Anika Rahman
A promising politician in American mainstream politics

Anika Rahman, a golden daughter of Bangladesh, is now not only a Bangladeshi American but also a promising leader in the mainstream American politics. She has been in Virginia’s political arena for more than 10 years. At the age of 13, Anika got involved in social works as a volunteer through the local Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Anika works for the development of adolescents in the Virginia Bangladesh community, including the elimination of inequality, the expansion of education and creating awareness. She also makes efforts to create awareness about the exploitation and neglect of young girls in particular.

Anika Rahman is a progressive woman with experience in local state and national level politics. Because of her professional advocacy, she has developed close ties not only with the Muslim community but also with the Hispanic, African American and Asian communities. She can understand their problems and needs and take initiatives to solve them. Anika’s great quality is that she is fluent in speaking French, English, Hindi and Bengali.
A confident, talented and smart Anika Rahman holds a bachelor degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in International Development from George Mason University. At the end of study, her first work began with the Muslim American Citizen Coalition and the Public Affairs Council, which gave her the opportunity to meet with designated individuals, partners, congressional staff, government officials, and organizations to present Muslim-influenced policy priorities and key issues in the United States.
Anika Rahman became more interested in politics as she understood the importance of civic engagement and had her studies on it. So, she helped the Virginia Democrats and many more to fluff up 15 seats in the House of Delegates, serving as an organizer of CASA in Action, a non-profit organization in the Mid-Atlantic region. She has been involved in public meetings and social justice movements as well as lobbying for bills to be passed in Congress and the Senate. She had the opportunity to work closely with the Burma Task Force on the Rohingya genocide.
She has played a significant role in the mainstream American politics and continues to do so. She has worked for Virginia Majority Leader Dick Saslaw to help Democrats win a majority in the General Assembly in Virginia in 2019. She then served as director of state Senator Janet Howell’s campaign and then she worked as surrogate in her re-election campaign. In light of her experience in campaigning, she had the opportunity to work with local elections and committees.
She was recently named ‘Unsung Hero’ by the Democratic Asian-American (DAAV) in Virginia. This dynamic leader of the time Anika Rahman is serving as the second vice-chairman of the board of directors of DAAV. The Bangladesh community is proud of her position.
Anika Rahman was a fellow at Schar School of Policy and Government Fellow (George Mason University) in 2019. She is a graduate from UVA’s Sorenson Institute (Candidate Training Program). She is currently attending Emerge’s 2020 Boot Camp. At present, she is the Legislative Director for Delegate Kaye Kory. Being connected with various tasks and responsibilities, she was able to understand about policies as well as views of the top policies of the state. It is enviable for many that Anika Rahman is getting the opportunity to perform her duties at all levels. She is in charge of resolving or assisting in the event of a disaster, epidemic or any other problems.
However, she expresses frustration over the lack of accountability of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh. She is keen to use this position to work directly on law and policy for Virginia. Anika Rahman has already announced her candidature for the local office. This is increasing the interest of the concerned people including Bangladesh community about Anika Rahman.
Anika Rahman is sympathetic and believes in democratic change. As an intelligent and self-confident leader, Anika Rahman believes, she needs to play a role in helping the Muslim community locally and globally. For this, she is working very carefully. She says, “Proper platform and facilities will be ensured for the development of the community.”
Anika Rahman will surely be able to establish herself as a talented politician through her competency, experience and hard works.

Dr. Monwara Hakim Ali CIP
Chairman
Genetica Group

Monwara Hakim Ali is a dynamic and result-oriented leader. Her keen interest in the development of Women Entrepreneurship and Equality for Women in the workforce has led to her success in business, community and society at large. As a pioneering business and socially active women of Bangladesh since the late 1970s, she has successfully founded and spear-headed businesses and women-based institutions and organizations.

She has traveled many countries with the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh as a member of her entourage.

Born in Chittagong, she graduated in Hospitality Management from City of London College, U.K. and completed the prestigious NDC Fellowship – Capstone Course from National Defense College (NDC), Bangladesh.

Mrs. Ali was the First-ever elected women to the position of First Vice President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI)

She Established International Women SME Expo Bangladesh and First Butterfly Park in Bangladesh.

