Laila Haroon
President,
Bangladesh American Children
& Women Welfare Association

There are many energetic women in the world, who have got established in the social and cultural field overcoming family boundaries. Laila Haroon is one of them, who is a Bangladeshi American. Being a master’s degree holder in political science from Dhaka University, Laila Haroon’s family and career are full of various experiences. She is a skilled organizer and leading figure in the Florida cultural arena.

Though Laila Haroon’s ancestral home is in Chattogram, she was born in Narsingdi due to her father’s job. She got married to her classmate Sarkar Harun who also comes from Narsingdi. She has received primary education in Sylhet. Later, she completed her SSC from Barishal and HSC in Patuakhali. As a meritorious student, she got scholarship in fifth and eighth class and got a place in merit list in SSC examination. After passing HSC, she got admitted to University of Dhaka in Political Science. She fell in love with her classmate Sarkar Haroon while studying in honors third year. After graduating, they married and moved to West Germany in 1986. After staying for 6 years, they returned to country from there.

Laila Haroon and Sarkar Harun both are cultural-minded. After a short stay in the country, they moved to Florida in October 1997 with their friend Badal. After coming to Florida, Laila Haroon has initiated a number of programs to keep cultural activities of Bangladesh community alive. They celebrated Victory Day with the Bengalis in Florida in 1997. The event is enjoyed by the Bangladeshi community and foreigners. In 1999, Laila Haroon founded the Bangladesh American Children and Women Welfare Association, an organization for mothers and children in Florida, USA. Layla Harun has 6 sisters. Their father used to say that if the boys don’t study, he can establish himself. But, girls definitely need education. Under his strict discipline and inspiration, they have obtained higher education.

Laila Haroon felt from her childhood that girls are neglected, deprived and neglected in the society. From that thinking, she founded the organization for women and children of Florida and Bangladesh. Florida’s leading physician and organizer Sultan Salahuddin is one of the advisors of this organization. From the very beginning, Layla Harun has been arranging health services for women, children and others in the community with doctors including seminars. The organization takes regular counseling and treatment initiatives for children with low mental development. Not only women’s health but also men’s health care is provided here. During these activities, cultural entertainment is arranged for the emotional uplift of others including children. This company is working in the same way in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Besides providing medical services to distressed mothers and children, the organization also provides financial assistance.

Laila Haroon’s husband Sarkar Harun is also a skilled organizer. He is the founder of the 1st Baishakh Celebration Committee in Florida. Baishakhi fair and various programs are celebrated here in grand procession. From 2016 to 2017, Layla Harun served as founding president of Dhaka University Alumni, Florida. Later, Haroon and his government contributed a lot to the formation of a new 31-member committee in 2019.
Layla Harun is associated with Fobana. She served as member secretary of the Florida Committee at the Fobana Conference. She also played a special role as an initiator of Nazrul Geeti, Rabindra Sangeet and Sahitya Sammelan here and has served as member secretary many times. She writes in a memoir published in Fobana almost every time.

With the initiatives of her father and uncle, Halishahar Talented Campus School and a Madrasah have been established. She assisted the poor students of this school in various ways and school directors also provided financial assistance.

Layla Harun, one of the cultural organizers of the Bangladesh community, always inspires people living in the USA to support her organization by saying that 1 dollar is equal to 80 Bangladeshi taka. If we wish, we can help the larger population of Bangladesh through this organization. We can bring smile on the faces of poor and helpless people. Layla Harun has taken various initiatives to make the new generation of Bangladesh community interested in Bengali culture. Different programs such as wearing sari, speaking Bengali to each other, Ekushey February, Victory Day, Independence Day are arranged to keep the cultural identity of Bangladesh alive in the USA.
One of the most acclaimed works of Laila Haroon is the addition of a picture of the Royal Bengal Tiger to a monogram at Boynton Beach High School in Florida. Seeing this picture on school’s signboard, the picture of Bangladesh and the Sundarbans floated in the mind of any local or foreigner. At the time of establishing the school, he raised the issue of the removal of Royal Bengal to the jury board on monogram and it was accepted.

Laila Haroon and Sarkar Haroon are blessed with two daughters. The enthusiastic Layla Harun says, “I feel so proud as my roots lies in Bangladesh.”

Kazi Sakawat Hossain Azam
President
Bangladesh American Friendship

Kazi Sakawat Hossain Azam is an established entrepreneur in the USA, who never forgets his motherland even after living far away. He is now a permanent resident of the USA. He is the president of ‘Bangladesh American Friendship’ in North America.
Kazi Sakawat Hossain Azam was born on June 7, ——-, in a respectable family of greater Chattogram. From his childhood, he would dream to go to America. His dream saw the light as he came to the USA. He has established himself as an entrepreneur businessman. When he was in Bangladesh, he involved in student politics. Later, he joined to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Even after coming to the USA, he never compromises with his honesty. He is still working for BNP. He is now the president of Inter State BNP in the USA.
Though he is politician, he is simple in nature. All Bangladeshi Americans are all equal to him. He used to helping all people irrespective of their party, opinion and religion. His humanitarian philosophy is “People are for people”. Containing this thought in mind, he with his friends has stood beside the jobless and helpless people. They have provided foods and relief goods to them. They have done this irrespective of their party.
Kazi Sakawat Hossain Azam is a luminary of Bangladesh who once served as Managing Director at NTS Corporation Inc. at Brooklyn in New York. But, there is organizational skill in his blood. He believes, many people can be helped through organizational activities and their love and respect can also be earned. For this reason, Kazi Sakawat Hossain Azam is one of them who have deeply involved themselves in human development organization in the USA. He has been serving as President of Bangladesh American Friendship, North America.
Kazi Sakawat Hossain Azam, a devoted soul to organization, served as member secretary and cashier of FOBANA, is one of the oldest Bangladeshi organizations in North America.

