A BELOVED restaurant owner who introduced Bangladeshi cuisine to a town has finally decided to step down from his business.

Saidur Chowdhury, aged 46, said there were no other Indian restaurants in Upton when he opened Pundits Fusion in November 1996.

He said he was also the only non-white person in the town, although he soon became a popular member of the community.

Mr Chowdhury, who is known as 'Sultan', has now decided to move on from the restaurant to care for his 89-year-old father and pursue personal goals.

He said: "There were no other Indian restaurants in Upton when I started, now we have three.

"I was welcomed by the majority of people. There was a real appetite for my food.

"Some people have even said they moved here after eating at my restaurant.

"I did get one or two letters of 'you are not wanted here'. But I've always worked outside of major cities so I've always seen this.

"I introduced my religion and culture here. I would like to give people a huge thank you for accepting me in the community.

"Especially since 9/11 when we have been portrayed in a negative manner."

Mr Chowdhury was a 25-year-old bachelor when he invested his savings in starting Pundits Fusion, in Old Street, Upton.

He is now a married father-of-seven and has decided to pass the business over to his manager, Juned Miah.

Mr Chowdhury intends to look after his dad, who moved to the UK in 1967, and dedicate himself to learning.

He said: "I will look after my father and make sure everything is in place for him.

"His kidneys are not functioning. He is on dialysis. I also want to look at my spiritual side. I want to understand my religion more... and to travel more.

"I want to go to India. I was born in the Midlands... [but] I'm from Bangladesh. It was a part of India before."

Mr Chowdhury received the nickname 'Sultan' from former colleagues at a restaurant in Devon.

He said: "Saidur is my first name but it's extremely hard to pronounce. They kept calling me cider.

"They gave me the name Sultan because I acted like a king."

Mr Chowdhury's last day at Pundits Fusion will be on Sunday, December 3.