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Association's upcoming events for 2007-08

News and Announcements

Appeals for your donations urgently for the cyclone (SIDR) victims in the costal areas of Bangladesh .

Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra held an informal meeting and has decided to collect money for the recent cyclone affected people in Bangladesh . The meeting decided to send all donations to Chief Advisor’s Relief and Welfare Fund (The Chief Adviser's Relief and Welfare Fund Current, Prime Minister's Office Branch Tejgaon, Dhaka ).

We have decided to collect money on Bijoy Dibosh and Sports events (Cricket competition) on Saturday, 15 December 2007 and Sunday, 16 December 2007 respectively.

There will be a donation box in the venues and volunteers will be moving around to collect donations. Please donate generously for the cyclone victims in Bangladesh .

We however strongly felt that it is our moral responsibility to approach all expatriate Bangladeshi living in Canberra first before approaching to the rest of the Canberra community. We should standby first to our fellow Bangladeshi before going to anyone else. In the next few days your fellow Bangladeshi volunteers will visit your house for this purpose. We encourage you to donate generously for this noble cause.

Regards
Executive Committee
Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra

Saturday,15 December 2007- Cultural Event ‘Boijoyonti’

Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra in association with PriyoAustralia. com.au & Spondon cordially invites everyone to its cultural event ‘Boijoyonti’ to be held on Saturday, 15 December 2007 at Optus lecture Theatre, CSIRO at 4:00 pm.

Program Details:
Date: Saturday,15 December 2007
Venue: Optus Lecture Theatre
CSIRO Discovery
Black Mountain Laboratories
Clunies Ross Street
ACTON ACT 2601
Entrance at: 3:30 pm [Attractive Music video for the Early Birds]
Cultural Program at: 4:00 pm
Highlights of the Cultural Program are:
- Music video on ‘Bangladesh & Independence’
- Spectacular Songs and Dances
- A Short Drama [Natok] performed by local Canberrans
- Screening of the classic Bangla movie ‘AHA’
http://www.priyoaustralia.com.au/Canberra-/1007.html
[Director: Enamul Karim Nirjhor, Cast: Fazlur Rahman Babu, Humayun
Faridi, Tariq Anam, Ferdoes and many more] 

Executive Committee
Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra

Sunday, 16 December 2007 – Sports Event (Cricket)

Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra invites everyone to come & enjoy the 20-20 friendly cricket match to be held on Sunday, 16 December 2007 at 11:30 am at Garran Oval Ground, GARRAN.

Program Details
Date : Sunday,16 December 2007
Venue : Grran Oval Ground, Kitchener Street, GARRAN
Starts at : 11:30 am
Event Highlights : Live Cricket Match with funny commentary, Biriani, snacks & drinks for
the audience, player of the match award(The collected money from food sell will be donated for cyclone victim of Bangladesh )
Chief Guest : Bangladesh High Commissioner , Australia

Should you have any further query regarding anything, please don’t hesitate to call/e-mail us. Looking forward to seeing you on the event days.


Executive Committee
Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra

AGM selects new Executive Committee for 07-08

The Annual General Meeting of the Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra Inc. was held on 28 July 2007 at the Theo Notarus Multicultural Centre, London Circuit, Canberra.

The following persons were elected as members of the Executive Committee for 2007-08 at the AGM.

President: Dr Iqbal Zahid
Vice President: Mr Khondoker Yusuf
General Secretary: Mr Masum Al Mahmud
Joint Secretary: Mr Mahbubur Rahman
Treasurer: Ms Samira Rahman
Cultural Secretary: Mr Avijit Sarkar
Sports and Recreation Secretary: Mr Feroz Al Mamun
Executive Member: Mr Emdadul Hoque
Executive Member: Mr Enayet Kabir

Association's Bangladesh Night 2007 - big success!!

The Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra organised a fund raising event on 14 July 2007 at the Rydges Lakeside Canberra to showcase the rich and diverse Bangladeshi culture and to raise funds for the KIDS with CANCER Foundation Australia. Over 200 guests attended the event, including Senator Kate Lundy, Lorraine Barker, the former Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh and currently Director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Helen Musa, the Arts Editor of The Canberra Times.

The event comprised a keynote speech by Lorraine Barker, a slide show by Shibu Dutta on the history of architecture in Bangladesh, a buffet dinner, a raffle draw and finally a cultural function. The cultural function had a number of items including a spectacular classical dance by Gharshani, a guest artist from the Sri Lankan community in Canberra and songs performed by both local and interstate artists. Amia Matin and Atiq Helal were from Sydney to perform songs at the function.