She Organized and led Bangladesh’s first-ever participation in Miss World Contest in Sun City, South Africa, 1994. Mrs. Ali is the Founder of Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CWCCI), Chittagong Women Entrepreneurs Association and Women Cooperative Society Ltd.

She has established Drug Rehabilitation & Treatment Centers, Educational and Vocational Training Institutes in Chittagong.

Mrs. Ali is the Chairman of Genetica Bd. Ltd. Vice Chairman Intraco Group and also one of the owner of the pioneer family-owned Four Star Hotel Agrabad, in
Chittagong. Under the umbrella of her family business, she has successfully diversified the business into various sectors like Renewable Energy, Real Estate, Tourism & hospitality, Medicine, Food and Beverage, Agri-Business and Organic Fertilizer.

Currently, she is holding distinguished positions in a number of Government and Non-Govt. organizations: Director, The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce Industry (FBCCI), Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), Teletalk Bangladesh Ltd., Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd., Coal Power Generation Co. Ltd., SME Foundation (SMEF), Bangladesh Federation for Tourism Development (BFTD) and Ansar VDP Unnayan Bank. She is also EC Member – SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), Member, Governing Body Bangladesh Tourism Board and Regional Advisory Board of Asian University for Women (AUW), National Consumer Right Protection Committee, Ministry of Commerce Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. President, Anti-Corruption Prevention Committee of Greater Chittagong.
She was also the Former, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Chittagong, Managing Director of Hotel Hawai Ltd. President of Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CWCCI) and Chittagong Women Entrepreneurs Association, Vice-President SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

As a successful leader in business, community and society at large, she has been coveted with a number of national and international awards and Gold Medals from prestigious organizations, like: TIAW Award, IWEC Award, UNESCO Award, Daily Star – “HSBC GREEN Award” Helen Keller Award, Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award, Begum Rokeya Nari Kontho Shining Personality Award, Moulana Bhasani NationalAward, Business Express Award, Ananya Top Ten Award, Kazi Nazrul Islam Gold Medal, Journalist Syed Abdul Khahhar Gold Medal, Chandrabati Gold Medal, Mother Teresa Gold Medal, Sufi Motahar Hossain Gold Medal, Mowlana Mohammed Moniruzzaman Islamabadi Gold Medal and Atish Dipankar Gold Medal.

She is also the author of two reader-worthy books -”Awareness & Prevention of Drug Abuse” and “Way to a Successful Career.”

She is happily married and blessed with two sons and one daughter.

Bajloor Rashid MBE
President
UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry

In 2014, he became President of the UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry (UKBCCI), which he co-founded. Bajloor Rashid was a key business figure in setting up this new chamber of commerce based in London. The UKBCCI is a leading umbrella organisation for successful British-Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in the UK and Bangladesh. As President of the UKBCCI, he is the founder of the UKBCCI Business & Entrepreneur Excellence Awards and has been the driving force behind it since 2016.
Bajloor Rashid MBE is a British Bangladeshi businessman and philanthropist. He is best known for his tenure as President of the BCA 2006-2012. Bajloor’s business activity has been prolific in the UK and Bangladesh. His efforts include state-of-the art restaurants, a property company, an insurance company, a hospitality resort and three medicare service institutions including a 500-bedded medical college hospital in Bangladesh. Bajloor is also a director of a Bangladeshi travel tour company and a chairman of a company specialising in gas filling station outlets. He is currently Chairman for Progressive Life Insurance Company Limited. Humanitarian causes have figured large in his adult life. He is a dedicated social worker and has always been at the forefront of many community movements.
Whilst president of the BCA; he was at the forefront of the great Trafalgar Square demonstration which attracted tens of thousands of people. This sparked a debate in the House of Commons just days later about the immigration rules. The demonstration was aimed at drawing government attention to the problems the curry industry had over skilled chefs being included in the shortage occupation list of UKBA in 2008. His work has been recognised by sitting and past Prime Ministers and also by the leader of opposition, Mr Ed Miliband MP, who all have singled out Bajloor’s contribution to the curry industry.

