The three-day 39th FOBANA Convention in Atlanta, Georgia ended amid severe mismanagement, irregularities, and endless harassment of attendees. Due to negligence by the organizers, the program on Saturday night was abruptly shut down by order of the Gwinnett County Fire Marshal after the audience far exceeded the venue’s capacity. Even ticket-holding attendees were denied entry.

On Sunday evening, strict security restrictions at the entrance left attendees stranded. This was unprecedented in the 38-year history of FOBANA conventions. The wider Georgia community showed no response to the event, and due to lack of participation, frustration spread among expatriates. Many accused Convenor and local BNP leader Nahidul Khan Sahel of turning this year’s FOBANA into a family gathering.

Although the event took place in Duluth—35 miles away from Atlanta—organizers promoted it as the “Atlanta Convention,” which puzzled many. The inauguration was held on Friday, August 29, at the Gas South Convention Center in Duluth. Convenor Nahidul Khan Sahel formally declared the convention open. Distinguished guests included Chowdhury Ashiq Bin Harun, Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority; Burt Jones, Lt. Governor of Georgia; Salahuddin Mahmud, Charge d’Affaires of Bangladesh; Seheli Sabrin, Consul General of Bangladesh in Miami; Georgia Senators Sheikh Rahman, Nabilah Islam, Shelly Herald, and Josh McClain; Hasan Tarek Dip, Chairman of Georgia Fire; and several FOBANA leaders including Member Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan, Secretary General Abir Alamgir, Executive Committee Chair Masud Rob Chowdhury, Host Business Committee Chair Duke Khan, Kazi Nahid, Chief Coordinator M. Dilu Mowla, and others.

The opening began with the national anthems of Bangladesh and the United States, followed by discussions highlighting the unity of expatriate Bangladeshis and the importance of preserving language and heritage for future generations.

The first day saw a large turnout from across North America, with the venue transformed into a little Bangladesh. But on the second day (Saturday, August 30), the event was prematurely shut down due to overcrowding. Many scheduled performers were unable to perform that evening and instead appeared on Sunday afternoon.

Organizers admitted they had never seen such overwhelming attendance before. However, in response, they enforced strict security on Sunday, effectively confining audiences at the gates.

Saturday’s main highlight was a business networking seminar with Bangladeshi and U.S. entrepreneurs, where BIDA Chairman Ashiq Bin Harun, as keynote speaker, urged investment in Bangladesh’s various sectors.

Started in Washington, D.C. in 1987, the FOBANA convention is known as a cultural gathering of the Bangladeshi diaspora. This year’s program included cultural performances, seminars on diaspora issues, literature sessions, plays, folk and modern music, fashion shows, and children’s programs. Bangladeshi and international artists, journalists, writers, and politicians were among the guests, making the event lively despite the chaos.

The three-day convention also featured Bangladeshi food, clothing, jewelry, and book fairs, giving the atmosphere of a mini-Bangladesh. Organizers claimed the event would strengthen cultural bonds among expatriates and connect younger generations to their heritage.

Special services from the Bangladesh Consulate General were available, including passport renewal, e-passport, and NID assistance, organized by the Bangladesh Association of Georgia. The host organization for this year’s convention was the Atlanta-based literary and cultural group Bangla Dhara.

The main theme was “Perspectives of the Diaspora Generation and Bangladesh in Globalization.” Topics included social issues (human rights, socio-political aspects), health and wellness, technology (engineering, science, AI), education and career, climate and sustainability, economy and business, as well as culture and heritage.

At the end of the business networking seminar, 17 distinguished contributors—including Dr. Naeem Basar, an Atlanta-based Bangladeshi dentist—were honored with “Proud Sponsors & Contributors Awards” for their contributions to FOBANA and the community.

The 39th FOBANA, however, left many expatriates disappointed due to mismanagement and accusations of nepotism. Convenor Nahidul Khan Sahel, Member Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan, Host Business Chair Duke Khan, and Chief Coordinator Dilu Mowla—all controversial figures with various allegations—reportedly involved their own relatives, employees, and families in the event, causing outrage.

The next (40th) FOBANA Convention will be held in Los Angeles, California, in 2026.