Bangla Press Editor and U.S.-based Bangladeshi journalist Chhabed Sathee has received the FOBANA Award 2026 for Courageous Journalism, marking the fifth consecutive year he has been recognized for his reporting on the organization.
The award was presented Sunday, Sept. 6, during the closing day of the 40th Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (FOBANA) Convention at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City in California. Jashim Uddin, Chairman of Award and guest selection committee of the convention presented the honor at a ceremony in the hotel ballroom.
Sathee was recognized for his reporting over the past five years on FOBANA, including coverage of alleged irregularities and corruption surrounding its conventions, internal disputes over the formation of the Executive Committee, and other developments and activities involving the organization.
FOBANA experienced significant internal divisions following the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly over its leadership and Executive Committee. The disputes included expulsions, counter-expulsions and the emergence of a rival group that organized a separate convention under the FOBANA name.
Amid those conflicts, Sathee continued reporting on the organization's internal disputes. He said his coverage prompted opposition from individuals associated with a rival faction, including repeated threats of legal action and legal notices from an individual in Florida.
Founded in 1987, FOBANA has faced various organizational disputes and divisions over the years. Its leadership has maintained that some individuals and groups have attempted to use the organization to advance personal, social or political interests.
On July 24, 2023, FOBANA's Executive Committee expelled the Bangladesh American Women Association of Texas and the United Bangladesh American Community of Texas, saying their activities violated the organization's constitution and were harmful to FOBANA. The expelled organizations subsequently became critics of the organization.
Sathee has now received the Courageous Journalism Award for five consecutive years. He was previously honored at FOBANA conventions in Chicago in 2022, Dallas in 2023, Virginia in 2024 and Atlanta in 2025.
The 2026 recognition was presented during the 40th FOBANA Convention in Los Angeles, held Sept. 4-6.
Reacting to receiving the FOBANA honor, journalist and Bangla Press Editor Chhabed Sathee said, 'As a journalist, my responsibility has always been to present events to readers as I witnessed and understood them. I have written words of praise when they were deserved, but I have also asked difficult questions when necessary. The first principle of journalism is not loyalty to an individual, but a commitment to the truth'.
At times, my reporting has made some people uncomfortable, while many others have found their own concerns and perspectives reflected in my work. I firmly believe that criticism grounded in facts and reason is not an enemy of an organization; rather, it helps an organization become more mature, accountable and stronger.
The COVID-19 pandemic did not merely bring the world to a standstill; it also confronted expatriate community organizations with an unprecedented reality. FOBANA was no exception. Questions arose about leadership, direction and the organization’s future. During that difficult period, I chose not to remain a silent observer.
'As a journalist, I wrote about what I witnessed, what I verified and what I believed the community needed to know. Looking back today, I feel that during those challenging times, my pen was my only strength, and truth was my only courage.'