Two South Shields businessmen have been invited to meet the Bangladeshi Prime Minister.

Khamal Hussain, owner of Jai Ho Indian Restaurant, and Shanu Rahman, who owns the Asian Food Store, both in Ocean Road, have been invited to attend a hand-over ceremony of new ships to the Bangladeshi Navy.

The pair were asked to go to the ceremony by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as a way of thanking them for helping members of the Bangladeshi Navy when they were on Tyneside last year while their naval vessels were refitted.

Mr Hussain, a father-of-two, said: “We helped them find their way around and pointed out local amenities and things like that.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting the Prime Minister. It will be a fantastic experience, and my family are very proud that I will be receiving this honour.”

The duo are setting off next Wednesday to attend the ceremony on Saturday, March 5.

Father-of-three Mr Rahman said: “I’m really looking forward to going to Bangladesh. I haven’t been there since I went on a family holiday in 2007.

“I’m excited to see everyone again. We got to know the guys from the navy well while they were docked over here, and we became friends, so it’ll be great to catch up.”

The ceremony will be similar to that attended by the chief of the Bangladesh Navy last September. Vice Admiral Zahir Uddin Ahmed visited A&P Tyne’s Hebburn yard for the event to mark the completion of multi-million-pound work on two patrol vessels.

Mr Hussain added: “I met the chief of the Bangladesh Navy when he came here. It will be good to see him again.”