He is the former president of North America Chattogram Association. Under his leadership, this organization has turned into an important organization for Chattogram immigrants. He is former organizational secretary of Bangladesh Society in New York. He has currently been performing the duties as executive secretary of FOBANA.
Kazi Sakawat Hossain Azam is uncompromising regarding the interests of Bangladesh. He says, political thought is for individuals but interests of the country all. He is very active in the protesting movement from the beginning of the construction of Tipaimukh dam by India without any discussion with Bangladesh. He has highlighted the water aggression of India arranging meetings and seminar in the banner of ‘Save Bangladesh’.
Kazi Sakawat Hossain Azam is a brave and devoted person. He also introduces Mezban, one of the popular social festivals of the Chittagong region, in the USA. He opines, it is a traditional custom of Bangladesh. He says, he wants to continue this traditional festival so that the children of Chattogram immigrants live here don’t forget their culture.
He is very worried about the outbreak of coronavirus. He urges the rich Americans to help the corona-hit people in Bangladesh particularly Chattogram. He says, if someone helps one dollar, 2 kilograms rice can be bought with it for Bangladeshi people.
Kazi Sakawat Hossain Azam is very pious. He likes to lead his as per the Quran and Hadith. He says, our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) says, “If any person backbites and insults others, someday he or she will be punished severely”

Kazi Sakawat Hossain Azam never hesitates to speak the truth. He is an outspoken person. He believes, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman was able to lead the nation properly during the Liberation War and in crisis moments later.

Kazi Helal Ahmed
Founder, President & CEO
of International Finance & Development
Corporation (IFDC), New York

Kazi Helal Ahmed is a highly reputed and experienced finance entrepreneur involved in the non-banking financial institution industry, and particularly in the international project financing and private equity investment arena. He is the Founder, President & CEO of International Finance & Development Corporation (IFDC), a New York City based global finance and diversified private equity investment firm.

Kazi Helal Ahmed was born in a respectable educated family in Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh. His father’s name is late Kazi Abul Hashem and mother Johara Begum. He was meritorious from his childhood. After completing SSC from Brahmanbaria High School and HSC from Brahmanbaria College, he was admitted to the Department of Economics at the University of Dhaka. With a goal of going to the United States to attain higher education, he participated in TOEFL exam, in which he scored 580 marks out of 600 in the exam. He completed his post-graduate degree in Economics from the University of Utah in Saltlake City Utah, in the United States, and then received an MBA in Finance from Cambridge University.

Ever since the days of his youth, Mr. Ahmed was highly ambitious with a goal of being a successful businessperson. He worked hard to achieve his goal and became an indomitable entrepreneur in his youth. As a creative and talented young man, Mr. Ahmed ventured into the business world, ignoring various lucrative job offers. He always believed that even though it is possible to improve one’s life by working in a lucrative job, it is possible to improve the lives of many others by creating employment opportunities and providing innovative goods and services to improve the lives of consumers via setting up and operating a successful business. With this philosophy in mind, this talented and visionary young man started his journey as an entrepreneur by starting his first business in New York City in 1989; He purchased a Gift & Candy Shop in the heart of Time Square, Manhattan, New York City. There is a common saying that “Times Square never sleeps”, and thus, the shop was open 24 hours a day. In 1990, he purchased City Department Store, a 5000 sf department store in the Bronx.

In 1992, Mr. Ahmed started a garments buying house in New York and started an import, wholesale and distribution business. At the same time, his family friend, Walid Ahmed, also started a garments buying house business in New York. The two were likely the first Bangladeshi Americans to promote the Bangladesh garments sector in the United States by setting up such garment buying house businesses in New York City. Additionally, Mr. Ahmed also set up a garments buying house in Dhaka to take care his garments orders. At that time, the concept of a “garments buying house” was new in Bangladesh.

At the time, most American buyers did not know about the Bangladesh garments industry. In fact, many did not even know where to Bangladesh on a map. Thus, Mr. Ahmed often took the world map with him to show the location of Bangladesh in world map to his buyers. He was able to persuade many top American buyers and convinced them to purchase garments from Bangladesh including S. Rothschild & Company (one of the largest Outwear-Jackets buyers in USA who owned many top licenses and brands), Age Group (one of the largest women Sleepwear and undergarments buyers in USA who owns many top licenses of top brands), Weatherproof Garments Company (a leading outerwear company a top outerwear brand), Daron Fashion, Free Country, and many more, and his products sold in many of the nation’s top chain departmental stores including Macy’s, JCPenny, Kohl’s, Walmart, Sears, Kmart, BJ and many other chain department stores. He produced many top branded garments including Disney, Polo Ralph Lauren, US Polo, Hello Kitty, Flora Nikrooz, London Fog, Amerex, and Weatherproof etc. Through his buying house, his American buyers bought large quantities of garments from Bangladesh worth over billions of dollars.

Richard Adjmi, a well-respected leader within the Sephardic Jewish community and CEO of the Age Group, more commonly known to as Richie, was the first buyer of Kazi Helal Ahmed’s garments business. Age Group was among those buyers who were buying garments from Bangladesh back when Bangladesh garments industry started their journey. Kazi Helal Ahmed later developed a close friendship with Richie and they eventually became business partners. Richie and Kazi formed Kingstone Development Company, a joint-venture real estate investment & development company, in which Kazi Helal Ahmed was the President & CEO. The firm has successfully developed and sold multiple residential and commercial buildings, retail shopping centers and some of NYC’s most aesthetic multi-family homes in some of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods.
Their friendship lasted for nearly three decades and they are still close friends, today. Richie’s family known in New York as the famous “Adjmi Family”, is known as an influential and wealthy NYC-based family. The Adjmi family is leading the fashion industry, real estate and retail industry in New York and all over USA. Through Richard Adjmi, Kazi Ahmed developed a strong relationship with the Sephardic Jewish business community and various other influential business communities in New York City and built up partnerships in various large scale business ventures with them.

