Los Angeles FOBANA convention Is official one
Chhabed Sathee: The official 40th Convention of the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (FOBANA) will be held during the Labor Day weekend, September 4–6, at the Hilton Los Angeles in Universal City, California, organizers announced, while cautioning the Bangladeshi-American community against what they describe as unauthorized events using the Fobana name.
According to Fobana leaders, several separate groups have scheduled cultural programs during the same weekend under the Fobana banner. However, Executive Committee Chairperson Rabiul Karim Belal and Executive Secretary Khaled Ahmed Rouf said those events are not recognized by the organization and have no constitutional legitimacy.
Under Fobana's constitution, the host city for each annual convention is selected through a vote of member organizations and announced two years in advance. The leaders said the Los Angeles convention is the only event organized under that constitutional process.
'Anyone is free to organize a cultural program in the United States,' Belal and Rouf said in a joint statement. 'However, a Fobana convention requires the participation and endorsement of registered Bangladeshi community organizations across North America. Simply organizing a cultural event does not make it a Fobana convention.'
They added that the official convention will proceed as planned despite the parallel events being promoted elsewhere in cities including New York and Florida.
The organizers urged members of the Bangladeshi diaspora to verify information carefully and not be misled by advertisements using the Fobana name.
The three-day convention is expected to attract hundreds of artists, performers, community leaders, professionals, and visitors from more than 20 U.S. states. Organizers say the event will celebrate Bangladeshi heritage while strengthening community ties across North America.
Meanwhile, Convention Convener Dr. Zainul Abedin and Member Secretary Engineer Mohammad M. Iqbal announced that the deadline for the convention's discounted Silver Sponsorship Package has been extended until July 25.
The package is available for $1,500, a reduced promotional rate compared with previous years, and includes guaranteed VIP admission, access to exclusive business and networking programs with community and corporate leaders, and premium seating. Organizers noted that availability is limited and encouraged interested sponsors to reserve their packages before they sell out.
This year's convention will feature an extensive lineup of educational, cultural, and professional programs, including seminars on technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, education, women's empowerment, youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and community development. Additional highlights include scholarship presentations, cultural performances, music and dance competitions, literary sessions, poetry recitals, a Fobana Book Fair, an NRB business networking forum, university alumni gatherings, interfaith dialogue, handicraft exhibitions, fashion shows, and screenings of Bangladeshi short films and documentaries.
Organizers say the 40th Fobana Convention aims to celebrate the achievements of the Bangladeshi diaspora while providing a platform for cultural exchange, professional networking, and community engagement for Bangladeshis across North America.
*Copyright 2026 Bangla Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
BP/SM
.jpg)
