Staff Reporter : Gorgeous ‘Bangladesh Fair was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. The fair was organized by the Bangladesh Association of Atlantic Counties at the local St. Castle Stadium on Tuesday (August 24). New York construction businessman Abdul Quader Mia was present as the chief guest at the fair.
Among the special guests were New Jersey Democrat Assemblymen Vince Mazgio and John Armato, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Pleasantville City Mayor Judy M. Warr, Northfield City Mayor Arland Chow, Egg Harbor City Mayor Lisa, Ebicon City’s Mayor Ebbikon City Democrats including Mayor Don Guardian, the first Muslim mayoral candidate in Atlantic City history, Dr. Dawood Panah, Atlantic City Councilman Anjum Zia, Mo. Delgado, Atlantic City Councilman President George Tibet, and Atlantic County Sheriff’s Party Eric Schaffler.
In his inaugural address businessman Abdul Quader Mia said, I am very grateful to be able to involve myself in the ongoing efforts to promote the culture and heritage of Bangladesh among the new generation growing up abroad through Bangladesh Fairs in various states of the United States. He appreciated the various activities of the Bangladesh Association of Atlantic Counties and assured further cooperation.
St. Castle Stadium in Atlantic City on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean became a part of Bangladesh in this grand gathering of thousands of Bangladeshis. Although well-known and expensive artists could not come from Bangladesh or India due to corona, this is the first time that expatriates enjoy the songs of expatriate musicians for the first time.
The whole stadium was abuzz with the songs of Niladri Chowdhury, Jayant Sinha, Saira Reza, Shantanil, Shashi and Sumon, the most popular artists of Atlantic City and NTV’s Closeup One. President of Bangladesh Association of Atlantic County Shahid Khan and General Secretary Sohail Ahmed introduced the Bangladeshis in the middle of the program. Popular presenter Bulbul’s lively presentation made the atmosphere of the fair very pleasant for the guests. Choreographed by Nivedita Bhatracharya, a member of the cultural committee, the dance performance of the little girls with country songs was worth watching. In the midst of hundreds of engagements, the organizers of the fair did not show the slightest stinginess in honoring various personalities at the fair for their contribution in various fields including social development and leadership.
Principal Perth Protim and Abhijit Chowdhury Lytton were posthumously honored and Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small presented the medal to their families.
Haji Abdul Quader Mia, President of Bangladesh Press Club of Atlantic City for his special contribution in journalism, Akbar Hossain for his outstanding contribution in the field of social development in the country and abroad, Jayshree Dey, Abdul Karim, Mohammad Karim, Golam Haf for organizational skills and leadership were also awarded. , Mohammad Selim, Jamil Chowdhury, Ali Hossain Farid, Shahjahan and Jahangir Hossain Bhuiyan.
Also present at the fair were journalist Lavlu Ansar, General Secretary of Bangladesh Press Club of Atlantic City and Publicity and Publication Secretary of United States Bangabandhu Parishad and President of New Jersey State Committee Md. Shaheen, President of Atlantic City Bangladeshi Business Association and prominent community leader Saleh Ahmed, Asian American Society of Atlantic. City President Sumon Majumder, former member of the Board of Trustees of Bangladesh Association of South Jersey Md. Rahman Babul, former Vice Chairman of Atlantic City School Board and President of labor organization Essal New Jersey Faruk Hossain, member of Atlantic City Water Development Board Md. Didar, Asian American Society General Secretary Binod, President of Pakistan Business Association Amir Kashmiri, Real Estate Businessman and Community Leader Harun Bhuiyan, Businessman and Community Leader Tolan, Businessman and Community Leader Abul Hossain, Journalist and Community Leader Saeed Doha, Atlantic City City Chowdhury Prominent community leaders Masuk Talukder, Khasru Kamal A. Selim Sultan, former president of the Bong Bangladesh Association of Atlantic Counties.
After the performance of the national anthems of the United States and Bangladesh, a minute’s silence was observed at the beginning of the inaugural ceremony on the untimely death of Principal Perth Pratim and Abhijit Chowdhury Liton.
The leaders said the fair was organized to bring the new generation of Bangladeshis living in South Jersey to the fair and introduce them to the indigenous culture. Convener of the fair Md. Selim and Member Secretary Farhad Siddiqui said that they have been waiting for a long time and they are happy that about ten to twelve thousand Bangladeshis living in the neighboring city including Atlantic City of New Jersey have been able to fulfill that expectation.
They said a huge contingent of about 100 people, led by Shahid Khan and Sohail Ahmed, presidents of the Bangladesh Association of Atlantic Counties, worked day and night to make the Bangladesh Mela a success. This time around, for the first time, there was a lot of excitement among the Bangladeshis in New Jersey, including Atlantic County, surrounding the ‘Bangladesh Mela’.
Syed Mohammad Kausar, chief advisor of the fair, said, “We have made online media a success.”
BP/SM