In 1998, he set up a garment industry in New York named Monarch Garments. After a year of operation in 36th Avenue, Astoria, he moved Monarch Garments to Manhattan’s Garment District. He made many top branded garments locally in New York, as well as in Bangladesh.
In 2001, Kazi Helal Ahmed founded International Finance & Development Corporation (IFDC), in which he also serves as its President & CEO. Mr. Ahmed was always passionate about the private equity investment and international project financing industry. He believed that via building a financial institution, it would be possible to build strong relationships and cooperate with many private and Governmental institutions across the world and create large amounts of employment and economic opportunities via providing the appropriate financing for large projects to flourish. IFDC is a private financing company approved by the New York State Banking Department and has authorized representatives in more than 50 countries worldwide.

IFDC and its affiliates invest in various industries including hydroelectric power, wind and solar power, gas & oil, government infrastructure projects, housing sector development, student housing, hotels and resorts etc. The company has extensive experience in capital management and large-scale infrastructure projects funding worldwide, particularly in projects valued at 100 million to 10 billion USD. Kazi Helal Ahmed has tirelessly been working to expand the group’s funding activities globally.

IFDC facilitated funding for many large-scale projects worldwide. On behalf of IFDC, Kazi Helal Ahmed signed $ 1.1 billion USD investment contract with the President of Phu Yen Province Government, Vietnam for a pulp & paper project, $ 2 billion USD contract with the Energy Minister in Turkmenistan for Oil & Gas exploration and development project. In 2013, IFDC signed a $400 million USD funding contract in Zambia for copper mine and $100 million USD investment contract for 2 emerald mines in Zambia.

IFDC received a number of awards in recognition of its quality services and achievements. In 2012, this institution was awarded Best of Manhattan award on behalf of Manhattan Award Program. in 2016, Corporate America-News, a leading magazine of US Business markets, awarded IFDC as Best Diversified Private Equity Investment Group-USA & Recognized Leaders in Oil & Gas Investor. In the same year, Al Global Media, a US financial magazine, awarded IFDC as Most Diversified Private Equity Investment Group & Most Trusted in Debt and Equity Funding Award in recognition of its success.

Additionally, Kazi Helal Ahmed made a JV partnership with one of the nation’s largest hotel groups in the United States. Pacific Pearl Hotels (PPH) Mgt formerly, known as American Property Management Corporation (APMC), is a JV company of IFDC. PPH/APMC is one of the top 10 ranked and leading hotel management groups in North America. PPH has acquired over $3 billion USD of hotels and resorts throughout the U.S., Spain, and Mexico since its inception. PPH currently owns and operates 35 hotel properties encompassing over 6,500 rooms throughout the United States. In addition to a successful network of independent hotels, boutique properties and resorts, PPH’s hotel flags have included Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt Regency, Le Meridien, Double Tree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Radisson, Crown Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, La Quinta, Best Western, Park Plaza, and Country Inn & Suites.

National Recognition & Ranking of APMC / PPH

• Ranked 6th of the Top 100 independent, Third-Party Hotel Management Companies in the United States as listed in the Hotel & Motel Magazine
• Ranked 12th of the top 100 Hotel Owners & Developers in the United States as listed in the Hotel Business Magazine
• Ranked 14th of the Top 25 Hotel Owners in the USA as listed in the National Real Estate Investor magazine
• Ranked 8th of TOP 10 largest gross annual revenue earning company in American hospitality industry listed in Hotel Business magazine
Kazi Helal Ahmed expanded IFDC’s investment portfolio in the energy sector by forming IFDC-Vulcan Energy Group, a joint-venture with Vulcan Capital Management, in which he serves as its President, and United Solar Power Corp. Via these JV and portfolio companies, IFDC is an investor, developer and operator of energy & power projects, solar and wind power projects, and hydropower project worldwide.
Mr. Ahmed has signed business deals with some of the largest oil and gas companies in the United States and Russia to buy and sell crude oil, diesel, jet fuel, LNG, LPG and other petroleum products. IFDC can supply 5 million barrels of crude oil per month, 1 million metric tons of diesel per month and 2 million barrels of jet fuel per month.

In addition to large-scale project financing, IFDC also participates in small to mid-size business finance solutions via one of its portfolio companies, IFDC-Capital Funding, in which Mr. Ahmed serves as its President & CEO.
Mr. Ahmed is also the Chairman and CEO of Prime Industries USA Inc. Prime Industries is a New York based U.S. FDA registered manufacturer of antibacterial products such as antibacterial hand sanitizer, antibacterial hand soap, antibacterial dish detergent and antibacterial all-purpose cleaner.

In 2001, he founded Millennium Holdings Ltd., a JV hotel investment and development company in Bangladesh. He persuaded Hilton Hotels Corporation to open Dhaka Hilton Hotel and he signed a 20-year hotel management contract with Hilton to manage and operate Dhaka Hilton Hotel.

In recent years, Kazi Helal Ahmed has facilitated $ 11 million USD medical equipment financing against US Exim Bank Guarantee for Dhaka Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital. On October of 2019, Mr. Ahmed, as President & CEO of IFDC, signed a loan terms sheet agreement with the President of Dhaka Ahsanisa Mission, Mr. Kazi Rafiqual Alam. The contract signing event took place in IFDC’s headquarter office at the Empire State Building in New York City.

IFDC, one of the world’s most innovative non-banking financial institutions, is not only driving the US economy forward but also contributing to the economic dynamism of various countries around the world. Mr. Ahmed has access and relationships with some of the world’s largest private equity investment firms and debt financing organizations. IFDC invests their funds under management, along with private and institutional investors, via innovative methods in large-scale projects around the world, which have major economic multipliers.

In Mr. Ahmed’s personal life, he is married to Mrs. Sabina Kazi. They are a happy couple residing in New York City and are the proud parents of their son, Jamie Kazi. Jamie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Pace University located in Downtown Manhattan. Jamie leads a career in public policy and politics and is considered a rising star in New York’s Democratic Party. In 2017, he was nominated for the Manhattan Demmy Award as “Young Democrat of the Year”. Jamie currently holds the position of Legislative Director at the office of New York State Assemblymember, Hon. David Werpin, and was formerly the Deputy Legislative Director at the office of New York City Councilmember, Hon. Adrienne Adams, and Treasurer of the Manhattan Young Democrats.
Kazi Helal Ahmed says, “to achieve something, one has to dream first and then work hard to materialize it in a planned way.” Kazi Helal Ahmed is a legendary entrepreneurial personality and has contributed to revolutionizing the investment and project finance sector in various countries around the world. Mr. Ahmed is proud to be Bangladeshi-American and believes that Bangladeshi immigrants are a “bridge” between the two countries. He is also optimistic about the economic prosperity of Bangladesh.

