Thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates gathered at Fort Hunt Park in Virginia last Sunday
Staff Reporter: Thousands of Bangladeshi expatriates gathered at Fort Hunt Park in Virginia last Sunday, August 23, for a traditional Chattogram Mezban organized by the Bangladeshi American IT People’s Organization (BAITPO). The daylong celebration drew an enthusiastic crowd, with legendary Bangladeshi musician Naquib Khan and popular singer Pratik Hasan captivating audiences with their performances.
Featuring traditional Chattogram mezbani cuisine alongside sports, music, dance, a fashion show and live concerts, the event turned into one of the largest Bangladeshi community gatherings in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area.
Attendees traveled not only from across the DMV region but also from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Texas and other states to take part in the festivities.
The event was organized under the overall leadership of BAITPO Founder and President, poet and writer Shamsuddin Mahmud; Vice President Saifullah Khaled; and BITPO Event Management Director Sam Ria.
Raihanul Islam Chowdhury, a global climate activist and CPA, attended as the chief guest. He is President of the Chittagong University Alumni Federation, USA; President of the Root Foundation; and Chairman of the Sirajul Alam Khan Center.
Special guests included Senator Saddam Azlan Salim; Dr. Hasan Karaburk, President of Washington University of Science and Technology; Dr. Golam M. Mathbor, Dean of the School of Social Work at Monmouth University and Vice President of the International Association of Social Work; Dr. Faizul Islam, President of the Kaif Foundation; and Professor Dr. Badrul Huda Khan, a pioneer in e-learning and a member of Chattogram’s Khan family.
The festivities began with a variety of sports and recreational competitions. Under the direction of Khurshid Sabbir, activities including a cookie race, marble-and-spoon race and ring toss continued until 12:30 p.m.
One of the special attractions was a humorous competition in which participants attempted to place a mustache on an “Uncle Sam” poster. Children, teenagers and adults participated, drawing enthusiastic reactions from spectators.
The second phase of the event began at 1 p.m. with the serving of the much-anticipated traditional Chattogram mezbani feast. Food service continued until 3 p.m., with guests showing tremendous enthusiasm for the opportunity to enjoy one of Chattogram’s most celebrated culinary traditions on American soil.
According to the organizers, the Mezban was about much more than food. One of its primary goals was to introduce younger generations growing up in the United States to Bangladesh’s heritage, particularly the traditions, customs and culture of Chattogram.
The cultural program began with “Chol Mezzane,” an opening song written by Professor Dr. Badrul Huda Khan and performed by BAITPO artists. Kochi Khan hosted the program.
The musical performances continued with Mahbub Hossain Arun, Adil Rahman, Shoeb Rahman, David Gorski and Seema Khan.
Young-generation performers Suditi Sarkar and Aditi Sarkar presented dance performances, while Sara, Disha and Smita participated in the fashion show. The performances by local and younger-generation artists added further excitement to the celebration.
The atmosphere reached another level when legendary Bangladeshi musician Naquib Khan took the stage.
The renowned singer, composer and music director, who has played an important role in the development of Bangladesh’s band music, including through Renaissance, received an enthusiastic welcome as he performed some of his best-known songs.
During his nearly hourlong performance, Khan kept the audience engaged, with many spectators singing along to his familiar and popular songs.
His appearance became one of the major highlights of the event in the DMV area.
Following Naquib Khan, popular contemporary singer Pratik Hasan took the stage. His energetic performance further intensified the festive atmosphere as he entertained the crowd with one song after another.
The combination of traditional Chattogram cuisine, performances by Naquib Khan and Pratik Hasan, and music, dance and fashion presentations by younger-generation artists transformed the event into a full-scale celebration of Bangladeshi culture.
Among those who contributed to the success of the event were Din Khaled, Sharif Ahmed, Tanvir Aziz, Swapan Islam, Saiful Islam, Engineer Jahanara Bhuiyan, Kazi Akter Badhon, Md. Kajol, Sara Gorski, Mishti Sarkar, Khurshid Sabbir, Kochi Khan, Mohammad Naim Uddin Abhi, Saifullah Khaled, M. A. Karim, Mohammad Molla, Mamun Motalib, Md. Hasan, Kamal, Mohammad Hossain, Mohammad Mia Sarwar, Abdul Qureshi, Harunur Rashid, Shafiq Mollah and Sam Ria.
The large-scale gathering was made possible through the combined efforts of the organizers, volunteers and community supporters.
During the event, legendary musician Naquib Khan was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to music.
Thousands of spectators remained at the venue through the conclusion of the cultural program. Despite the large turnout, organizers worked to keep the daylong event orderly, professionally managed and on schedule.
Organizers said their goal was not only to showcase Chattogram’s renowned culinary heritage but also to build a stronger connection between younger generations in the diaspora and their Bangladeshi cultural roots.
The final attraction of the day was a raffle drawing, in which three lucky winners received a diamond ring, television and laptop, respectively.
From the traditional Chattogram mezbani feast and recreational activities to performances by younger generations and concerts featuring Naquib Khan and Pratik Hasan, BAITPO’s celebration at Fort Hunt Park ultimately became a major festival and reunion for Bangladeshi expatriates in Virginia.
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