Bangladeshi-Origin British Activist Ruhi Lauren Akhtar on Mission to Gaza

Bangladeshi-origin British human rights activist Ruhi Lauren Akhtar is currently aboard the Global Sumud flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. Akhtar is the founder and CEO of the humanitarian organization Refugee Biryani and Bananas.

In her latest post on Facebook, she shared a harrowing update: “Last night, aid ships carrying food, milk for children, and emergency supplies were intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, and participants were abducted. This is a severe violation, but it doesn’t end here. The people of Gaza still need us.”

She called for continued international pressure to break the blockade and ensure aid can reach those in need. “Our voices of protest are vital. If we continue to fight together, one day the blockade will break, and aid will reach Gaza without obstruction,” she emphasized.

Ruhi Lauren Akhtar was born in Morpeth, Northumberland, UK. She spent a year of her childhood in Bangladesh. After working for many years as a podiatrist in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, Akhtar became deeply moved by the image of a lifeless 3-year-old Syrian refugee child in 2015, which prompted her to get involved in volunteer work.

She began assisting at refugee camps in Calais and Dunkirk that same year. In September 2015, she founded Refugee Biryani and Bananas, an organization that continues to provide food, medical supplies, and skills development to displaced and war-affected populations.

Earlier this year, she was also actively involved in organizing a peaceful march from Cairo to the Rafah border. Her organization, ARBB, is currently working on the ground to distribute aid in Gaza, despite facing numerous barriers to crossing the borders.

In 2024, Ruhi Lauren Akhtar was honored with the Person of the Year award at the North East Bangladeshi Awards.