A FUNDRAISER has been set up to pay for the funeral and memorial of the owner of a popular Indian takeaway who has passed away.

Hasnath Miah, who runs Indian Dream in Didcot, was rushed to hospital on December 5 after suffering a stroke. His family have confirmed that he sadly passed away yesterday evening (December 15).

The takeaway owner is well known for his generosity across the town. He started giving out free meals at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, totalling over 10,000 to date, including free dinners on Christmas for the last two years.

READ MORE: People cut out of three-car horror crash by fire crews 

He also donated £500 to food banks in Didcot and Abingdon after the community reimbursed him for a phone that was stolen from the restaurant.

Mr Miah had also been planning to make free Christmas dinners for people in need this month.

Hundreds of people have taken to Facebook to express their condolences to Mr Miah’s family and friends.

Didcot resident Denise Macdonald has set up a Go Fund Me page for the community to help Mr Miah’s family pay for the funeral proceedings or for a memorial to be set up in his honour.

To donate, visit: gofundme.com/f/funeral-and-memorial-for-hasnath-miah

Meanwhile, tributes have flooded in for the takeaway owner online.

READ MORE: Tributes flood in for popular takeaway owner who has passed away

Didcot and Wantage MP, David Johnston, said he was ‘very sorry’ to hear the news of Mr Miah’s passing.

He said: “I had the pleasure of meeting Hasnath in 2020 when I visited Indian Dream. He did a tremendous amount for the local community and I know he will be very much missed.

“My deepest condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.”

Andrew Baker, founder of Didcot charity Play2Give, said it was a ‘privilege’ to have known Mr Miah.

“As well as doing all your good work for the town during the lockdown providing free hot meals and more, you've also supported and admired the work of Play2Give,” he said. “

“You often donated prizes from Indian Dream for our raffles, as you was a man with a generous kind heart and soul.

“RIP Hasnath. May you sleep tight and thank you for all you did to help so many during the pandemic and beyond.”

South Oxfordshire District Councillor Andrea Warren said: “Very sad to hear of the sudden passing of local hero to the community, Hasnath Miah.

READ MORE: Yellow weather warning for Oxfordshire with more snow and ice

“He continued to offer free meals to those in need following the pandemic and was so proud of Didcot. Rest in peace Hasnath.”

Hundreds of others have paid tribute to Mr Miah and the work he did for the community. Many hope a memorial can be placed in the town in memory.

-

Read more from this author

This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Abingdon, Didcot, Wallingford and Wantage.

Get in touch with her by emailing: gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @geeharland