Even 39 years, No seating arrangements for Journalists at FOBANA Convention

Staff Reporter: Even after 39 years, the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (FOBANA) Convention has not arranged a designated seating area for journalists. Reporters, photographers, and videographers are forced to carry out their duties mostly while standing. If any of them take seats in the first or second rows, they are often asked to leave—either politely or by security personnel. Despite this issue being raised with the authorities every year, it has always been ignored.

On the second day of the convention, Saturday (August 30), in Atlanta, Georgia, 39th FOBANA Convention member secretary Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiya asked a journalist to vacate his chair and move elsewhere. Later, that journalist had to sit on the corridor floor to continue working. Organizers appeared more concerned with accommodating sponsors than recognizing the role of the press. At one point, another staff member even asked a sponsor from Virginia to vacate his seat, stating that only sponsors who had contributed over $10,000 were entitled to those chairs. The sponsor objected, saying, 'I am a sponsor as well,' but was eventually forced to leave without further dispute.

Also, on Saturday (August 30), the program was shut down earlier than scheduled due to the hall being overcrowded beyond capacity. FOBANA officials, police, and security personnel were compelled to close the program ahead of time. Officials announced that the artists whose performances were canceled on the second day would perform on Sunday instead.

According to FOBANA officials, such an overwhelming turnout of audiences had never been seen before. On Sunday, special measures would be taken to control the crowd. The third day’s program is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will feature Pritom along with other renowned artists. The 39th FOBANA Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, began on Friday (August 29) and will conclude at midnight on Sunday (August 31).