Kamanashis Deb
President
Bangladesh Community, Saskatchewan,
Canada

Bangladeshi Canadian Kamanashis Deb is one of the proud sons of Bangladesh, who has brightened the image of Bangladesh abroad through his efforts and successful career. He is an established entrepreneur in Canadian real estate sector. He is the Realtor of Royal LePage Canada. He has been running real estate business in Saskatoon, Canada and surrounding areas for over nine years. He has been elected as the president of the Bangladesh community in Saskatchewan. Under his skillful and sincere leadership, Bangladeshis in the region of Canada are live with dignity through mutual relations.

Hailing from Sylhet, Kamanashis Deb has studied at Sylhet Aided High School and My Dawson College. He has graduated from Bangladesh with a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) and went to Switzerland for higher studies. After studying there, he came to Canada in 2006 and became an immigrant citizen. During his early days in Canada, he had to do odd job. In 2006, he got a job of dishwasher in a hotel. It was his beginning. He was committed that he will earn money through works. If he does this sincerely, he must be successful one day.

This self-confident man did not have to wait long to get a success in life. In 2009, he has become the owner of a restaurant. Thus, he started his entrepreneurial life. He has got huge success in life by dint of hard work, perseverance and an indomitable desire to be established. He is currently the CEO of YXE Immigration, President of East-West Investment & Property Management, Director of Sask BD Foods International Ltd, director of EWC Management Inc. and Realtor of Royal LePage Varsity. He has already won 6 medals and awards as a Realtor through his performance. These include the Diamond Award, Directors Platinum Award, President Sold Award, and Royal LePage highest Award of Excellence 2016 & 2017.

He plays a leading role in socio-cultural initiatives of the Bangladesh community in Saskatchewan. This organization-minded individual is very generous in nature. He used to support the Folk Fest arranged by the Bangladesh community and other events financially as well as coordinating food chairs and providing and raising funds for a long period of time. For this reason, he is a very popular figure among the members of Bangladesh community.

As an entrepreneur, he is an active member of the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, an organization dedicated to mainstream Canadian business.

As a human, Kamanashis Deb is enthusiastic, sincere, hardworking and dedicated to the field of personal business success. Besides, he has a lot of interest and affection to work for the community. He always highlights the community to others through improving community activities.

Kamanashis Deb is a conscious and knowledgeable person. He believes, “Everybody should think big and positive. His appeal to others not to listen to people who say it is not possible. According to him, success will come if you work with honesty and sincerity. He believes, time is short to think of life, so work must be done fast with care.

Kamanashis wife’s name is Swarna Deb. The couple is blessed with a 4-year-old daughter. Being successful in his career, Deb is proud to be a son of Bangladesh.

“We, the Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada, nurture the Bengali culture here,” he said.

Jamil Imran
Founder of M & J Foundation

Jamil Imran was born in a respected Muslim family and aised in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His father was a Civil Engineer and mother a housewife.
Jamil spent early years in Dhaka and then lived in England where his father went for higher studies and professional work.
After coming back from England with his family, he went on to go to St. Joseph’s and Dhaka College to complete his secondary and higher secondary school.
After secondary school Jamil moved to the USA for higher studies and joined Texas A&M University System and graduated in Business Administration from University of New Hampshire in New Hampshire.
After graduating in business he moved to New York and started his career in Ammann & Whitney and after working there for few years, moved to Long Island, N.Y. to start working with Key Bank in Retail banking and finance.
In 1998, Jamil moved to Atlanta and started working with Wachovia Bank now Wells Fargo in Employee Lending Unit management. While he was in school, he was also running a Franchise along with his studies. With that in mind, he wanted to start his own business by leaving corporate job. So after few years in corporate job in management, he started his career in Real Estate and started his own business.
In real estate, he did very well and received awards from State and Real Estate companies including Millionaires Club award.
In 2007 with the passing of his father and observing how Home Healthcare workers took care of his father at the comfort of his own home, he founded M&S Homecare Services to provide the same kind of care to older people who need assistance at home.
He and his wife started the business in their own home first and moved to a corporate office in 2009 in Duluth, GA. While business was expanding in the home care unit, Jamil and his wife expanded their business in Adult Day Centers (ADL) and Community Residential Alternative (CRA) or Group Homes. By 2013 M &S was involved in almost all kind of Medicaid programs under the Federal and State programs as a provider for the State of Georgia.
By 2017, M&S became the largest statewide company in this field with over 1000 employees working in Atlanta area and throughout the state. More branches were added in Columbus and Moultrie in South and Middle of Georgia as a part of expansion to serve people in distant places.
Today after being in business for 12 years, Still M&S is the largest company in the state in this field with more than 1200 employees, 10 International languages and over 35 Million of annual business.
While working in business in 2013, Jamil founded M&J Foundation, a non-profit foundation, with respect to his father’s wishes and his own passion of helping and reaching out to people of need both here in U.S. and in Bangladesh. Soon M&J Foundation expanded to help in religious and cultural issues and sponsoring events in different communities in Atlanta as a part of giving back to communities who helped shape where M&S is today.
M&J Foundation has received lot of recognition and awards from different communities as a part of significant support and continued advocacy for the people in need in Atlanta and GA as a whole.
Jamil loves to travel and spends lot of time traveling around the world with his wife and son Mesal. When he is at home in Atlanta , he loves to eat out in different places with different ethnic origin and have fun driving his weekend car which is a convertible Jaguar and hang around the clubhouse of Sugarloaf Country Club in Duluth, GA where he resides. He prides himself of not being a Facebook fan where showing off from house to food is a part of showing off business among all the Bangalees because we were Fakir from centuries and now we are desperate to show off our material stuff or show off our food as if we never had food before. Jamil also doesn’t get involved and happy NOT being with different organizations of local community where most of the time members are trying to screw up each other in the name of community service and advocate of their own name recognition like bunch of losers and hunger for recognition and to be called community leader .
As a part of taking life easy and relaxing, Jamil has limited his lifestyle to working 3 weeks a month with one week vacation each months and only working 3 days a week. With the rest of the time Jamil spends time in reading about investment in Wall Street both in Stock and Bonds market and does investment through his financial investment company called “JI Management”. He works with advisors of JP Morgan, TD Ameritrade, Wells Fargo, TD Canada Trust and SunTrust Bank for long term investment and retirement strategy.
Jamil loves to help kids teaching them about investment and sometimes offer advisory help to adults if asked in investment which is better than gossiping around.
Moving forward, Jamil is having a great time at present with preretirement where he is working less but still active with work, travels whenever he wants, spend time with his kids and family. He is not looking forward to any business venture which sounds lucrative. He believes there is only one life to live and we need to be able to properly use it with a blend of social, financial and religious needs.
In M&S and M&J Foundation, Jamil believe in the old saying, “Success is measured by other people around you, but Happiness is measured by you within yourself not by others. “

