Arshad Chaudhry: Founder of ABDN dies after long battle with illness

Mr Chaudhry, 60, who was chairman and founder of the Asian Business Development Network, now known as ABDN, peacefully passed away on Sunday evening, his family said. His funeral was held yesterday at Leeds Islamic Centre attended by more than 300 family members, friends and business leaders, and he was buried at Harehills Cemetery.

The father-of-three was diagnosed with myeloma, a cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow, 11 years ago.

The doctors told him he had three years to live but he became one of the longest surviving patients with the disease.

Mr Chaudhry was a director and senior consultant of the Huque Chaudhry Associates (HCA) group of accountancy practices and director of Business Link Yorkshire. Speaking to the Yorkshire Post in June, he said: “The main thing that keeps me going is getting people to believe in themselves that they can beat any odds.”

Amit Champaneri, who worked with Mr Chaudhry at ABDN for two years, said: “He was an inspirational man who lived life to the full. He believed nothing was impossible.”

See Saturday’s Yorkshire Post for a full obituary.