The chorus which was beautifully performed by the local Canberra artists was highly appreciated by the audience. Apart from the dance and the songs, a bridal show also formed part of the cultural function which presented how wedding ceremonies are celebrated in Bangladesh, with bright and colourful dresses worn by both brides and grooms.

The fund raising event at the Rydges clearly showed that the Bangladesh community in Canberra is committed to helping those in need in the greater Australian community through its sincere endeavours. The Association was able to donate $2000 to the KIDS with CANCER Foundation Australia. On behalf of the Foundation Lorraine Barker received the cheque for donation.

The fund raising event was a success because of the generous sponsorships from a number of business organisations in Canberra as well as from interstate. This included the Paradise Kitchens in Sydney, the Belconnen Branch of the Bank of Queensland, the DJ’s Indian Fashion in Phillip and Yarralumla Halal Meats. Apart from organisations, individual donations were also received from Annette Ellis, Member of Parliament and others who could not attend the event.

The Association put out a special newsletter on the occasion covering an article on Bangladesh culture and news of events organised by the Association in recent months.

The masters of ceremony for the Bangladesh Night were Alice Nahar, Mardia and Ehsan. The raffle draw was conducted by Shahrina Teresha Quader and prizes were presented by Kazi Aminul Islam, the Secretary in-charge, Chief Adviser's Office in Bangladesh. Mr Islam was visiting Canberra at that time and attended the event.

The Association extended its sincere thanks to all the participants and those who had provided tremendous support and assistance in course of planning and implementing the fund raising event.

[ Listen Bangla Radio coverage ]
 

Bangla Radio Opportunities

Association's Bangla Radio always welcomes new contributors and participants. If you would like to contribute as a writer, presenter, performer or producer to Bangla Radio in 2007/2008, or assist in any other way, then please contact current Coordinator Sadequr Rahman by email (banglaradio@gmail.com) or telephone (mob 0438-398-853).

[ Radio Website: www.banglaradio.org.au ]
 

'Boishakhi Mela 1414'

The Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra organised a very successful 'Boishakhi Mela' on Sunday 15 April 2007 at the Canberra Islamic Centre to celebrate the Bengali New Year 1414. A large number of people from the local Bangladeshi and other communities in Canberra came to enjoy the traditional Bangladeshi food and cultural program in a festive mood. The cultural program included songs, dances, fashion parade and poetry recital by local artists, including the Bangla School children. The Association extends its sincere thanks to all those involved in organising the event and the participants as well. Photos will speak of more about the Mela." [ Photos ] [ Listen Bangla Radio coverage ]
 

Lively Soccer Tournament

A soccer tournament was organised by the Bangladesh Australia Association Canberra on Sunday 21 January 2007 at the Hawker Soccer Field. There were two matches – one for juniors under 14 years of age and the other for adults, and these were played in the afternoon. Both the matches were competitive that attracted a sizable number of spectators from the Bangladeshi community. Players put on professional-looking jerseys and they played professional soccer indeed!

Mr Nick Manikis, Director, ACT Office of Multicultural Affairs, was the Chief Guest of the event. At the beginning of the match, players were introduced to him. Mr. Manikis distributed the champion's trophies to both the captains of the winning teams at the end of the match.

It was a sunny but warm day and the spectators watched the game with great enthusiasm and interest, often cheering up the players. Running commentaries of the game was very entertaining. There was a stall for snacks and drinks to cater to the needs of those present.

The Association wishes to thank all the players, volunteers and others involved in the event. [ Photos ]

Canberra looking to Bangladesh to recruit skilled workers

Bangladesh, Germany and Belgium are the targets for recruiting skilled workers to overcome a critical shortage in the national capital. Chief executive of the ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Chris Peters has suggested looking to Belgium for doctors, Bangladesh for accountants and Germany for highly skilled tradespeople.

Mr Peters was commenting on the latest report on job vacancies in the ACT by recruitment consultants Hays, which identified a significant shortage of degree-qualified accountants in the finance and commerce sectors. Mr Peters said Australia had an increasing skills shortage, but Canberra had an acute shortage across most professions and all trades. [ Read detail news in Canberra Times ]

Recent Events

The Old Parliament House in Canberra

Useful Links

Bangladeshi community organisations in other parts of Australia

Bangladeshi community websites in Australia

Canberra Newspapers

Important Dates