• Jalil Khan, USA licensed Professional Engineer working with California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS). Caltrans is the most leading Government Transportation Agency in the world and deals with million miles of Freeway as well as millions of Traffic every day and maintains 38000 Bridges / Flyovers.
• Jalil Khan come from Khan family of Nanguly Village, Upzila Nalchity, District Jhalakathi. He is the son of Md. Ali Azim Khan and he is the youngest out of four Brothers. He obtained his B.Sc. Engineering from BUET, Bangladesh.
• Jalil Khan is the Past President of American Association of Bangladeshi Engineers and Architect (AABEA), Southern California Chapter. As president and Job Committee Chairman of AABEA, he helped many people including engineers to find jobs. At present more than 200 NRB Engineers are working in Caltrans from Bangladeshi origin. He contributed and worked hard for job placement for the new immigrants including engineers. From mentoring to Resume writing; training and trough interview process for the engineers, so that they could be hired by the California State Department or other engineering Firms. Also he helped other needy people of the community seeking jobs. AABEA-SC raised enough funds for introducing Research Award in Bangladesh in the fields of Engineering, Science & Agriculture.
• Jalil Khan is the founder and President of the Bangladesh American Sheriff Advisory Council (BASAC).
In the year 2006, Jalil Khan with other Community Leaders, moved to establish a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Bangladeshi-American Advisory Council (BASAC)
The idea for a Bangladeshi American Sheriff Advisory Council took shape soon after leaders from the community joined forces with the local South Asian American community to support community members through law enforcement agency.
• Also Jalil Khan is the Founder and Executive Director of Bangladesh American Political Action Committee (BAPAC), established in the year 2005.
BAPAC played a big role together with South Asian Community. Organized many fundraising events and raised about $100,000.00 in electing Mr. Villaraigosa as Mayor of great City of Los Angeles.
BAPAC Volunteers involved in precinct walking, phone banking and encouraged our community members to cast their ballots. Therefore, BAPAC taking our community to mainstream politics to build better future for Bangladeshi Americans, who will be settled here for generations to come. Subsequently in the year 2007 BAPAC members joined forces with other community members and actively participated in the campaign process for Presidential election of President Obama.

• For the past few years Jalil Khan actively involved in volunteering
works for many fundraising events and election campaign for the Honorable Lt. Governor, Assembly Speaker Mr. Fabian Nunez, State Treasurer John Chiang, Congresswoman Ms. Loretta Sanchez, Ms. Linda sanchez, Ms. Judy Chu, Senator Betty Carnet and many others. And for the last many years Bangladeshi Community Leaders joined hands with Jalil Khan for many Fundraising events for Congressman & Congresswomen in California. Notably Bangladeshi Community Leaders for the last few years also involved in Fundraising for mainstream politicians of US Congress with US Speaker Nancy Pelosi as Chief Guest, and for our support, the Speaker of US Congress very much recognize Bangladesh and our causes in Congress. Jalil Khan organized & raised major funds for the first Bangladesh Parade Day in Los Angeles in the year 2007 & 2008, the Mayor of Los Angeles as the Chief Guest .
• “Little Bangladesh” – In the year 2007 Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was the Chief Guest at the Bangladesh Parade Day in Los Angeles. Jalil Khan convinced the Mayor to declare a portion of Business district as “Little Bangladesh”. Now Little Bangladesh is being recognized by and officially declared by the City Council of Los Angeles. This is milestone achievement for Bangladeshis living in USA and they are proud to find themselves in the World Map! Jalil Khan registered Little Bangladesh inc. and later proposed California Department of Transportation to install “Little Bangladesh” Sign on Freeway 101 at Vermont Avenue Exit for the recognition of Little Bangladesh Community. With intense negotiation for two years and massive fundraising needed for sign installation, Jalil Khan was successful finally to put Bangladesh in World map.
• Jalil Khan served twice as the President of Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG), Los Angeles Section. He is the first South Asian to be elected in such an honorary position, previously he also served as the Secretary. He was the elected President having 4000 Engineers members for the State of California from all over the World. As PECG President, he played a key role for the pay-raise (about 30% t0 40%) for the members of Professional Engineers in California Government. Again Jalil Khan was elected President of PECG (Professional Engineers in California Government) in the year 2019.

• After Cyclone SIDR hit Bangladesh, Jalil Khan with other BAPAC Directors (Dr. Saiful Islam and Shafiul Islam) raised more than 20.000.00 dollars and directly distributed among the victims.
• Jalil Khan also involved with Friends of South Asian American Communities (FOSAAC) and he is the Co-Chair (FOSAAC) for Bangladesh. During Democratic Primary he participated in fund raising for the Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton and raised quarter million dollars.

