The formal contest for the upcoming election of Bangladesh Society Inc., one of the largest and most established organizations representing Bangladeshis in New York, has begun. Following the Election Commission’s publication of the final list of candidates, two full panels are now facing each other in the electoral race.
The two panels are the Selim–Ali Panel, led by incumbent President Ataur Rahman Selim and General Secretary Mohammad Ali, and the Kunu–Firoz Panel, led by former President Azmal Hossain Kunu and Firoz Ahmed.
With 42 candidates contesting under the two full panels and one independent candidate running for general secretary, a total of 43 candidates are competing for 21 positions on the executive committee.
Voting is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, at five polling centers across New York City. Polling is expected to remain open continuously from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The election has approximately 35,000 registered voters. According to the latest information released in connection with the election, the voter list contains 35,215 registered voters. This is the largest electorate in the history of Bangladesh Society.
Chief Election Commissioner Abu Naser told Thikana on Tuesday afternoon, September 15, that approximately 300 duplicate voters have been identified on the voter list. The names of those voters have been specifically marked and highlighted to prevent double voting. As a result, he said, there will be no opportunity for voters to cast ballots twice.
Nomination Process Completed
Candidates submitted their nomination papers on September 6 at Queens Palace in a festive atmosphere. In addition to the 42 candidates representing the two full panels, Rabbi Syed and Shakti D. Gupta initially submitted independent nominations for general secretary and cultural secretary, respectively.
This brought the initial number of candidates to 44. Shakti D. Gupta later withdrew his candidacy for cultural secretary, leaving 43 candidates in the final race. Rabbi Syed remains the only independent candidate for general secretary outside the two main panels.
The formal candidate-selection process concluded with nomination scrutiny on September 7, publication of the preliminary candidate list on September 8, appeals on September 9, withdrawal of candidacies on September 10, and publication of the final candidate list on September 11.
From this point until election day, roughly six weeks of campaigning will determine which panel will lead Bangladesh Society for the next three years.
Executive Committee Expanded
This year, the Bangladesh Society executive committee has been expanded from 19 positions to 21 positions. New responsibilities, including Women and Children Affairs and Youth and Information Technology, have been added to the committee.
At the same time, constitutional changes have extended the term of the elected committee from two years to three years, covering the 2027–2029 period.
As a result, the election will not only determine the organization’s leadership but will also shape its organizational direction for the next three years.
Selim–Ali Panel
The Selim–Ali Panel is led by incumbent President Ataur Rahman Selim and incumbent General Secretary Mohammad Ali. In other words, the current leadership is seeking a renewed mandate from the voters.
The candidates on the panel are:
President: Ataur Rahman Selim
Senior Vice President: Mohammad Mohiuddin Dewan
Vice President: Mohammad Kamruzzaman Kamrul
General Secretary: Mohammad Ali
Joint General Secretary: Harun-or-Rashid
Treasurer: Naushad Haider
Organizing Secretary: Duke Khan
Cultural Secretary: Anik Raj
Public Relations and Publicity Secretary: Rizu Mohammad
Social Welfare Secretary: Mansur Ahmed
Literary Secretary: Rumana Ahmed
Sports and Hospitality Secretary: Hasan Khan
School and Education Secretary: A.S.M. Main Uddin
Women and Children Affairs Secretary: Shahnaz Hossain
Youth and Information Technology Secretary: Jahangir Shahid Suhrawardy
Executive members are Mohammad Ujjal Pippul, Shamim Ahmed, Sarwar Khan Babu, Mohammad A. Mannan, Mohammad Abdul Malek Khan, and Kazi Robbaiuzzaman.
The Selim–Ali Panel is campaigning on the message of continuity, pointing to the current committee’s activities and emphasizing the completion of unfinished initiatives. As the incumbent leadership, the election also represents an opportunity for voters to pass judgment on the panel’s record during its previous term.
Kunu–Firoz Panel
The opposing Kunu–Firoz Panel is led by former Bangladesh Society President Azmal Hossain Kunu as president and Firoz Ahmed as general secretary. Firoz Ahmed has also served as president of the Sandwip Society USA.
