Association Activities
Association’s main objectives are:
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To organise community activities of the Bangladeshis in the Australian Capital Territory and to assist in all possible ways the Bangladeshis in Australia, including residents and visitors.
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To create goodwill and fellow-feeling between Bangladeshis and Australian nationals and communities.
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To project the culture of Bangladesh and Bangla language in the Australian society and to acquaint the people of Australia with socio-economic conditions in Bangladesh.
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To promote and foster activities of national importance to Bangladesh.
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To maintain effective contact and cooperation with other Associations and organisations with similar aims and objectives.
To achieve the above objectives Association undertakes the following activities:
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Represents Canberra Bangladeshis in various Australian government committees and forums (eg. Ethnic Communities Council of the Australian Capital Territory, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Department of Family and Community Services)
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Participates in activities organised by the government and community organisations (eg. annual National Multicultural Festival)
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Organises religious functions (eg. Eid Reunions and Iftar)
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Organises cultural functions (eg. 21 February, Rabindra-Nazrul Jayanti, 1 Baishakh)
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Organises national day events (eg. Independence Day, Victory Day and 21 February)
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Organises recreational activities (eg. picnics, sightseeing trips)
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Running a Bangla language and cultural school for over twenty years
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Running a Bangla radio program over seven years.
Initiatives of the current Executive Committee
One of the goals of the current executive committee has been to reach out to the wider Bangladeshi-Australian community in Canberra, specially the younger generation. In late 2005 executive committee undertook a survey to gauge the member’s feedback on the type of programs they would like to see happening through the Association during 2005-06. The membership survey was first of its kind and was warmly received by our members. Using the survey result as a guide the Association developed a calendar of events for the whole year and circulated among the members so that the Association’s programs does not conflict with their other social/weekend commitments.
Some of the new initiatives undertaken by the current committee include:
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shopping discount on selected businesses for members;
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children essay competition on Ramadan;
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a submission to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) and face to face meeting with the officials regarding the immigration related issues and problems faced by the Bangladeshi communities;
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organised very successful sporting events - Victory Day Soccer Tournament between North and South Canberra teams and Bangladesh Independence Day Badminton and Table Tennis Tournaments;
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membership drive that significantly increased the membership base, especially the younger generation of Bangladeshi Australians;
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‘Tomakeyee Khujchhey Association’ (search for new talents) initiative that found many new and talented young Bangladeshi artists in Canberra;
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‘Living in Australia - A Celebration of Bangladeshi Australians in Australia’ program that the Association is organising in cooperation with the Bangladesh High Commission and the wider Canberra community; and
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launching the Association’s very own web site www.canberrabasi.org.au.