• Jalil Khan is one of the Directors of “BACHAO”, a non profit Organization, provides funding for the education of distressed & needy children of Bangladesh. Last year BACHAO funded about $140,000.00 for very poor children of slums and the others who do not have means to get education & survive. BACHAO allocate funding through different Organizations in different Districts for those children, who do not have food, shelter, education and health care. BACHAO also actively involved in protecting & saving children from early child marriage, in the District of Jessore alone 1400 children were saved from early child marriage and BACHAO are funding them for higher education in many different Schools & Colleges. To view BACHAO’s activities please visit: www.BACHAOhelp.org

• Jalil Khan is the founding Convenor of NRB (Non-Resident Bangladeshi) Council USA. NRB Council is being established for promoting many concerns and issues of Immigrants from Bangladesh living in many different countries of the world. NRB Council USA requested Bangladesh Government to set up a Bangladesh Overseas Facilitation Center (BOFC) for the benefit of Non-Resident Bangladeshis. NRB Council USA proposed that The Ministry of Expatriate’s Welfare and Overseas Employment in association with Board of Investment should form a Facilitation Center, which will act as “one-stop-shop” for addressing all the queries of the Non-Resident Bangladeshis regarding opportunities available in the country.
Recent activities:
1. NRB Council USA submitted a Memorandum to US Congress through Speaker Nancy Pelosi for GSP (Generalized Special Provision) to waive Tariff on Garments Industry of Bangladesh.
2. NRB Council USA proposed Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMS) to resolve burning issue of Traffic Congestion of Dhaka City to the Government through Member of Parliament Mr. Monirul Islam.
3. NRB Council USA presented a Rehabilitation Plan (including housing plan) for Dhaka Slum Population through Member of Parliament Mr. Monirul Islam.
4. NRB Council USA proposed for Convention of Bangladesh Caucus Members of US Congress to foster better understanding between Bangladesh and US Government.

Engineer Jalil Khan Recipients of the following Awards:
• Golden Hat award from American Association of Bangladeshi Engineers and Architects (AABEA) for contributing in mainstreamtAmerican politics for the benefit of Bangladesh
• Excellence in Community Services Award from Bangladesh Unity Federation of Los Angeles (BUFLA)
• Ekushe Padak on behalf of Bangladesh Community from Los Angeles Baishakhi Mela
• Award from Professional Engineers of California Government (PECG) for the contribution and services rendered for 4000 professional engineer members.
• Certificate of Appreciation from American Association of Bangladeshi Engineers, Southern California Chapter (AABEA-SC) for the promotion and support services for engineering members.
• Certificate of Appreciations from US Congress Speaker Ms. Nancy Pelosi and from many US Congress Members.
• Founding Co-Convener of CONE (Convention of NRB Engineers), 2019. Successfully Hosted Convention of NRB
Engineers on 26 & 27 February in the year 2019 at Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as Chief Guest inaugurated the Convention, about 300 NRB Engineers from 30 different countries participated in the Convention, we have proposed & submitted about 60 long term / short term need based projects for the development of Bangladesh. All the Projects were compiled and published in the Journal for future reference, edited by Engineer Jalil Khan. Out of all these projects, Bangladesh Government already adapted and started implementation of very important projects such as: A Road Map to Cybersecurity Solution for Bangladesh, Ground Satellite Station for Monitoring, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) Center Establishment, Dhaka Traffic Mitigation etc.
The primary purpose of the Convention of NRB Engineers (CONE 2019) is to bring the Non-Resident Bangladeshi Engineers across the World and help facilitate their engagement to the development of Bangladesh.

Dr. Iftikher Mahmood
Founder
Hope Foundation

Dr. Iftikher Mahmood is a pediatrician by profession. This specialist physician from Miami, Florida founded HOPE Foundation, an organization that provides critical healthcare services to those in need, in Bangladesh. The organization was established as a non-profit in the United States in 1999 and is registered in both the United States and in Bangladesh.

The Founder of HOPE Foundation, Dr. Iftikher Mahmood, comes from the district of Cox’s Bazar. After completing higher secondary education from Chittagong College, he got admitted to Chittagong Medical College. He completed his MBBS in 1987. Subsequently, he completed his internship at Chittagong Medical College Hospital followed by a short tenure at a local children’s hospital. Dr. Mahmood then immigrated to America for higher education. He received postgraduate training in pediatrics at Brooklyn Hospital, New York, and then obtained fellowship training in Pediatric Endocrinology at Cornell University Medical Center. Simultaneously, he earned a good reputation in the field of pediatrics. He had the opportunity to be a guest speaker at various seminars and symposiums on pediatrics. He has spoken on health issues at various important institutions including the United Nations, Harvard Medical School, Tufts Medical School, and Nova Southeastern University among other educational forums.

This luminary doctor’s life is intertwined with charity. His own HOPE Foundation, which started as a small clinic in the rural area of Cox’s Bazar, later transformed with the establishment of HOPE Hospital in 2005. Since then, Dr. Iftikher Mahmood has founded multiple birth centers and rural health centers to serve underprivileged women and children. At present, there are 23 health facilities run by HOPE Foundation. In 2010, he started the Obstetric Fistula program at HOPE Foundation, which is now one of the leading fistula programs in Bangladesh. He was the pioneer to initiate midwifery training in 2012 in Cox’s Bazar, which was one of the first midwifery programs in the country. Since 2010, Dr. Mahmood’s team has been providing free cleft surgeries in the southern districts of Chattagram division; as a result, the area is today almost entirely free of cleft lips and palates.

In 2018 when challenged with the arrival of forcibly displaced Rohingya refugees fleeing violence and torture in Myanmar, Dr. Iftikher Mahmood took action and responded to their health needs through the establishment of several Sexual and Reproductive Health Centers and a Field Hospital for the treatment of women and children. The Field Hospital and several Centers are located inside the refugee camps.

Dr. Mahmood’s vision is not only grand but comprehensive. Other notable programs started by Dr. Mahmood are a cervical cancer prevention and treatment program, burn injury reconstructive surgery program, telemedicine services, mental health programs. Under his leadership, HOPE Foundation recently launched a program to eradicate fistula from the Chattagram Division with the joint support from the Government and UNFPA. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic Dr. Mahmood set-up two 50-bed Isolation units.

