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The Bangladeshi community have made a valuable contribution to life in Britain since their migration to these shores in the 1950s.

From the world of politics and business to the media and sports, British Bangladeshis have made their mark in society.

Wembley Stadium will play host to the first-ever Asian Football Awards on Tuesday night, which aims to recognise and celebrate the achievements and strides of individuals and organisations in the beautiful game.

The idea of such an event would have raised many a clichéd eyebrow when it was first announced last year. Most would have dismissed it as a fad, as a PR stunt maybe, or even just a waste of time. After all, how many Asian players or coaches have graced the hallowed turf at the home of football?

The idea of positive discrimination doesn't sit easy with most people. To think that you have only got a job or have been elevated to a senior position within an organisation because of factors not relating to your abilities or skills can make one feel they don't deserve to be in such a position. And it is a near certain fact that an individual who may have benefited from positive discrimination may face hostility, overtly or otherwise, from colleagues.

On January 3rd, two of the gang who attacked Stephen Lawrence were convicted of his brutal racially-motivated murder.

Despite the conviction, racism within institutions and society still blights us. Launched five years after the death of Stephen, the MacPherson Inquiry, exposed the institutional racism within the Metropolitan Police. The Inquiry also further exposed the racist culture and practices within other major institutions in the country.

The United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC) are continuing their campaign to call for an independent judicial inquiry into all suspicious deaths in custody.

UFFC, a coalition of families and friends of those that have died in the custody of police and prison officers as well as those who died in psychiatric and immigration detention. It also has members and supporters from campaign groups and advocacy organisations from across the UK.

The UK's English Defence League boss is to hold a European rally with other fascist groups across Europe. Stephen Lennon, the convicted football hooligan who formed the EDL three years ago, however, said he wanted to 'link up with other far-Right groups in Europe, setting up the European Freedom Initiative'. He described the planned gathering in Aarhus, Denmark on March 31, as the 'first proper European event', adding

'We're hoping this will be the launch of a wider European Defence League.'

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has criticised the lack of diversity in the judiciary.

Clarke, alongside junior minister Lord McNally said more women and people from BME communities were needed so cases could be heard by judges who were more representative of the general population.

The ministers believe the judiciary does not reflect the society which it judges and is a 'threat to the harmonious nature of our society', according to Lord McNally.

Unresolved murders give families more pain than just the loss of a loved one. Take the case of Stephen Lawrence as an example.

The fight for justice has taken nearly 19 years and the sentences passed to two men for his racist killing has only been considered as a partial victory as other prime suspects are on the loose. But in the past couple of weeks, listening to the stories of Stephen's parents Doreen and Neville brings home the devastating effect the murder can have on family life.

In a local by-election to be held this Thursday, local Lib Dem candidate Dave Stones will be allowed to stand by in spite of repeatedly and shockingly anti-Islamic remarks.

The dream is still alive.

There are times when an event takes place that seems at first glance to be modest, small in scale and not hugely significant. In retrospect, history has a way of restoring some perspective to these seemingly insignificant events.

It was a cold Sunday on January 15, the anniversary of the birthday of Dr Marin Luther King. We had stood for most of the day with the Occupy movement at the historic location of St Paul’s, London.