BHESA's Eid Reunion
On October 24, 2014 the Bangladesh Heritage & Ethnic Society of Alberta (BHESA) held a colourful Eid Reunion program in a joyful environment at the Pleasantview Community League Hall in Edmonton. The program offered a discussion about the importance of the Eid Festival, some dance, music, the distribution of certificates, a fashion show, and different varieties of Bangladesh ethnic foods.
The discussion was introduced by the speech of Tomal Islam, Vice President of BHESA, who underlined the importance of the Eid Festival. In his speech, eminent journalist and president of Bangladesh Heritage & Ethnic Society of Alberta, Delwar Jahid, stressed the need to develop youth leadership abroad. He honoured the contributions of youth in the liberation war of Bangladesh, and suggested that youth should be inspired to take leadership in a community organization. He further mentioned, that BHESA does not lean to a specific religion or believe, rather it is an organization that respects all religions or believes.
Mr. Sohail Quadri, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton, Mill Woods and Secretary to the Premier of Alberta was present as chief guest, who received a copy of the Edmonton Bichitra 2014 from the president of BHESA. Md. Siddique Hossain, a language movement hero of Bangladesh, was present as a guest of honour.
BHESA received official greeting messages for the Eid Reunion from the Honourable Gene Zwozdesky, Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly, from Mr. Sohail Quadri, MLA for Edmonton, Mill Woods, from Moe Amery, MLA for Calgary, East, from Mrs. Janice Sarich, MLA for Edmonton, Decore. and from Dr. David Swann, MLA for Calgary, Mountain View.
The program included a song sang by Nirjor Choudhury and Bikash Talukdar on tablas, a Michael Jackson dance performed by Tomal Islam, and a comedian performance by Muhammad Ismail. A fashion show including Bengali dance was performed by Tomal Islam, M. Anamur Rahman Misa, Shafiqul Islam, Sabree Araz Haider, Farjana Islam, Riya Karin, Dollin Islam and Nancy Narayan. The fashion show was directed and assisted by Farhana Islam and Ahsan Ullah . Teenage singer Chamili Laskar sang 3 Bangla songs followed by Dr. Sheikh Jalil's recitation of the poem "The way I live" from Sunil Gangopadhyay, and other own poems. Another highlight was the inspiring performance of several songs by Nazia Natasha Rahman.
The president of BHESA Delwar Jahid distributed certificates among the participants of this years cricket and soccer events sponsored by the Mahinur Jahid Memorial Foundation. The following participants were honoured: Syfur Hasan, Tanvir Hasan, Saifuddin Khaled, Kausar Khanduker, Mirza Bashir, Abdul Haque (Samim), Adnan Kamal, Jamil Raihan, Khademul Islam, Sanjib Chowdhury, Mohammed Abdul Bari, Ahsan Ullah, Abrarul Mannan Shan, A.K.M Shafiuddin, Mohammed Nabi, Golam Sarwar, Sam Islam, Harun Sahrif, Halim Shah, Borhan Huda, Khairul Rabin' Anisul Hoque, Imran Kabir, and Abdul Hoque. Further certificates were issued to all the youth participants of the events.
The excellent catering was conducted by Mohd Ismail and Dr. Hafizur Rahman, and assisted by Noor-e-Alam and Zulfiquer Ahmed Taif. A well deserved and special mention goes out to all our volunteers, who worked hard to make this year's Eid Reunion the successful event it was.