “incomers’ have come to admire, like and respect him is an eloquent testimony to Dr Uddin’s many years of hard work. The whole community respects his successful business empire: his tireless efforts for the larger community and the many charitable initiatives where he has played pivotal roles - the affection and love that is given to him reflects his commitment to the community.

Wali Tasar Uddin was born in Moulvibazzar, Bangladesh on the 17 April, 1952. Following high school education in Moulvibazzar, he travelled to the UK in 1967 where he started working in restaurants in London and entered further education. In 1976, having gained sound experience in the catering profession, he moved to Edinburgh. Dr Uddin now lives with his wife, Syeda and three of his five children in Edinburgh and readily admits he is a keen supporter of Heart of Midlothian Football Club.

Dr Uddin puts his success down to a combination of values: “People respect you when you have determination, dedication, honesty and integrity. Teamwork is very important too, and you have to give something back to society.”