Chhabed Sathee
This year’s Bangladesh Day Parade in New York-once a proud tradition of the Bangladeshi diaspora-has turned into a storm of controversy. Spearheaded by a well-known con artist, the parade has drawn sharp criticism from the community, with many accusing the organizers of using the event for personal gain rather than communal celebration.
What should have been a tribute to Bangladeshi culture, heritage, and the spirit of the Liberation War was reduced to a show devoid of the national anthem and any homage to the martyrs. Instead, the focus appeared to be on flaunting power and influence. There are serious allegations that the title of ‘Grand Marshal’ was sold for a hefty sum, while respected community figures were left out in favor of controversial personalities.
Despite raising significant funds under the banner of the parade, no clear financial accountability has been presented. On the contrary, organizers seem more invested in personal benefits than in fostering unity or representing the diaspora with dignity.
When such an event—rooted in national pride—is used as a platform for personal business and manipulation, the very image of the community is tarnished. It is high time for the Bangladeshi diaspora to speak out and take a firm stand against these exploitative practices. Otherwise, the Bangladesh Day Parade risks becoming nothing more than a commercial circus, devoid of its true purpose.
A controversial event took place in New York under the banner of the ‘Bangladesh Day Parade’, Which many are calling a deceptive show. Held for the fourth time, this year’s parade drew thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates and several public representatives. Organized by the Bangladesh Society and supported by Humanity Empowerment Rights, the parade was held last Sunday (April 13) in Jackson Heights.
The selection of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a staunch supporter of Israel, as the chief guest and the appointment of a well-known local fraudster and serial litigant as Grand Marshal has sparked widespread criticism among Bangladeshi expatriates.
Although the Bangladesh Society officially organized the event, there was no rendition of the national anthem nor any tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War. A handful of attendees carried national flags, and attempts were made to showcase Bengali culture through songs and controversial dances — which many viewed as distasteful. The event attempted to represent Bangladesh without the national anthem, drawing significant backlash.
Besides Mayor Adams, other invited guests included State Senator John C. Liu, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (also a strong Israel supporter), Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, former MP M. M. Shaheen, and others. Compared to previous years, Jackson Heights saw a massive turnout of Bangladeshi expatriates, momentarily transforming the neighborhood into a slice of Bangladesh.
Allegations have surfaced that, similar to last year, the Grand Marshal title was sold for a hefty sum. Reportedly, a controversial individual who previously insulted the Bangladesh Society by referring to them with a derogatory term, was awarded the title in exchange for money. Last year, when the same person claimed the Grand Marshal title on his own, he was stopped mid-stage. In response to his past remarks, the Bangladesh Society had abstained from participating in last year’s parade. However, this year, a few opportunistic individuals within the Society reportedly paved the way for the same person to be honored.
Several key members of the Society, including the current chairman of the trustee board, were not even invited, resulting in internal divisions. Senior Vice President Mahiuddin Dewan and others have openly opposed the parade. Once again, there was no meaningful involvement from the younger generation.
The night before the event, around a thousand low-quality red-and-green sarees and Panjabis were distributed. The fabric was reportedly so poor that most participants felt too embarrassed to wear them. Only five women accidentally wore the sarees and had to cover them with jackets. No one was seen wearing the Panjabis.
Despite the controversy, Mayor Eric Adams and other invited guests heaped praise on the Bangladeshi community. However, the event began with a focus on decorating the Grand Marshal, chief advisor, and other marshals with badges — all done without any national anthem.
Present at the scene were Bangladesh Society President and Parade Committee Chairman Athaur Rahman Selim, General Secretary and Parade Convener Mohammad Ali, and Fahad Solaiman, President of Humanity Empowerment Rights and Member Secretary of the Parade Committee. Additionally, a relatively unknown and off-key singer reportedly received a New York City citation along with several others, allegedly in exchange for money.
The parade kicked off with the New York Police Department’s ceremonial band leading the way behind a large Bangladeshi flag. Mayor Eric Adams led the march, waving the flag. Following him, thousands of Bangladeshi-Americans and others participated under the banners of more than 50 Bangladeshi organizations — triple the number compared to last year.
