A ROHINGYA refugee who spoke no English when he escaped to Bradford said the city opened his eyes and he wanted to give back to those who welcomed him.

Mohammed Amin won the Covid Community Star Award at the Community Stars Awards last Wednesday.

There were 2,099 votes in the category in total, with Mr Amin receiving 1,338 of those.

The other finalists were, Shummell Uddin and Denholme Assist.

Mr Amin said on receiving his award: “To be honest speechless, so proud, and the people who have voted for and also finally winning this award is massive, I’m so glad, I’m so grateful for the people, that my help has been useful for people and they have recognised me.”

The Rohingya people have suffered persecution and discrimination in Myanmar (previously Burma) for decades and hundreds of thousands were forced to flee to refugee camps in Bangladesh from August 2017, to escape the military’s crimes against humanity and possible genocide.

Mr Amin himself was born in a refugee camp and said he had no direction when he came to Bradford - "I didn't have luck with that before".

He added: “My entire life, I was born in a refugee camp, I didn’t have enough opportunity to study or to grow.

“My life was restricted always, until I came to Bradford.

“Coming to Bradford, it’s opened my eyes, because of the support Bradford has provided me to be able to be who I am today."

Bradford gave Mr Amin direction that, through no fault of his own, he had been lacking in his life and he wanted to give back.

He helped deliver essential items to people in need during the pandemic and also set-up and is the international director of Bradford charity, AROUK (Arakan Rohingya Organisation UK).

The charity channels the experiences of Rohingya refugees to support new people arriving in the city to integrate and thrive.

This includes advice on housing, welfare, healthcare, schools and accessing immigration support.

Mr Amin said: “So during Covid, I found to help people and to give back to the community, that’s what I’ve been doing.

“I’m so happy, not even for this award, I was actually helping people, going beyond the needs to other people.

“I’ve always been getting support; I’ve never been able to help others, the last 10 years.

“I’m happy to among the community to help people, who need the help, especially for the refugee and isolated community.”

This is not the end for Mr Amin and he believes the Community Stars Awards help inspire himself and others to do even more.

He said: “Events like this, recognition like this, help us to determine, to be inspired and to inspire other youngsters in the community to be part of work like this.

“You know, helping the community, helping the people around us, to make Bradford a proud city.

“As we know, Bradford is shortlisted to be the City of Culture.

"Indeed Bradford should be awarded that award because of the people around us.”