MEMBERS of the Bangladeshi community in Oxfordshire have been praised for raising thousands of pounds for victims of a cyclone.

Bangladesh is frequently hit by cyclones and floods, but this year Cyclone Aila devastated lives in both Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.

It killed more than 200 people and in Bangladesh left almost 500,000 people homeless.

Kyrul Islam, owner of the Indian Room in Cowley Road, Oxford, one of the restaurants which helped to raise the money, said: “It was very strong like Katrina in America. Compared to other cyclones and floods this was a big one.

“That is why they are appealing to everyone who can help. The whole community got together.”

The Indian Room and the Aziz, also in Cowley Road, joined forces with other restaurants around Oxfordshire to organise a dinner at Oxford Town Hall, with all proceeds going to the victims of the cyclone.

Ticket sales, along with a raffle during the evening, raised £6,000.

About £3,000 was donated to the cyclone fund, with another £3,000 going to Oxfam.

Aziz Miah, owner of the Aziz restaurant, said: “It went very well. We were pleased with people donating and fundraising.”

Kandakar Mostan Hussein, the deputy high commissioner for Bangladesh, was presented with the donation.

He said: “We are going to send the money to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh where it can be used to get clean drinking water and so many things like that.”

The Bangladesh Government has launched a worldwide appeal for $1.2bn to help the country recover from the disaster.