The new executive committee of the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (FOBANA) has been announced. For the one-year term of 2025–26, Rabiul Karim Belal (Philadelphia) has been elected as Chairperson (President) and Khaled Ahmed Rouf (Chicago) as Executive Secretary.
Just three days before the FOBANA convention, on Tuesday (August 26), members of around 64 organizations cast their votes online through electronic voting.
Under the supervision of Chief Election Commissioner Mohammed Mahbub Reza Rahim, the electronic voting was conducted smoothly. The Election Commission stated that the election was carried out democratically and in full compliance with the bylaws.
According to the official results announced by the Chief Election Commissioner:
Rabiul Karim (Belal) won the Chairperson post with 31 votes, defeating his closest rival Mohammed Dilu Mowla, who secured 30 votes. Mohammed M. Rahman (Zahir) was elected Vice Chairperson with 38 votes, defeating Abir Alamgir (23 votes). Khaled Ahmed Rouf was elected Executive Secretary with 39 votes, defeating Babul Hai (22 votes).
Anthony Pius Gomes was elected Joint Executive Secretary with 28 votes, narrowly defeating Dr. Pryalal Karmakar (27 votes) and MZ Asif I. Khan (6 votes).
Mohin Uddin Dulal was elected Treasurer with 34 votes, defeating Shamsuddin Mahmud (20 votes) and Syed Ahsan (Koko) (7 votes).
In addition, Dr. Muhammad Ali (Manik) was elected as an Outstanding Member with 60 votes. Other Outstanding Members are:
Mohammed Arefin Babul – 59 votes (Winner), Jashim Uddin – 57 votes (Winner), Sham Sudduha (Sagor) – 54 votes (Winner), Nurul Amin – 49, votes (Winner), Abu M. Rumi – 46 votes (Winner), Dr. Abdus Mohammad Sattar – 41 votes (Winner), Among the listed organizations, the following were elected as Executive Member Organizations:
Bangladesh American Society of Greater Houston (Imtiaz Ahmed Pavel) – 56 votes, Bangladesh Association of Greater Washington DC (Rokshana Perven) – 55 votes, Drama Circle, New York (Kanta Alamgir) – 55 votes, Bangladesh Association of Florida Inc. (Shafiqul Islam Jewel) – 52 votes
Maryland Friends and Family (Mohammed Kazal) – 52 votes, Bangladesh Theater Houston (Nahida Naser Yasmin) – 50 votes, Friends and Family DMV Inc. (Akhter Hossain) – 49 votes, Friends and Family Houston (Nadim Bhuiyan) – 48 votes, Bangladesh Association of Greater Kansas City (Rehan Reza) – 48 votes,Aparajeyo Bangla, Inc. (Shampa Banik) – 48 votes, US Bangla Association of GA (Kazi Nahid) – 46 votes,
Bangladesh Association of Michigan BAM (Jabed Chowdhury) – 46 votes, Bangladesh Association Houston (M. Azmal A. Khan) – 45 votes,
Bangladesh Association of North Texas (BANT), (Hasmat Mobin) – 44 votes, Bangladesh Foundation of Georgia (Shakira Ali Bacchi) – 40 votes, Friends and Family (Sumsun Rumi) – 38 votes, Bangladesh Mela Inc. (Tawfiq S. Khan Tuhin) – 38 votes, Bangladesh American Foundation of Central Florida (Saif Chowdhury Nantu) – 33 votes, Bangladesh Association of America Inc. (BAAI), (Dilshad Chowdhury Chhuty) – 31 votes, Bangladesh American Association of Georgia (Farzana Uddin) – 28 votes, Sundarban (Karim Salauddin) – 26 votes, Bangladesh Cultural Society of Georgia (Mamunur Chowdhury Tarun) – 24 votes, Prio Bangla (Damian Dias) – 24 votes.
All were elected as Executive Members of FOBANA’s new committee.