All preparations have been completed for the 40th FOBANA Convention
Chhabed Sathee, from Los Angeles: All preparations have been completed for the 40th FOBANA Convention, which will be held in Los Angeles, California. The convention will officially open tomorrow, Friday evening, with Bangladesh’s Minister for Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, scheduled to inaugurate the event.
Artists, performers, cultural organizers, and FOBANA enthusiasts from various states have already begun arriving in Los Angeles.
Of the four Bangladeshi conventions being held in the United States at the same time, this is the main FOBANA Convention. Cultural activists representing more than 70 Bangladeshi organizations from across the United States are preparing a wide range of cultural performances. Hundreds of artists and performers from more than 23 states are expected to travel to Los Angeles for the convention, which begins Friday, September 4.
Known as a major gathering of Bangladeshi expatriates in North America, the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (FOBANA) Convention is now just one day away. The Bangladesh Association of California (BAC), organizer of the 40th FOBANA Convention, is moving forward with efforts to make this year’s event a landmark occasion.
Under the theme “Bangladeshis Abroad: Moving Forward with Hope for a Better Future,” organizers are promising an exceptional convention featuring diverse cultural programs and a variety of activities.
Bangladesh’s Minister for Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, will attend the convention as the chief guest. He arrived in Los Angeles last Saturday, August 29.
The convention will feature discussions on human rights and social and political issues; preventive and medical aspects of health and wellness; engineering, science, and artificial intelligence; the impact of technology on education, careers, and communications; management, economics, entrepreneurship, markets, and economic policy.
Other sessions will focus on education, arts and culture, teaching, creative industries, design, film, media, and literature. There will also be discussions on preserving heritage, history and cultural identity, as well as the integration of Bangladeshi Americans into the mainstream of American society.
Youth and women’s organizations from various U.S. states are also expected to participate extensively in this year’s convention.
A cultural delegation led by renowned singers Nakib Khan and Rabi Chowdhury will perform at the event. The three-day convention will feature entertaining cultural programs every evening.
The program will also include several important seminars, poetry gatherings, literary discussions, the FOBANA Book Fair, a youth forum and networking sessions, discussions on NRB businesses and entrepreneurship, scholarship awards for talented young students, handicraft exhibitions, and a colorful fashion show.
Organizers expect approximately 5,000 to 7,000 Bangladeshi expatriates from different states across the United States and Canada to attend the 40th FOBANA Convention in Los Angeles.
Officials of the 40th FOBANA Convention said that despite California being a distant destination for many participants, the event has already set a record in terms of organizational participation. More than 70 organizations have confirmed their registration.
If everything proceeds as planned, organizers expect the artists and performers participating in the FOBANA Convention, scheduled for September 4–6 at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City in California, to break previous records with their diverse cultural performances.
FOBANA Executive Committee Chairperson Rabiul Karim Belal and Secretary Khaled Ahmed Rauf expressed optimism that the event would set a new benchmark for the convention.
Dr. Zainal Abedin, convener of the 40th FOBANA Convention, said that preparations for the convention, scheduled for the Labor Day weekend from September 4–6 at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, are nearly complete.
The Bangladesh Association of California (BAC) is serving as the host organization. More than 100 volunteers working through various subcommittees, along with members of the FOBANA Executive Committee and the host organization, have been working around the clock to ensure the success of the convention.
Dr. Abedin said the venue was deliberately selected to make this year’s FOBANA a historic event. Universal City in Los Angeles is an important center of the entertainment industry and offers a unique combination of history, modern attractions, and cultural experiences.
Guests and visitors attending the convention will also have the opportunity to enjoy Universal Studios Hollywood, including its famous Studio Tour, the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and the thrilling Fast & Furious ride.
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