Bangladeshi expatriates honoured in US

Staff Correspondent :    |    ০৬:৫২ পিএম, ২০২২-০৯-২৯

Bangladeshi expatriates were honoured in New York on Saturday (local time) for their excellence in mainstream politics in the United States.

Bangladesh Pratidin and online portal nypratidin.com jointly honoured them at a reception titled ‘Bengal Hero’ at LaGuardia Plaza Hotel in Queens.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen along with Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir, former President Barack Obama’s adviser Dr Nina Ahmad, Bangladesh Pradidin Editor Naem Nizam handed over the crest to the recipients.

Organisers said some 37 Bangladeshi-Americans have been elected public representatives in different counties and states of the USA.

Of them, 27 Bangladeshi nationals elected from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Michigan, Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Michigan and other states joined the reception.

The hotel premises became vibrant with the footsteps of the enlightened Bangladeshis who are in important positions in different organsiations in the US.

Bangladeshi politicians from both Democratic and Republican parties also joined the event that began with the national anthems of Bangladesh and the USA.

Addressing the function, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has termed the expatriate politicians as ‘crown of the nation’ for being elected in the US mainstream politics.

'Today I feel very happy to see the expatriates in important positions in the USA. We have been advising them for entering mainstream politics in the US for a long time. They have proved their excellence by being elected in different public bodies. I thank each of them from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
Momen expressed satisfaction as the number of public representatives from Bangladeshis in the US is increasing day by day.

“I started working for Democratic Party in 1984. I didn't get any Bengali then. It was very difficult. I didn't see our Bengali very much. Now I am very happy. Now many of our expatriates, new generation and old, have been elected in the US,” he said.

While sharing his reaction, Georgia state senator Sheikh Rahman has appreciated the reception programme of Bangladesh Pratidin.

“I am very happy and honoured. We all represent Bangladesh. New generation will go further in the mainstream politics of America. We have to go further,” he said.

In a video message, Congress woman Grace Meng and senator Charles Schumer lauded the initiative, wishing success of Bangladesh Praditin newspaper.

New Hampshire state representative Aboul Khan, New Jersey councilman and valiant freedom fighter Nurun Nabi, New York City councilwoman Shahana Hanif, Hudson city board of supervisors Abdus Miah, Heldon City councilwoman Tahsina Ahmed, New York state committeewoman Jamilla Uddin, judicial delegate Nusrat Alam and young politician Margia Sriti spoke on the occasion.

In their words, speakers highlighted the role of Bangladesh Pratidin as the newspaper brought all the successful expatriate politicians under a single place through the reception programme.

The reception programme is not only a festivity for the patriot Bangladeshis but also an occasion to connect expatriates from different states and valiant freedom fighters.

New York City’s Shahana Hanif, first council woman as Muslim and Bangladeshi as well, said the reception programme has given a platform for the mainstream politicians from the community across the US.

Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam congratulated all the Bangladeshi politicians in the US mainstream politics.

“We are deeply grateful to America's elected representatives. Everyone moves forward while someone leads the way. You have shown the way to Bangladesh in America by setting up examples for the next generation,” he said.

The participants in the reception include Georgia state senator Sheikh Rahman, former President Barack Obama’s adviser Dr Nina Ahmad, New Hampshire state representative Aboul Khan, Melbourne City Mayor Mahbubul Alam Taiyob, New Jersey councilman and valiant freedom fighter Nurun Nabi, New York City councilwoman Shahana Hanif, Melbourne City councilmen Nurul Hasan, Alauddin Patwari, Mansoor Ali Mithu and Rafiqul Islam Jiban, New Jersey councilman-At-Large Md Forid Uddin, Michigan Hamtramck City Mayor Pro-tem Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, councilman Nayeem Choudhury, Upper Darby Councilman Sheikh Siddique,  Hopkinton city selectman Shahidul Mannan, New Jersey councilwoman Shepa Uddin, Hudson city board of supervisors Abdus Miah, Alderman Dewan Sarwar and Shershah Mizan, councilwoman Tahsina Ahmed of Heldon City, Democratic Party’ Refugio County unit chair Nihal Rahim,  New York State Committee woman Jamilla A Uddin, judicial delegates Mohammad Sabul Uddin, Nusrat Alam and Jami M Qazi, Democratic Party’s Palm Beach county unit  board member Junaid Akhtar, Queens Democratic Party’s district leader Mofazzal Hossain and Morshed Alam, the pioneer of Bangladeshis in the mainstream politics in the US.

Bangladesh Pratidin North America edition’s Executive Editor Lablu Ansar moderate the session while Business Editor Ruhul Amin Rasel facilitated the event.

Four years back, the leading Bengali newspaper initiated such a reception programme for expatriate politicians in association with Bangabandhu Foundation.