Dr. Mahmood’s incredible work with HOPE Foundation is providing life-saving health services to rural women and children in Bangladesh; in fact, HOPE Foundation has provided healthcare to more than one million women and children, to date. Moreover, 1,000 health workers and 80 midwives have been trained and employed for the provision of healthcare services for rural women and children.

Dr. Iftikher Mahmood received many awards including Lifetime Achievement Award from Bangladesh Medical Association of North America. He lives in Cooper City, Florida with his wife and three sons.

Dr. Iftikher Mahmood believes that people are for people. His main objective is to expand the charitable activities of HOPE Foundation across Bangladesh. . Dr Mahmood dreams of a Bangladesh free of preventable maternal and neonatal death.

Firoz Ahmed
President, Landmark Construction USA Corp

Firoz Ahmed is one of the Bangladeshi-born Americans who have got successes in life through hard work and perseverance. Hailing from Sandwip upazila of greater Chattogram, this successful Bangladeshi is one of the leading Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in the United States, who has relentlessly been working for the development of the Bangladeshi community.
Firoz Ahmed is the founder and president of Landmark Construction USA Corp, one of the top construction firms in the USA. This company is making gradual development with maintaining its reputation. He is engaged in FOBANA, a worldwide-known international organization of Bangladeshis living abroad. He was the member secretary of FOBANA Conference- 2019.
Firoz Ahmed was talented and creative during his student life. After completing SSC from Agrabad Government Colony High School and HSC from Government City College in Chattogram, he obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Government Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College. Thereafter, he worked as income tax lawyer. He was former Tax Attorney at Chattogram Taxes Bar Association. From then, Firoz Ahmed led various kinds of social and cultural organizations.
Swandip, the birthplace of Firoz Ahmed, always faces erosion as the huge waves of sea hit the seashore areas of that area. To protect the island from any damage, he provided financial assistance from abroad collecting funds from the people of his locality. He was the ex-General Secretary of Sandwip Society USA. He is engaged in Bangladesh Society of New York, USA. He performed the duty as Election Commissioner during the election of this society. He played a vital role as Chief Election Commissioner in the election of Sandwip Society.
Besides distributing relief goods among the deprived and helpless people of his birthplace Sandwip, Firoz Ahmed has been working to serve the Bangladeshi community during this worst humanitarian crisis on earth. He says, everyone should extend helping hands as per capability during any kind of crisis. He is a familiar figure in the USA media. He regularly takes part in television talk shows.

He has taken initiatives to raise awareness of the USA Bangladeshi community including Sandwip and strengthen their morale regarding coronavirus pandemic. He firmly says, “The people of Bangladesh infected with coronavirus are not criminals. We should be kind to them. If someone treats us in such way what will be our feeling?” Relief goods including food items have been distributed among the Bangladeshi helpless and insolvent families funded by Firoz Ahmed and other like-minded people.
Firoz Ahmed is not only known as an enterprising businessman but also as a politician. He is the General Secretary of Inter BNP, USA. As a conscious and advanced-minded person, he is a unique figure in politics. He says, the philosophy of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman is- “Party is greater than an individual; Country is greater than a party.” He believes, if we follow this ideology, the development of Bangladesh can be accelerated fast.
The first and foremost condition of country’s development is to establish democratic values, he further says, adding that Only one-party democracy can’t make any real development of the state.
He thinks, there are questions over human rights violations in Bangladesh. The ruling government should need to strengthen the development and image of Bangladesh through a credible and inclusive election.
Firoz Ahmed is well-known to Bangladeshi community in the USA as a politician and social worker.

Farhad Kamal
ICT Specialist

Farhad Kamal is one of the most talented luminaries of Bangladesh in the world. He now lives in Australia. Farhad Kamal has brightened the image of Bangladesh across the globe. He is an ICT specialist by profession. He has been leading the ICT world for more than 30 years. He is a member of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE, USA).
ICT expert Farhad Kamal served as Systems and Networks Administrator of the Queensland Department of Education in Australia. He has been the Public Relations Committee Chair and Social Media Promoter and ICT Director since 2015. Not only Farhad Kamal feels proud of him being well-established in a country of advanced technology like Australia but also all Bangladeshis are proud of this talented luminary. He is the pioneer of social thought and associated with the Rotary Club of Murgon and holds important positions in this organization. He is deeply involved with Volunteering Queensland. He has been an active member of Volunteer at Global Citizen. He believes, if we work together, we can make a united resistance against Covid-19 nationally and globally. Farhad Kamal’s busyness is diverse. He is the State Manager of ‘Gaan Baksho’ in Sydney.
Farhad Kamal has served as coordinator of the ICT department at Catholic Education in Brisbane. He has served there from 2017 to January 31, 2020. Prior to that, he was the ICT Coordinator at the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council. He was the Senior Systems and Network Administrator of the North Burnett Regional Council, Senior Technical Officer of the Queensland Department of Education for merely 7 years for 13 Regional Remote State Schools, Desktop Rollout Engineer of IBM, Senior Technical Engineer of Mackay Computer Service, Freelance Consultant of the Micronutrient Initiative (Canada). He served as Chief Facilitator in the Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh from 2006 to 2008. Prior to this, he was the ICT Consultant of the Canadian High Commission for almost 9 years. He was working as a System Analyst-Web Master at Computer and Management Services Ltd., Dhaka.

Farhad Kamal was the Editor-in-Chief of Internet World, a professional Internet magazine. It is notable that this was the first magazine in the Internet sector of Bangladesh. Before this, Farhad Kamal, an important genius in the internet sector of the country, has served important positions at Sir William Halcrow and Partners Ltd. (UK), Lutheran and World Service (Switzerland). He is also a talented coach. He was employed as a Computer Trainer-Assistant Computer Programmer at the Computer Training Institute of Bangladesh in his early career life.

