Staff Reporter: The Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (A part, Fobana) conference in Connecticut, USA, collapsed. For the first time, the news of the Fobana conference being held in Connecticut created great enthusiasm among the Bangladeshi diaspora. But that dream of expatriates has been broken by some greedy crooks in the steering committee based in New York. The organizing committee did not agree to pressure to change the position of the current chairman of the steering committee. As a result, the Fobana conference in Connecticut was canceled.
The Fobana conference was scheduled to take place over the Labor Day weekend of September 1-3 in New Haven, Connecticut. Bangladeshi American Association of Connecticut (BAAC) was given the responsibility as the organizer of this conference. Within months of giving Baac the reins, leaders were embroiled in internal conflict over the chairmanship of the New York-based steering committee. Allegations and counter-allegations. In the press conference in New York, there was a huge debate among the leaders.
This incident happened at a press conference held in Jackson Heights, New York on June 6. In the said press conference, mainly while answering the question of the authority of the organization, there was an extreme ruckus with verbal arguments. Later, everyone was promised to reach a united decision at the end of the press conference, but it was not implemented. The bitters have doubled.
Ali Imam gave a welcome speech at the beginning of the press conference.
Then Shah Newaz gave a written statement. As Ali Imam claimed himself as the chairman of Fobana in his speech, some people including Gias Ahmed protested and the press conference turned into commotion and commotion. The argument continues. At this time, showing a meeting document of Fobana’s steering committee of Canada conference last year, Gias Ahmed said, “We have the document of the meeting, there is also the signature of the meeting.” In this I am the chairman of Fobana and Shah Newaz is the member’s secretary. It is to be noted that Gias Ahmed Shut announced the name of Fobana’s advisor and steering committee in a press conference recently.
The organizers were highlighting various issues in the press conference.
They continued to answer various questions of journalists. At this time, a journalist is currently the chairman of the steering committee of Fobana? When asked such a question, Mohammad Hossain Khan, present there, said that according to the constitution, Ali Imam Shikder is the current chairman of Fobana. And Gias Ahmed immediately became angry with such an answer. who is the chairman of the steering committee.
At this time Gias Ahmed said, who gave you this authority to say this? Who are you? When a chaotic situation arose in the press conference, everyone stood up. At this time several people tried to calm the situation. After a few minutes of heated exchange, the situation returned to normal. After a few minutes of awkwardness, the discussion started again on the previous topic. Then chaos broke out again at the press conference. Later, Steering Committee Chairman Gias Ahmed and Member Secretary Shah Newaz presented the various discussions and suggestions of their committee. At one point the press conference went normally. But chaos started again. After being in a state of chaos for quite some time, Member Secretary Shah Newaz addressed everyone and calmed everyone down by standing in the press conference and saying, Gias brother, we will announce a full-fledged committee by adding new members to our previous steering committee members.
He said, we will announce the full committee keeping the committee announced by Gias Bhai. Gias Ahmed, chairman of the steering committee, said that we will keep the committee that we have announced and make new arrangements and announce the full committee in front of everyone.
Within a month of this incident, the picture changed. Inside, the Bangladeshi American Association of Connecticut (BAAC) put pressure on the leaders saying that the Fobana conference in Connecticut would be held under the leadership of Fobana Chairman Ali Imam Shikder. But the leaders did not accept the injustice. They clearly replied that if the Fobana conference is held under the leadership of the chairman of the steering committee announced earlier, Gias Ahmed, otherwise they will not hold the Fobana conference. After Baac’s decision, Gias Ahmed and Shahnewaz split. Both have announced separate Fobana conferences in Toronto, Canada over the Labor Day weekend of September 1-3.
When contacted, Chairman of Fobana Steering Committee, Gias Ahmed said that one of the reasons for canceling the Fobana conference in Connecticut is the conspiracy of some evil people. They conspired to hold a Fobana conference in Connecticut under the leadership of the chairman of the organization, Ali Imam Shikder demanded his presidency, minus me, but Baac did not allow it. The bad elements were not allowed to realize their dreams because I too was adamant about their decision on the matter. But the conspirators about Fobana will be resisted like never before. We will arrange that soon.
Fobana Steering Committee Member Secretary Shah Newaz was not available when contacted. Later in the text message, it was asked that the pre-announced Connecticut Fobana was canceled, what is the reason for this? Please let me know. But he did not give a proper answer saying he is in Canada and will call back on Monday. He did not call.
Vice Chairman Kazi Sakhawat Hossain Azam said on the phone that the Fobana conference was canceled as a result of not finding a convenient hall in Connecticut. However, evidence of his falsity has been found. Fobana officials said that the information given by him is not correct.
Bangladeshi American Association of Connecticut (BAAC) President, General Secretary, Vice President, Organizational Secretary, Communication Secretary and Cultural Secretary were sent separate messages and asked to know the exact reason but they failed to give a proper answer in this regard.
BP/SM
