Akbar Hossain from Atlantic City

"Bangladesh Mela" organized by Bangladesh Association of Atlantic County was held on Tuesdy at St. Castle Stadium in Atlantic City. Mr. Abdul Quader Mia, Chairman of New York's Abdul Quader Mia Foundation and one of the supporters of human welfare in the country and abroad, was present as the chief guest at the Bangladesh Mela. .

In this gathering of about 5-6 thousand Bangladeshis, the St. Castle Stadium of Atlantic City on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean turned into a part of Bangladesh. Hundreds of Bangladeshis were busy with the collection of Bangladeshi products and eating local flavors around the whole field.Due to Corona, famous artists from Bangladesh could not come, but the music performance of the legendary artist of Bangladesh, Tapan Chowdhury, was very enjoyable for the audience.

Most of the time of the fair, the expatriates enjoy the songs of expatriate musicians. Among the expatriate artists who performed music were Atlantic City's popular and NTV's Close-up One famous artists Niladri Chowdhury, Jayant Sinha, Jolly Das and Israt Sharmi. The whole stadium was buzzing with the music of local artistes.

Bangladesh Association of Atlantic Counties President Shahid Khan and General Secretary Sohail Ahmed introduced mainstream politicians to thousands of Bangladeshis in between songs. Popular presenter Bulbul's lively presentation made the atmosphere of the fair very pleasant and lively for the guests. Choreography by cultural committee member Nivedita Bhatracharya was a sight to behold as the little girls danced to native songs.

Mainstream politicians in attendance included New Jersey State Senator Vince Palistina, New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Droor, Representative Mohammad Omar, Assemblyman Don Guardian, Atlantic County Democratic Party Chairman Mike Solomon, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Pleasantville City Mayor Judy M. Ware, Northfield City Mayor Arland Chow, Mayor Lisa of Egg Harbor City , Ebsicon City Mayor Kimberly Horton, Atlantic City Councilman Anjum Zia, Atlantic City Councilman George Tibbitt and other mainstream leaders of the US Democratic and Republican parties.

Also present at the fair were Time TV Senior Journalist Salahuddin, Time TV US Representative Hasanuzzaman Saki, Pravasi TV Editor Sohail Ahmed, Bangladesh Press Club of Atlantic City and Chittagong University Alumni Association President Akbar Hossain, Bangladesh Press Club of General Secretary of Atlantic City and Publicity and Publication Secretary of United States Bangabandhu Parishad and President of New Jersey State Committee Md Shaheen, BNP of New Jersey State South President Syed Md Kauchar and General Secretary Rahman Babul, South Jersey Metro Awami League President Shamsul Islam Shahjahan, prominent real estate businessman and community leader. Harun Bhuiyan, journalist and community leader Saeed Doha, journalist and editor of online magazine ABNA News Shaukat Ali Shimul, Atlantic City City Hall Community Affairs Officer Milton Chowdhury, prominent community leader Khosru Kamal and former president of Bangladesh Association of Atlantic County Salim Sultan, Bangladesh Association of Atlantic County Board of Trustee Chief Kanchan Ball, South Jersey Metro Awami League former president Jahangir Hossain Bhuiyan, South Jersey Metro Awami League former acting president Ahsan Habib and Bangladesh Association of Pennsylvania president and general secretary and other leaders were present.

Despite the busy schedule, the organizers of the fair did not hesitate to honor various individuals for contributing to the Bangladeshi community in the United States in various fields including social development and leadership. Leader Ship Award was given to Biplab Das, Ahsan Habib Jayant Sinha, Sheikh Salim, Farhad Siddique, Habib Chowdhury, Monir Hossain, Milton Chowdhury, Mohammad Sohail Ahmed and Social Development Award was given to Haji Abdul Qadir Mia and Rana Kabir.

Congressional Proclamations were also presented by Congressman Jeff Van Draw and District 2 New Jersey State Senator Vince Palistina for their outstanding contribution to the social development sector at home and abroad to Haji Abdul Quader Mia, Akbar Hossain, Shahid Khan, Kanchan Ball, Syed Md Kaushar, Sohail Ahmed. , Krishna Gopal Chowdhury, Ali Hossain, Syed Alam Mukul, Miraj Khan, Mohammad Salim and Mohammad Islam Tofike.

In the opening speech, Abdul Quader Mia said that my main goal is to accelerate the efforts that are going on through the Bangladesh Mela in different states for the development of Bangladeshi culture in the United States. I have been associated with Bangladesh Association of Atlantic Counties for the past one year and continue my activities in Atlantic County, New Jersey, USA. Also, I feel very blessed to be associated with the ongoing efforts to showcase the culture and art of Bangladesh among the new generation growing up abroad through Bangladesh Mela. He appreciated the various activities of Bangladesh Association of Atlantic Counties and assured cooperation in future.

While speaking as a guest, State Assemblyman and former Mayor of Atlantic City, Don Guardian, congratulated Bangladesh on its 51st year of independence and paid tribute to the departed soul of Bangladesh's architect, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 47th martyrdom anniversary. The leaders said that they organized the fair to introduce the new generation living in South Jersey to the fair and familiarize them with the culture of Bangladesh. The convener of the fair Md. Ali Hossain and member secretary Farhad Siddiqui said that the Bangladeshis of Atlantic County have been waiting for this fair for a long time.

About 10 to 12 thousand expatriates living in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, and neighboring cities. They said that they are happy and excited to meet the expectations of Bangladeshis like other times. They also said that a large fleet of around 50 people led by Shahid Khan and Sohail Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Association of Atlantic Counties, carried out their activities day and night to make the Bangladesh Fair a success. This time around the first 'Bangladesh Mela', they mentioned that a lot of enthusiasm was being observed among Bangladeshis in the whole of New Jersey including Atlantic County.

The most significant thing of this year's fair was the publication of the first edition of the magazine "Expectations" edited by ten members including the general organizer of the fair Miraz Khan. Expatriate artists were felicitated at the Bangladesh Fair.

Jayashree Dey and Roshan Uddin were in charge of felicitating the Kriti students. Under the leadership of Jayshree Dey, crests were given to more than half a hundred students. In this fair, entertainment committee chief Rezaul Islam Khalid, Habib Chowdhury, Sheikh Salim, Farhad Siddique, Krishna Gopal Chowdhury, Ahsan Habib, and Ali Hossain and other leaders were very active.

The chief adviser of the fair, Syed Md Kausar said that our fair has been successful because we have successfully used the online media like last time.He also said that most of the money earned through the fair will be spent on various social activities including the purchase of its own building for the association. He also mentioned that their organization is working to use the bond of brotherhood between all the leaders around the fair as successfully in the future as in the past.

Bangladesh Association of Atlantic Counties Trustee Board Chief Kanchan Ball said that the success of the fair was the collective effort and everyone's sincerity to organize the fair. General management head Ahsan Habib said that all the leaders and workers have worked with all their efforts due to the formation of the current committee based on everyone's opinion.

They said that they inform everyone about the financial matters, the promise of working with the leaders of the organization every day by discussing various issues about the fair is the main of their organization Sohail Ahmed said that the fun of working with everyone is different. He thanked all Bangladeshis for coming to the fair.

Bangladesh Mela had a collection of traditional Bangladeshi products with various stalls. The biggest attraction of the fair was the raffle draw because the first prize in the raffle draw of the fair was two full weight necks.

At the end of the program, the presence and speech of Bangladesh's famous lyricist Kabir Bakul was very respectful to all present. Finally, President Shahid Khan and Sohail Ahmed sincerely thanked all the leaders of Bangladesh Association of Atlantic Counties.