Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury to Be Chief Guest at 40th FOBANA Convention

Chhabed Sathee: Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Bangladesh's Minister for Labour and Employment and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, is scheduled to visit the United States to attend the 40th Convention of the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (FOBANA), the largest umbrella organization representing Bangladeshis in North America.
The minister will serve as the Chief Guest at the convention, which will be held from September 4–6, 2026, at the Hilton Los Angeles in Universal City, California. The information was confirmed by FOBANA Executive Secretary Khaled Ahmed Rouf and Executive Committee Member Azmal A. Khan.
Ariful Haque Chowdhury was elected as a Member of Parliament from Sylhet-4 in Bangladesh's 13th National Parliamentary Election in 2026 as a candidate of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He currently serves as the Minister for Labour and Employment and Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment. He is also a member of the BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council.
Chowdhury began his political career as a member of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP. He later served as a member of the party's Central Executive Committee. Over the years, he has held several key leadership positions, including President of Sylhet City BNP and General Secretary of Sylhet District BNP.
In 2003, he was elected as a councilor of the Sylhet City Corporation and simultaneously served as Chairman of its Urban Development and Planning Committee. He later served two consecutive terms as Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation, earning recognition for his leadership in municipal governance and urban development.
According to FOBANA's Executive Committee and the host organization, the 40th FOBANA Convention will take place over the Labor Day weekend, September 4–6, 2026, at the Hilton Los Angeles in Universal City. This year's host organization is the Bangladesh Association of California (BAC).
Organizers said more than one hundred volunteers and members of various subcommittees have been working tirelessly for months to ensure the success of the convention. The official launch of the 40th FOBANA Convention was held on March 28.
Host organizers said the venue was selected to make this year's convention a historic occasion. Universal City is one of Southern California's premier entertainment destinations, offering visitors a unique blend of history, world-famous attractions, and cultural experiences.
Convention attendees will have the opportunity to visit Universal Studios Hollywood, experience the renowned Studio Tour, explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and enjoy popular attractions, including the Fast & Furious ride.
FOBANA Chairperson Rabiul Karim Belal, Executive Secretary Khaled Ahmed Rouf, Convention Convener Dr. Zainul Abedin, and Member Secretary Engineer Mohammad Iqbal have jointly invited Bangladeshi-Americans and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora from across North America to participate in the milestone 40th FOBANA Convention and celebrate Bangladesh's rich cultural heritage together.
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