A POPULAR awards ceremony celebrating the best Bangladeshi restaurants and takeaways is returning.

The Bangladesh Caterers' Association, which represents 12,000 eateries in the UK, will host its annual dinner at Hilton Park Lane in London on Sunday 16 November.

Representatives from across the north west are expected to attend the prestigious event, which will profile the history of Bangladeshi cuisine and offer guests the chance to exchange ideas.

A number of dignitaries are also expected, including MPs, celebrity chefs, Asian celebrities and public figures.

Bajloor Rashid, the president of the Bangladesh Caterers' Association, said: "It's tough out there and a lot of the curry houses are feeling the heat from the credit squeeze.

"The loss of jobs in the banking world and other sectors mean many restaurants are quiet to say the least. Despite these testing conditions, we are celebrating these success stories once again.

"The ceremony has gained an iconic status over the past few years and curry leaders across the country eagerly look forward to coming together to enjoy their successes with their fellow colleagues. Given that we will be enjoying the golden jubilee of our organization in two years time, this event gives us a countdown to that great moment."