Noman Sabit: The circus is going on in the United States with the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (Fobana) conference, a gathering of Bangladeshi expatriates in North America. As a result of leadership conflict and revenge, this popular and get together place of Bangladeshis living in the United States has been divided into 6 parts in the last 36 years.
Work-weary expats would once travel from one end of the United States to the other to attend Fobana conferences, spending thousands of dollars at a time to be entertained. But now the foreigners turn their noses up when they hear the name of Fobana. The main reason for this is that the Fobana Conference has been divided into 6 parts today due to the vexation of some self-interested people. However, according to the constitution, the original Fobana is one and the rest are fake or branches called by the expatriates
According to the original Fobana constitution, which organization of the state will hold the Fobana conference, according to the decision of the annual general meeting, it is announced 2 years in advance.
The Fobana conference announced at short notice is considered a fake or bogus conference. Accordingly, this year (in 2023) the 37th and 38th Fobana conference will be held in Dallas, Texas, and next year in 2024 in Washington DC. Which was announced 2 years ago according to the constitution. Bangladesh Association of North Texas (BANT) was selected as the host committee for the 37th FOBANA conference in 2023 at the annual general meeting of Fobana in 2021. According to the announcement, this year’s 37th Fobana conference will be held in Dallas, Texas. Last year at the 2022 Annual General Meeting of Fobana, the host committee of the 38th Fobana Conference in 2024 was elected. The 38th Fobana conference will be held in Washington DC. Bangladesh Association of Greater Washington DC (BAGDC) has been given responsibility as the organizer of this conference. This decision was taken by the election at the 2022 Annual General Meeting of Fobana held in the conference room of the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Skokie, Chicago last September 4. Bangladesh Association of North Texas (BANT) President Hasmat Mobin has been appointed as the convener by the host committee to make the 37th Fobana Conference to be held in Dallas 2023 a success and Roksana Parveen, the convener in charge of the 38th Fobana Conference 2024.
Meanwhile, the branches of Fobana based in New York and Washington DC have also been broken into 5 pieces. Another Fobana conference led by chaired by Gias Ahmed, Shah Newaz, Ali Imam, Ejaz Tawfiq, Mohammad Hossain, Feroz, Kazi Azam, Dr. Masudur Rahman and Sharafat Hossain Babu . But now it is said to be practically divided into 3 parts. Sharafat Hussain Babu (Gaanye Mane Na Apni Moral) has already announced the upcoming September Fobana conference in Washington. Shah Nawaz, Ali Imam Shikder and Kazi Azam announced a new steering committee. Then Gias Ahmed and Dr. Masudur Rahman held a press conference and announced the counter committee. Sources said that although they are still referring to Shah Nawaz as the member secretary of this section, it will be changed soon. Both factions, led by Shah Nawaz and Gias Ahmed, will hold the Fobana conference separately on the same day in Toronto, Canada. The Bangladeshi diaspora in North America have expressed strong anger at their activities. Expats from the United States and Canada have expressed negative reactions.
Abul Azad convener, freedom fighter Mohammad Ilyas Mia Chayaman and Nazrul Islam Mintu elected chief advisors for Toronto Fobana program (Shah Newaz). An exchange meeting was held on July 8, under the chairmanship of Mohammad Elias Mia, president of the Bangladeshi Canadian Friendship Society and general secretary Abul Azad, held at Almani Restaurant, Danforth, Toronto, Canada. Fobana Steering Committee Executive Secretary Shah Newaz, Vice President Kazi Azam, Former Chairman and current President Mohammad Hossain Khan and Member Nishan Rahim were present in it. Executive Secretary Shah Nawaz formally handed over the letter to the convener Abul Azad for organizing the 37th Fobana conference in Toronto city of Steering Committee.
Convener of 14th Fobana Mahbub Rob Chowdhury, former Vice-Chancellor of Jahangir Nagar University Professor Dr. Jasim Uddin Ahmed, Babul Chowdhury, Advocate Adia Begum, Marzia Haque and Shahidul Haque also participated in the meeting. Note that the 37th Fobana Conference will be held on September 1-3, 2023 in Toronto.
In a press conference at another part of Fobana, Chairman Ghiyas Ahmed hinted at the expulsion of bad elements from Fobana. Among them are Ali Imam Shikder and Qazi Azam. The final decision regarding them will be taken in the steering committee meeting of the organization. He also highlighted the various failures of former chairman Mohammad Hossain regarding Phobana.
In response to a question, Ghiyas Ahmed said that the executive secretary of the steering committee, Shah Newaz, suffered from indecision. He is imprisoned by Mohammad Hussain, Kazi Azam and Ali Imam, without their advice he cannot take a single step. Because of these 3 people there is a problem with Fobana. Shah can’t work with wage earners. Another Fobana conference will be held on September 1-3 at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto, Canada. But it has nothing to do with Shah Nawaz’s conference.
He said this at a press conference organized at Navanna Party Center in Jackson Heights last Saturday (July 8). Dr. was present among others. Masudur Rahman, Tofail Ahmed, Syed Enayet Ali, Elin Rahman, Mofiz Bhuiyan and Shahadat Hossain Raju.
Gias Ahmed said in the press conference, there is still a possibility of matching Shah Nawaz. Finally there might be a Fobana in Toronto.
Meanwhile, the Fobana of the part led by Atiqur Rahman, Zakaria Chowdhury, Bedarul Islam Babla and Shaheda Shikder Hai will be held in Montreal, Canada. The segment led by Ahsan Chowdhury, Nahid Khan, Hasmat Mobin and Shamsuddoha Sagar will be held in Dallas, Texas. All Fobana conferences are being held over the Labor Day weekend of September 1-3.
The Fobana conference started in 1987 with the aim of gathering Bangladeshis scattered in different cities of the United States. Friends in different cities will meet once a year in a new city, where cultural organizations of different cities will have cultural matches, friendship meetings. After that, if you ever come to a conference (of course the original Fobana conference, not a fake or fake conference), on the 3 days of the conference, in addition to the main stage program, there are more than 30 different events going on throughout the day.
BP/SM
