THE founder of Bradford-born Aagrah has died.

Muslim bereavement service, Janaza Announcements, said this morning that Haji Muhammed Sabir MBE had sadly passed away.

It also announced that his funeral would take place at 5.15pm today at Jamiyat Tabligh-ul-Islam Bradford Central Mosque, in Westgate.

Labour MP for Bradford West Naz Shah shared a touching tribute on her Facebook page to Mr Sabir, who she knew for more than three decades.

It said: "Deeply saddened by the passing of Haji Muhammed Sabir MBE - Chairman of the Aagrah Group.

"I have known Haji Sahib for over 3 decades.

"Haji Sahib is someone I consider close family, I was always extremely blessed with his guidance, support and advice.

"He will always be remembered for his kindness, compassion and loving nature.

"Haji Sahib was not only an extremely successful businessman but also a great humanitarian.

"He wholeheartedly supported charitable projects both locally here in Bradford as well as helping the poor and needy across the world.

"My heartfelt prayers and condolences to the family.

"May Allah Almighty grant Haji Sahib Jannah tul Firdous."

Humble beginnings for the Aagrah Restaurant Shipley in 1985Humble beginnings for the Aagrah Restaurant Shipley in 1985 (Image: Other) Mr Sabir was acting as group chairman for Aagrah at the time of his death.

He started the business in 1976 as a mobile takeaway, operating from his cherished Commer Van, known as the Spice Pot.

Read more on this: ‘Thousands’ turn up to pay respects to ‘loving and caring’ founder of Aagrah

Mr Sabir started the business while continuing his day job as a bus driver, working 18-hour days to get the business up and running.

It was while doing his day job that his luck changed as he struck up a friendship with a Barclays Bank manager who regularly travelled on his bus.

After months of informal conversations, he was offered the chance to borrow £20,000 to develop his business, allowing him to develop a small unit in Westgate, Shipley, which he had previously bought.

He sold the Spice Pot for a profit of £300 in 1977 and used the loan to transform the former plumber’s shop and bakery into a 40-seater restaurant – the first Aagrah restaurant.

Since then Mr Sabir and his brother Mohammed Aslam, the group's managing director, have built the business into the UK's largest Kashmiri restaurant chain. 

Mr Sabir received an MBE in 2005 for services to charity.

At that point, he had helped to raise more than £500,000 since he organised his first fundraising dinner at Shipley's Aagrah restaurant in 1982.

Aagrah launched its Tarka Cooking Sauce range in 2011, which featured the brand's most popular recipes and allowed people to cook Kashmiri "home-style" dishes in their own homes.

There are seven Aagrah restaurants spread across Yorkshire.

This includes: Shipley A La Carte & Grill & Carvery, in Saltaire Road; Midpoint, in Thornbury; Leeds City, in St Peter's Square; Garforth, in Aberford Road; Chapel Allerton, in Harrogate Road; Wakefield, in Barnsley Road; and Tadcaster, in York Road.