Bangladesh Society’s Ex. officials reunion hijacked in New York

Staff Reporter: A social gathering (reunion) of former officials of the Bangladesh Society in New York was tactfully hijacked by the current officials. The incident took place last Sunday (August 24) at the LaGuardia Marriott Hotel auditorium in New York.

The event included discussions, cultural performances, and a dinner for the guests, with nearly 200 attendees. Many expressed frustration and disappointment after the program was cleverly taken over by the current officials.

Although the program began about an hour late, its opening was excellent. It was presided over by former president Dr. Wadud Bhuiyan, with member-secretary Babul Chowdhury conducting the event. Everything was going smoothly until the current committee members entered the hall.

The chairman of the Society’s current trustee board, Shah Nawaz, brought in four well-known expatriate thugs without registration, entering in a 'deshi style.' They were stationed at various doors to prevent journalist Chhabed Sathee, who was inside, from leaving.

The organizing committee had been introducing members of different committees, trustees, and election commission members to the guests. That went as planned until the current general secretary, Mohammad Ali, was allowed to speak despite not being on the scheduled speakers’ list. As he began speaking, several former officials, including Aminul Chowdhury and Ruhul Amin Siddiqui, stood up in protest, creating an uproar. Security personnel arrived and calmed the situation.

Taking advantage of special arrangements, General Secretary Mohammad Ali introduced all the current committee members one by one on stage, angering many of the former officials.

Former officials, in their speeches, urged unity and called for collective efforts to strengthen the Society and establish its own community center. Convener of the reunion, Dr. Wadud Bhuiyan, clarified that this social gathering was not meant to divide or compete with the current committee. Instead, he urged everyone to work together for the welfare of the Bangladeshi diaspora in harmony and solidarity.

At the end of the program, a gang of expatriate thugs attacked journalist Chhabed Sathee outside the auditorium in a film-style assault, attempting to injure and even kill him. Later, in a counter-complaint filed by the attackers, police arrested journalist Chhabed Sathee from the hotel lobby.

Among those who gave greetings at the event were former presidents Dr. M. Billah, Dr. Mohammad Hamiduzzaman, Mohammad Akhtar Hossain, Nargis Ahmed, Azmal Hossain Kunu, and Mohammad Abdur Rob Mia; former general secretaries Hamid Reza Khan, A.K.M. Fazle Rabbi, and Rana Ferdous Chowdhury; current trustee board chairman Shah Nawaz; current president Ataur Rahman Selim; senior vice-president Mohiuddin Dewan; general secretary Mohammad Ali; U.S. International Bar Association director Attorney Moin Chowdhury; and Dr. Faruk Azam.

The overall event was jointly conducted by former joint general secretary Mohammad Zaman Tapon, while stage planning was handled by former general secretary A.K.M. Fazle Rabbi.

On the occasion of the reunion, a souvenir titled Onuranon was also published. It was unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by convener Dr. Wadud Bhuiyan, alongside publicity and publication committee chairman and editor of Onuranon Sheikh Sirajul Islam and his editorial team.

Cultural contributions included performances by four former cultural secretaries of the Society—Chaman Ara Begum, Swapna Kawsar, Monika Roy Chowdhury, and Dr. Shahnaz Lipi—along with drama secretary Sheikh Siraj and invited artist Runa Roy, who together performed the national anthem and the patriotic song 'Dhono Dhanno Pushpo Bhora' by D.L. Roy.

In the solo musical segment, Bangladeshi singer Leena Taposi, visiting from Bangladesh, performed four songs. She was accompanied by Masudur Rahman (keyboard) and Khushbu Alam (tabla).