Preserving Over 100 Years of British Bangla Journalism:
EastHands Launches Major National Heritage Initiative

EastHands, a London-based community charity, is proud to announce the official launch of a pioneering heritage initiative designed to preserve, document, and celebrate over a century of Bangla newspapers and journalism history across the United Kingdom (1916–2022).

Since the inception of EastHands in 2020, within a short space of time, the organisation has grown rapidly and worked closely with local communities to deliver a wide range of impactful initiatives. These include community youth development, educational awareness campaigns, sports activities supporting disabled children and their families, women's health and well-being initiatives, as well as environmental and carbon reduction projects. Building on this strong foundation, EastHands is now leading this major national effort to safeguard British Bangladeshi heritage.

For more than 100 years, Bangla publications have served as the heartbeat of British Bangladeshi community life. Beyond reporting local and international news, these newspapers recorded migration stories, led political advocacy, preserved cultural identity, and documented major civil rights and anti-racism struggles. They provided an essential lifeline for newly arrived families navigating life in Britain while maintaining invaluable connections to their heritage.

Today, this vital strand of British media history is at urgent risk. Much of the physical heritage exists only in fragile print copies, personal collections, and informal storage vulnerable to deterioration or loss. Furthermore, many pioneer editors, publishers, and journalists who established these foundational media institutions are now elderly, making the capture of their first-hand memories an immediate priority.

Supported by grant funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund alongside local business partnership support, this ambitious 12-month project will safeguard, restore, and digitise this under-recognised history, making it freely accessible to the public and future generations. To achieve these goals, EastHands will establish an Open-Access Digital Archive hosted on its website, ensuring these historical materials are freely available to researchers, students, and the public worldwide. The team will undertake Documentary Film Production to visually record the lived experiences, stories, and struggles of media pioneers. We will also be interviewing editors and publishers directly to capture the unique stories behind why these publications were established and the lasting impact they had on society. Alongside a comprehensive Oral History Program capturing perspectives from journalists and readers, the project will hold interactive workshops with senior journalists, readers, publishers, and community members.

For long-term stewardship, the project guarantees Permanent Archival Preservation through formal deposit with Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives. To share these rich discoveries with the public, EastHands will be holding two major exhibitions—one in London and one in Birmingham—complemented by public screenings and intergenerational community events.

There are great volunteering opportunities for Bengali journalists to get involved in the project, gain practical experience, and learn how heritage projects and archival deposits work. This is a fantastic way to contribute to preserving community history while developing professional heritage skills. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us.

“Bangla newspapers served as a vital lifeline for new migrants navigating life in Britain while keeping cultural links alive. Many early editors and journalists are now elderly, and their memories risk being lost forever. This project will bring together surviving physical materials and personal testimonies to secure our shared media legacy in trusted public archives and digital spaces.” — Nobab Uddin, Chair & Trustee of EastHands and former Editor of Janomot

This project presents a timely and crucial opportunity for working journalists and members of the press to get involved. As traditional print newspaper history rapidly fades due to the rise of mobile journalism and digital media, your participation will help ensure this rich print legacy is documented, protected, and remembered for generations to come.