Shahjalal Co-operative

Shajalal was originally founded 30 years ago by the Bangladeshi community. The co-op in its present form came into existence just over 10 years ago when three Bangladeshi housing co-operatives merged to form Shahjalal, which now has 77 properties in the Aston and Saltley areas.

The current committee aims to greatly expand the scale and nature of the work of the co-operative. Plans will see housing remain at the heart of Shahjalal and it will still have strong emphasis on serving the Bangladeshi community, but the co-op will draw in members of other communities and expand the areas in which it works. It will seek to extend the range of its housing provision to meet the needs of the elderly and to respond to the growing demand for home ownership.

Shahjalal is also seeking a wider role in supporting the housing and wider needs of the Bangladeshi community and renewing the co-op’s neighbourhoods. Shahjalal will work with partners and the council in the region to develop lively and sustainable communities based on the idea of people taking responsibility for their own housing.

Shahjalal aims to provide housing and related services that are designed to meet the needs and aspirations of the Bangladeshi community and of other communities in the areas where the co-op works. Shahjalal is controlled by its membership and aims to operate in a responsive and culturally sensitive way meeting new challenges and responding to new opportunities.

The co-operative is also currently looking to develop new affordable family housing in the Tipton area. Currently, the committee is working to get to know the community, its needs and its aspirations before development starts.

Click here for a leaflet about Shahjalal's work or email info@bchs.org.uk for more information.