Staff Reporter, Back from Virginia: With the unwavering support of the Bangladeshi diaspora in the United States, it will be possible to make the 38th Fobana Conference of the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (Fobana) the best conference in history to be held in Greater Washington DC this year. It is not possible for any single organization or individual to make the largest Fobana convention of expatriates successful or worthwhile in the outside world. For this, there is an urgent need for the patronage of businessmen and philanthropists of the country and abroad. Rokshana Parvin, convener of the 38th Fobana conference, said these things at a meet and greet meeting held at the Holiday Inn Hotel auditorium in Springfield, Virginia last Friday (February 10). In the meeting organized by Bangladesh Association of Greater Washington DC (BAGDC), She said, we can present the best Fobana Conference in history only if everyone forgets the dilemma and stands by us.
This year, the 38th Fobana Conference will be held in Greater Washington DC on Labor Day weekend August 30-31 and September 1 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. This year’s conference is organized by Bangladesh Association of Greater Washington DC. The organizing organization and Fobana Executive Council have already started all kinds of activities to make a successful Fobana conference. On Saturday (February 10) evening at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Springfield, Virginia, USA, the executive committee and the leaders of the organizing organization will present the details in the meet and greet meeting.
In the meet and greet meeting held under the chairmanship of Rokshana Parvin, convener of the 38th Fobana conference and jointly moderated by executive secretary Abir Alamgir and cultural committee chairman Taskin Binte Siddique Fobana Chairperson Mohammad Alamgir said, “We are trying to arrange this year’s conference in a different manner.” A strong convening committee has already been formed. During the formation of this committee, there were many obstacles. We have not heard from anyone. Convenors and Presidents of the 38th Fobana Conference have been elected. Couldn’t find an alternative to them in Greater Washington DC. The entire team of this year’s convening committee has considerable experience. Fobana leaders with long experience are behind to advise them.
Abir Alamgir, executive secretary of the conference, said that there is only one Fobana conference in the United States. If someone leaves this organization and does something with the same name, it can never be called Fobana Conference. The conference which is attended by 78 social and cultural organizations in 22 cities is the only Fobana conference. There is no other option.
Abu Rumi, member secretary of the conference, said four other Fobana conferences have been held in the Greater Washington DC area before. This conference is being held in the Greater Washington DC area for the fifth time. I promise there will be many exceptions in this conference. We are committed to making the best conference possible.
President of the conference Nurul Amin Nuru said, the hotel we have selected for the Fobana conference is the largest hotel in Greater Washington DC. There has never been a Fobana conference in such a big hotel before. All attractions are close at hand from the location of the hotel. Those who come to Fobana Convention, will be able to sight-see and travel all on vacation with ease.
Fakhrul Islam Swapan, chairman of the finance committee of the conference, said that the committee we have started working with is very disciplined. Many of them have prior experience of Fobana Conferences. Hope the 38th Fobana conference will be successful and fruitful.
Other speakers said that Fobana is a conference, not just entertainment. Fobana is the biggest conference of Bangladeshis in the outside world. This should always be kept in mind. We have to learn from all the mistakes of the past. All the mistakes due to which the Fobana conference failed in the past should be corrected in advance, only then we can expect a successful Fobana conference. However, this time most of the leaders of Fobana have joined the meet and greet meeting from other states of the United States.
Convener of 38th Fobana conference Rokshana Parvin, Fobana Executive Committee Finance Secretary Priyalal Karmkar, Joint Executive Secretary Khaled Ahmed Rauf, Event Management Committee Chairman Kachi Khan, Cultural Committee Chairman Taskin Binte Siddique, former officials Duke Khan, Zainal Abedin, Mahbub Reza Rahim, Rabiul Karim Belal, Rehan Reza, Nahidul Khan Sahel, Mahbubur Bhuiyan, Parveen Patwari, Mazharul Islam, Rokeya Haider, former head of Voice of America, former official of Voice of America Sarkar Kabir Uddin, legendary and popular dance artist of the country Laila Hasan, attorney John Kapoor, engineer Abu Hanif, Hiran Chowdhury, Mahmudun Nabi Baki, Tapas Majumdar, Dr. Anwarul Karim, Mahbub Laskar and Bulbul Islam among others spoke at the meeting.
A meet and greet program will be held in Dhaka on Saturday, February 24. The meet and greet event in Dhaka will be held in the ballroom of Hotel Intercontinental. Fobana’s host committee and executive committee are going to Dhaka to participate in the event. Several ministers of the Bangladesh government, dignitaries, dignitaries, artists and chief executive officers of various sponsoring organizations will be present at the meeting and greeting ceremony in Dhaka.
BP/SM
