Galway City Council secures €18,000 debt judgement against Bangladeshi organisation
Jasim Uddin Dewan, a director of the company who is also listed as the president of the organisation, told us that he was no longer involved
Galway City Council has secured a debt judgement against a Bangladeshi community organisation for more than €18,000 in respect of unpaid commercial rates at a premises in the city.
Bangladesh Community Galway is described as a non-profit and non-political organisation on its website, which hosts events and activities with the aim of fostering positive relations between Bangladeshis and Irish people.
The company behind the organisation, Bangladesh Community Galway Company Limited, was incorporated in December 2023 with a registered address in the Liosban Business Park on the Tuam Road.
A debt judgement for €18,005 was registered against the company on July 15 in favour of Galway City Council. It is understood that this was related to unpaid commercial rates.
Jasim Uddin Dewan, a director of the company who is also listed as the president of the organisation, told Galway Live that he was no longer involved with Bangladesh Community Galway.
However, Companies Registration Office (CRO) records show that he signed the firm’s annual return just 10 days before and remains listed as a director.
The 56-year-old is also a committee member of the Tuam Islamic Cultural Centre, and his phone number is listed on that organisation’s social media pages.
Asked about the debt judgement and the issue of unpaid commercial rates, Mr Dewan said: “I am not involved anymore with Bangladesh Community, thanks.”
Tamim Mozumder, 45, who is listed as the secretary of the company and co-signed the annual return with Mr Dewan, said he was unaware of the rates issue and referred queries to Mr Dewan.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about this issue,” he said, suggesting that queries should instead be directed to Mr Dewan, who he described as the president of the Bangladesh Community.
“He is the person always dealing with everything about this place,” he said. “I don’t know about this situation anymore. Sorry I can’t help you.”
The latest financial accounts filed to the CRO show that Bangladesh Community Galway Company Limited had a cash balance of €1,275 at the end of last year, but had no other assets.
Its website has a donation feature, and invites people to volunteer and raise funds to build a mosque in Galway.
It also features a statement showing how €714,167 in donations were used to distribute food following severe flooding in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh in 2024.
A spokeswoman for Galway City Council said the local authority “cannot comment on any individual commercial rates case”.