Staff Reporter: The organizing committee failed to depoliticize the three-day Federation of Bangladeshi Association in North America (FOBANA) conference in Maryland, USA. The welcoming committee returned the money taken from the local BNP leaders for inviting the BNP central leaders to the conference which started on Friday (November 26).
According to a source in the Metro Washington BNP, GI Russell, convener of this year’s Fobana conference, and Sibbir Ahmed, member secretary, met a few months ago to discuss making the Federation of Bangladeshi Association in North America (Fobana) conference non-political. The meeting called on the local BNP leaders. At one point, GI Russell, convener of the conference’s convening committee, and Sibbir Ahmed, member secretary, suggested that the Fobana conference was completely apolitical and non-sectarian. Therefore, they will invite the Dhaka central leaders of all parties to join the conference this time. Accordingly, when the local BNP leaders proposed the name of their central committee secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, they agreed. GI Russell and Sibbir Ahmed demanded 10,000 dollars for the arrival and stay of the leader and others. After agreeing to their terms, the host committee also prepared an invitation letter as per the conditions. After seeing that, the local BNP leaders and activists handed over a check for 10 thousand dollars. GI Russell went to Dhaka and handed over the invitation letter directly to Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. But when GI Russell suddenly changed his mind after visiting the country, he was under a lot of pressure from the BNP leaders and as a result it is not possible to invite any BNP leader at present. When he returned to the United States from the country, the BNP leaders made various excuses when he was pressured to return 10,000 dollars. Finally, last week, BNP leaders were forced to return 10,000 dollars.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (Fobana) conference has been declared a non-political organization and political activities are being carried out extensively. AKM Mozammel Haque, the current Awami League government’s Minister for Freedom Fighters Affairs, arrived in Washington last Thursday (November 25) after being invited as the chief guest. The organizers also announced to celebrate Bangabandhu’s birth centenary on Friday (November 26) at 9:50 pm. This has caused various reactions among the local political leaders and common people.
On the other hand, Visitors from far and wide who come to enjoy the conference will have to pay an additional $22 dollars per day for car parking, including an entrance fee of $30 dollars in addition, room rates at the Gelard National Resort and Convention Center Marriott Hotel are $394 dollars per night. As a result, many who come to attend the desired conference are not able to spend the night in this luxurious hotel.
According to sources at the Hotel Gelard National Resort and Convention Center, the discount for hotel stays at the Fobana Convention, which was announced three weeks ago, has now expired. He has to pay taxes Customers booking at the hotel will be charged an additional $ 22 dollars per car per night for parking. Many people think that this is an expensive conference for the general audience. Car parking at the Gelord National Resort and Convention Center has been a major problem for visitors, even though room rates are lower at other nearby hotels. As a result, despite wanting to, many are unable to attend the conference.
Breaking the long tradition of the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (FOBANA), the host committee decided to hold a conference on Thanksgiving Weekend (November 26-28) this September, after Labor Day Weekend (September 3-5).
The main reason for this is that there is not enough manpower agreement from Bangladesh till September. The executive committee had several discussions with the host committee and it was decided to hold a conference in November with the consent of both.
BP/SM