Farhad Kamal, one of the talents of the internet sector in the world, was also very talented from his student life. He initially attended the Willes Little Flower School, an elite English medium school in Dhaka. He then passed HSC from Bangladesh Airforce Force Shaheen College, Dhaka Cantonment and BSc from Dhaka University. He took a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) degree from the Informatics Academy (Singapore) with the intention of becoming an IT expert. He then completed International Diploma in IT in NCC Education from BRAC University. He later earned a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineering (MCSE) degree from the Informatics Academy (Singapore) and a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrators (MCSA) degree. He also achieved System and Network Administrator certification from IBM.

Farhad Kamal is a cultural activist and pioneer in lyrical music videos with Bengali and English subtitles in YouTube (www.youtube.com/user/farhadkamal) for various playlists and Facebook. His YouTube channel has 130K+ subscribers and 31M+ channel views right at this moment. Farhad Kamal is globalizing famous Bengali poet, writer, music composer and painter ‘Rabindranath Tagore’ with the popular Facebook page Òü`‡q wek¦Kwe iex›`ªbv_ VvKziÓ
(https://www.facebook.com/hridoyebishwakabirabindranaththakur/) which has also a huge fan base. Right at this moment 102K+ people like this page and 113K+ people follow this page. Farhad Kamal is also running very popular online 24/7 HD Radio Station called
Òü`‡q wek¦Kwe iex›`ªbv_ VvKzi-Ab GqviÓ for Tagore Songs in different languages which is first of its kind at https://tagoresongslive.airtime.pro/. Farhad Kamal is doing great role play for the multicultural movements in Australia. He is an Adviser for ‘The Australia-Bangladesh Culture in Brisbane (ABC) Inc.’. Farhad Kamal is ‘Branding Bangladesh’ and ‘Bengali culture’ around the globe from Australia since 2008. Besides his IT profession, Farhad Kamal is a dedicated Rotarian, humanitarian, devoted social worker, community organizer, blood donner, publisher, video maker, editor, and computer article writer. Farhad Kamal is proud to be part of all these activities and also receiving ‘Australia Day Award’ twice with the Team Rotary Club of Murgon for the best ‘Community Organisation’ and the best ‘Event of the Year’ for presenting the country music festival respectively in 2017 and 2018. Farhad Kamal has also did numerous IT projects through the Rotary Club of Murgon locally and Internationally. Last one was in Fiji in 2019.

Farhad Kamal believes that “The beauty of life is not how happy you are, but how happy others can be because of you.”

Farhad Kamal is currently an internationally renowned IT specialist. He lives in Queensland, Australia. Farhad Kamal is a self-confident and hard-working individual in his personal life. His beloved father honorable late Mustafa Kamal Panu was a heroic freedom fighter. Despite residing abroad, he hopes, “Someday Bangladesh will be a wonder in world’s IT sector.”

Fakrul Islam Delwar
President,
Bangladesh American Political Action Committee (BAPAC) &
President,
Jamaica Bangladesh Friends Society

There are many selfless people in the world, who not only work for themselves but also for the betterment of the society and state. Members of Bangladeshi community in the USA do so. For the development of this community, some people work relentlessly. Of them, Fakrul Islam Delwar is a devoted soul who leads to take Bangladesh community ahead.
Fakrul Islam Delwar was born on December 30,…. in a respectable educated family at Beanibazar in Sylhet. He was meritorious from his childhood. He had a keen interest in working for people. In 1986, he got admitted in sixth grade to Public School in Jamaica. He is always smiling, self-confident and friendly. He used to observe Language Day, Independence Day and Victory Day. He became popular within in a short time. The name of this youth spread everywhere in the community. He happily lived in Jamaica with his friends. He is very much attracted to heavy shades of plants at Caption Hilly Park. He finds similarity between the green environment and his roots. Hillside Avenue attracts him very much which is down to Highland Avenue.
After completing his graduation from Jamaica High School, Fakrul Islam Delwar got admitted to Queens Borough Community College. He received higher degree from there. At that time, he realized that immigrants are not safe in abroad. They had to face many unwanted incidents in streets particularly after the Isha prayers, the devotees felt fear while returning from Jamaica Muslim Center. There were news about crimes at different places there. Many people felt worried. With a view to helping people, he along with his peers established Jamaica Friends Club. This organization will for young generation to arrange get-together particularly for those who have newly started to reside in Jamaica. Under his organizational skills, the club has become very popular to the young people and Bangladesh American living in Jamaica started to regard this organization of their own. Currently, Fakrul Islam Delwar is the president of this organization.
In fact, Fakrul Islam Delwar’s attention is only about Bangladesh community. He always tries to help if someone faces any problem there. By dint of his enthusiastic leadership, he has been elected the president of Bangladesh American Political Action Committee (BAPAC). He has also got an opportunity to lead Beanibazar Samity. Because of his organizing skills, he isn’t only popular to the people of his locality but also to Bangladesh community.
Fakrul Islam Delwar is a devoted organizer. The people of Bangladesh community give him importance. As a result, Elisia Hindman gave importance to some Bangladeshi community including Fakrul Islam Delwar before Congress Membership and Queens Borough President election. During the election campaign, he never wanted something for himself but the community. He always underscores to empower the community. He believes, if the strength of the community is increased, all the people of the community will be befitted. During the election campaign, he directly asks the candidates that if you solve our problems in the community, we will work for you. This is the leading quality of him. He never shows egotism. His thinking is only about the welfare of the community and its people.
Hailing from Beanibazar of Bangladesh, Fakrul Islam Delwar has been residing in New York since 1992. He didn’t confine himself not only establishing his dream but also work for the development of living standard of the community people. He is now working to take community people to the USA mainstream society. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and councilman Borey Lansman thanked Fakrul Islam Delwar for his contribution to the community. Melinda Katz also appointed him as a member of community board- 8. Now, if anyone wants to contest election, he or she will need his (Delwar) support. His dream is to establish Bangladeshi American in US mainstream society.
Fakrul Islam Delwar is humble and friendly in nature. His wife Farida Yeasmin is his inspiration. The couple is blessed with four sons. His father is very popular as a businessman and social worker at Beanibazar. In the context, he says, he has got the inspiration from his father. Because of his sincerity to social works and people, he has able to become as an acceptable leader in the Bangladeshi community.