A vibrant gathering celebrating culture, memory, and intellectual exchange brought together members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in New York, reflecting the spirit of a Bangladeshi culture thriving beyond national borders.
As Bangladeshi communities continue to grow globally, they are not only strengthening their own presence but also carrying forward the country’s cultural heritage, values, and progressive ideals to younger generations. This vision was vividly reflected in an engaging discussion session held in New York.
The event took place on Thursday, April 16, at the office of the weekly Thikana in New York. Guests—including writers, journalists, and community leaders—were welcomed by the Editor of Thikana Newspaper and former Member of Parliament, M. M. Shaheen. The session was moderated by Ibrahim Chowdhury Khokon, Editor of Prothom Alo North America.
The discussion centered around renowned former media personality Asma Ahmed and writer Sheela Mostafa, creating an atmosphere of thoughtful dialogue and nostalgia. Among those present were Abu Taher, CEO of Bangla Patrika and Time Television, Mahbub Rahman, Shuvra Khan, Shelly Zaman Khan, Rowshan Haque, Farida Yasmin, Foku Chowdhury, Zakir Hossain, Rashida Akter, Syed Masudul Kabir, Ejaz Alom, Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Dr. Pratap Chandra Das, Ejaz Alam, and Abir Alamgir.
Reflecting on her past, Asma Ahmed shared memories of her father, Enam Ahmed, an actor in Bangla cinema’s first sound film. Though originally from the Sylhet region, she recalled how her father’s dedication helped instill in her a strong command of standard Bengali pronunciation and reading. “No matter where we live,” she said, “our connection to our people and culture remains our greatest strength.”
Writer Sheela Mostafa noted that figures like Asma Ahmed have long served as inspirations for women in Bangladesh’s media landscape. She also spoke about her own journey in writing and her experiences living abroad.
Abu Taher said in his remark, “Growing up in Sylhet, we heard the name Asma Ahmed with great admiration. At a time when Bangladesh had only one television channel, she set a standard of professionalism that remains exemplary to this day.”
It was a quintessential Bengali “adda,” enriched with traditional snacks, tea, and betel leaf. The gathering became even more lively with musical performances by Zakir Hossain and Ejaj Ahmed.