The other candidates on the panel are:
Senior Vice President: Dulal Behedu
Vice President: Abul Kalam Bhuiya
Joint General Secretary: Mohammad Nawshad Hossain
Treasurer: Mofizul Islam Bhuiya
Organizing Secretary: Mohammad Jamil Ansari
Cultural Secretary: Ahmed R. Chowdhury
Public Relations and Publicity Secretary: Syed Gausul Hossain
Social Welfare Secretary: Koyes Ahmed
Literary Secretary: Mohammad A. Akhtar
Sports and Hospitality Secretary: Morshed Alam
School and Education Secretary: Mohammad Main Uddin
Women and Children Affairs Secretary: Begum M. Chowdhury
Youth and Information Technology Secretary: Kazi A. Hasan
Executive members are Sirajuddin Haque, Mohammad A. Siddiq, Mohammad Abul Bashar, Masudul Haque Sanu, Mohammad Kawsar Alam, and Mohammad M. Islam.
The Kunu–Firoz Panel is campaigning on a message of change and accountability, with an emphasis on making the Society a more effective service-oriented organization. At a recent exchange meeting, General Secretary candidate Firoz Ahmed spoke about strengthening the Society’s service activities and making the organization more transparent and accountable.
Three-Way Race for General Secretary
One of the notable features of this year’s election is the presence of independent candidate Rabbi Syed in the race for general secretary.
Rabbi Syed, who serves as general secretary of the Jamaica Bangladesh Society, submitted his nomination under the slogan “Voice for Change.”
While the presidency is a direct contest between Ataur Rahman Selim and Azmal Hossain Kunu, the general secretary position has become a three-way race among Mohammad Ali, Firoz Ahmed, and Rabbi Syed.
There is discussion within the community about how many votes the independent candidate may receive and whether his presence could affect the overall vote distribution between the two major panels.
Voting at Five Centers
Chief Election Commissioner Abu Naser told Thikana that five polling locations have been arranged in different parts of New York City for the convenience of voters.
The polling centers are:
58 Manor, Woodside
Majestic Marquee, Ozone Park
Kalam’s Hall, Brooklyn
Golden Palace Banquet Hall, Bronx
Angan Party Hall, Jamaica
Voting is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The election was initially scheduled for October 18. However, since that date coincided with Ashtami during Durga Puja, various Hindu community organizations and individuals requested that the election date be changed. Following a joint decision by the Bangladesh Society Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and Election Commission, the election was postponed by one week to October 25.
Election Commission Faces Major Organizational Challenge
With the number of registered voters exceeding 35,000, this year’s election is being organized on a larger scale than previous elections.
A seven-member Election Commission is working under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Abu Naser. The other members are Badrul Hossain Khan, Mohammad Shamsuddin Azad, Ruhul Amin Sarker, Ahbab Chowdhury, Mithu Hamid, and Mohammad Dulal Mia.
Ensuring smooth voting for a large electorate, maintaining security and order at five polling centers, conducting the ballot process, and announcing the results will collectively represent a major organizational challenge for the Election Commission.
In the previous election, the number of registered voters was close to 19,000, while fewer than 10,000 votes were cast. This time, the registered electorate has surpassed 35,000, clearly demonstrating the significant expansion of Bangladesh Society’s electoral landscape.
In the previous election, the Selim–Ali Panel won all positions on its full slate, with Ataur Rahman Selim elected president and Mohammad Ali elected general secretary.
This time, the incumbent leadership is being challenged by a panel led by former president Azmal Hossain Kunu. The election is therefore being discussed within the community both as a vote on the record of the current leadership and as a contest over calls for organizational change.
Campaigning Enters the Final Phase
With the final candidate list now published, the uncertainty surrounding the candidate lineup is over. The focus of both panels is now on reaching voters.
Over the coming weeks, campaigning is expected to intensify across Bangladeshi-majority areas of New York, including Jamaica, Jackson Heights–Woodside, Ozone Park, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Meetings, discussions, small gatherings, door-to-door outreach, community events, and social media campaigns are expected to increase.
One of the biggest challenges for both panels will be bringing a large portion of the more than 35,000 registered voters to the polling centers. In addition to votes from established community activists, the participation of a large number of newer and less-active members could play an important role in determining the election results.
With 43 candidates, 21 positions, two full panels, one independent candidate for general secretary, and more than 35,000 registered voters, the stage is now set for one of the largest electoral contests in the history of Bangladesh Society.
The results on the night of October 25 will determine which leadership team will serve the organization for the next three years.
Chief Election Commissioner Abu Naser has called for the cooperation of all candidates and voters, saying this is the largest election in the history of Bangladesh Society and therefore carries exceptional importance.
He said that if the election is conducted fairly and peacefully, it can send a positive message to the younger generation. Conversely, he warned that any deviation from that standard could cause the younger generation to lose interest in the organization.
Abu Naser also expressed hope that all candidates would maintain cordial relations with one another throughout the campaign period and work together to ensure a fair and peaceful election.