The parade began at the parking lot near 37th Avenue and 69th Street in Jackson Heights, moved along 37th Avenue, and concluded at 87th Street. The event ended with cultural performances by popular Bangladeshi singers and dancers.
What Happened at the 2024 Bangladesh Day Parade in New York
Last year’s Bangladesh Day Parade in New York was marked by controversy and chaos, with Mayor Eric Adams facing public outrage during the event. Held on May 26, 2024, between 69th and 87th Streets in Jackson Heights, the parade saw limited participation from the Bangladeshi expatriate community and a visibly larger presence of Bangladeshi-American police officers. Despite the low turnout, Mayor Adams, known for his support of Israel, served as the event’s chief guest.
As Mayor Adams delivered his speech, he was met with harsh slogans and verbal abuse from pro-Palestinian students and other community members. He attempted to silence the protesters by shouting “shut up,” but as the chants intensified, he was forced to cut his remarks short and step away.
Over 300,000 Bangladeshis reside in New York, with nearly 300 social and cultural organizations active across the city. However, due to disorganization and what many saw as careless planning by the organizers, only around 150 expatriates and about 200 Bangladeshi-American police officers attended the 2024 parade. A credible source reported that officers from the NYPD, corrections, and other departments attended the event in uniform on their day off, as such duty earns them 1.5x regular pay along with a compensatory day off—making the financial incentive equivalent to 2.5x their usual wage.
One week before the parade, disputes erupted within the Bangladeshi community over who would be named Grand Marshal. The event was organized by the U.S.-based Human Rights Development Organization. After prolonged disagreements, organizers ultimately decided to cancel the Grand Marshal title altogether.
Once again, respected contributors to the Bangladeshi community were not invited, nor was there any significant involvement from the younger generation. The Bangladesh Society, one of the largest and most influential Bangladeshi organizations in the U.S., boycotted the event after self-proclaimed community leader Shah Newaz made disparaging comments about the Society’s trustee board and chairman. Several major social and cultural groups also declined to participate. Bangladeshi community leaders blamed poor organization and a lack of sincerity from the event planners for the widespread boycott.
In press conferences and promotional materials, the organizers falsely claimed this was the first-ever Bangladesh Day Parade in New York. In fact, the city hosted its first such parade in the mid-1980s—likely in 1984—organized by Anisuzzaman Khokon’s “Ruposhi Bangla.” That parade named Nasir Khan Pal, Tohur Ahmed, and Dr. Billah as Grand Marshals, and featured a performance by Shahid Hasan, a veteran vocalist of Shahid Bangla Betar Kendra. In 1999, the Bangladesh Society organized another parade under the leadership of Dr. Hamiduzzaman and Fakhrul Alam. Many now accuse the 2024 parade organizers of deliberately deceiving the community by erasing this history.
Facing a severe financial crisis, the 2024 organizers—holding the parade for the third time in New York—struggled for a month to find a Grand Marshal. The title, reportedly priced at $50,000, was essentially put up for auction but failed to draw interest. As a result, the parade was held on May 26 without a Grand Marshal.
Syed Akikur Rahman Faruq, a joint convener of the parade, alleged that Shah Shahidul Haque Said (President of the Human Rights Development Organization and Chairperson of the parade) and General Secretary Abdus Sobhan failed to provide proper financial accounts during a meeting on May 22 at Smart Tech. According to Faruq, the organizers were more concerned with personal gain than community service. He noted that the president and general secretary claimed a daily allowance of $200 each for “honorarium and personal expenses.”
As per their own accounting, 14 organizations paid $200 each to participate. The convener contributed $19,000, and about $15,000 was raised from other sponsors. Yet when asked, no one could provide a transparent financial report, said Faruq.
Faruk also revealed that when he protested the financial mismanagement and the Grand Marshal issue, tensions escalated. At one point, in front of witnesses, Shah Newaz’s wife, Rano Newaz, physically assaulted him. Despite the public nature of the incident, no one came forward to support him, and his call for justice went unanswered. Ironically, the same couple is now being embraced by opportunists in the community, he added.
Chhabed Sathee: US-based writer and journalist. Editor of Bangla Press
[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]
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