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Bengali International: Promoting ‘Bangaliaana’ overseas

Mainul Hassan
Bengali International is a UK-based cultural organisation of Bangladeshi expatriates. The organisation was founded in 1978 to promote Bengali culture and heritage among the Bengali and non-Bcngali communities living in UK.
Shams Hoque is die chairman of Bengali International, UK. Recently Hoque came to Bangladesh to attend the unveiling of a mural of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Rangpur. The mural was sponsored by Hoque's organisation, and has been designed and crafted by sculptor Aneek Reza.
Hoque spoke to The Daily Star about the mural, functions of Bengali International and more.
Talking about the organisation, Hoque said, "Even though the organisation was founded in UK, it has branched out into other European countries. Currendy we have branches in Spain, Italy, Switzerland and France."
"We hold cultural programmes on special events in the Bengali calendar -- on Pahela Baishakh (Bengali New Year), Borshaboron Utshob (welcoming the monsoon), celebrating the season of winter and so on. Special programmes are also held to observe Nazrul and Tagore birth, death anniversaries, Ekushey February, Independence Day and Victory Day," said Hoque. , , , .
"Such programmes not only give the Bengali expats a taste of home but also introduces our culture to the nonBengalis.
"For the children of the Bengali expats, who are being raised there, we
run Bangla schools on weekends. There we introduce them to Bangla alphabets and our culture.
"We also have branches in the US --in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and in the Oklahoma state."
Speaking on the recently unveiled mural of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Hoque said, "Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a truly committed social reformer, and one of the pioneering figures of Bengali Renaissance' who deserves respect fof his extraordinary achievements in manyare^s. , A , ( , , (
"While visiting Rangpur, 1 was surprised to see that many are totally unaware of Roy and his achievements, some even referred to him as a 'local king' who lived long ago. People are not aware of his association with
Rangpur. He was a deiuan in Ranpur from 1809 to 1814.
"The mural aims at generating Interest in Raja Ram Mohan Roy and his legacy among the young. There is a bio of Roy next to the mural."
We have plans to set up an open museum on Begum Rokeya in Rangpur as well. The museum will be in the shape of a huge globe, situated in the heart of the city. Detailed information on Begum Rokeya will be encrypted on the globe. Her publications and writings, quotes, and an archive documenting her entire life in photographs should give one a clear Idea’ on Begum Rokeya and her achievements," Hoque hopes.
"We also have plans to open up muse-ums on Debi Chowdhurani in Kuchbihar and Atish Dipankar in Bikrampur in future.
"In December this year, we are looking forward to hold a South Asian convention in Dhaka. The convention will zoom in on the current state of education system in Bangladesh.
"We hope to set up a university in Bangladesh to provide proper training for teachers at SSC and HSC levels in near future."
An optimistic Hoque said, "The organisation will continue promoting Bengali culture and Bangla language to the global community, hopefully by e^tpP]ding our operatidns into , more countries and reaching out to more Bengali expats, making them aware of their roots."
Bengali International will be holding a 'Lalon Utshob' for the first time in London this October.