His strong entrepreneurial sense means that he is always looking at ways to create something new for people and is currently researching and working on a number of new projects. He says “The best way to address social injustice among the have-nots is to teach them skills and get them into work”. He ensured that the members who joined the BCA had every opportunity; to not only develop their business and social skills, but also to build their leadership and philanthropic capabilities. In the BCA, Bajloor was instrumental in giving the BCA Awards international status and industry recognition, through his drive to build the brand. Throughout his career he has received many awards; in 2012 and 2013 the BB (British Bangladeshi) Power 100 List, ranked him as one of the top ten and top twenty most influential BB individuals in the UK, Channel S Television awarded him Business Personality of the year in 2013.
The British Bangladeshi Who’s Who, is an annual publication, which is a celebration of individuals from various sectors who are at the top of their respective fields. Bajloor has been listed a number of times in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 for his work in Catering and Communications. In 2015 he was listed for his work in the Business & Community Sector. In 2014 Bajloor was awarded in recognition for his outstanding contribution.
Bajloor was honoured at the Curry Life Awards in October 2018. He became the first recipient of a new award known as the Curry Life MA Rahim Memorial Award, which is dedicated to the life of M A Rahim and was the main award of the night. It was awarded due to Bajloor’s outstanding contribution to the curry industry, as well as the wider community.
Mr Bajloor Rashid was awarded an MBE in the 2012 New Year Honour’s list of Her Majesty the Queen, for his lifelong contribution to the British Bangladeshi catering Industry.

The Non-Resident Bangladeshis are playing an important role in sending remittance from different parts of the world. The NRBs are awarded to Commercially Important Person (CIB) honor in every year sending remittance in a legal way. The NRBs demanded separate economic zone to the government. The demand has been made at the two-day long first ‘Global Business Summit-2020’ held January 7-8 at Crowne Plaza in Dubai. Business America Magazine was the event partner of this summit. 500 hundred NRBs from 20 countries were present at the summit. In the summit, all NRBs have been called upon to invest in Bangladesh without any hesitation. Local Arabians with other invited guests were present at the summit who want to invest in Bangladesh.

On the first of day of the summit, Bangladesh Ambassador to Arab Emirates Mohammad Imran addressed the summit as the chief guest. Consul General to Dubai Iqbal Hossain Khan and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries Vice-President Dilip Kumar Agarwal addressed the summit as special guests. Bangladesh Business Council, Dubai President Md Mahtabur Rahman Nasir delivered the welcome speech. Presided over by convener of the summit Ayub Ali, the summit was addressed by Bangladesh Busienss Councial Vice-President Mahbubul Alam Manik, Raja Mallik, Member Secretary Saifuddin Ahmed, President and Managing Editor of Business America Magazine Enamul Haque Enam along with other business leaders of Bangladesh.

On the second of day of the summit, Bangladesh Consulate General in Dubai Commercial Counselor Kamrul Hasan the summit as the guest of honor. Among others, invited businessmen and entrepreneurs including Dr Saiful Khandaker, Dr Wali Taser Uddin, Robiul Kari Belal, Kazi Sarwar Habib, Tamima Kabir, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Yasin Chowdhury, Tahmina Watson, Sadi-uz-Zaman, Mohammad Ismail, Mahir Al Khan Ratul were also present at the summit.
Mahtabur Rahman Nasir sadi 12 million people of Bangladesh are working in abroad in different jobs. Of them, 10 lac people are businessmen who don’t have acquaintance with other Bangladeshi businessmen. If NRB businessmen and entrepreneurs unite themselves and take collective efforts, the economy of the country can be improved largely. And Bangladesh can be one of the most important economic powers of the world.

He said, Bangladesh has already got the recognition of a country of huge potentials. In 1971, Bangladesh was economically a devastated country but now it has already succeeded to reach to the right track of development. In free economy market, Bangladesh has stood strongly at her own feet. Per capitia income of the country is now above 1900 US dollars.

Mahtabur Rahman said, we are going ahead with building up the dreams the greatest Bangalee of the thousand years and father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We want to take our country to bigger world stage contributing to implement the Vision 2021 of Bangabandhu’s daughter Jananetri Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. We want be a part of this unique status in the world. He said industrialization and economic development are deeply connected to each other. New mills and factories are set up through investment and new employments are created. Through foreign investments, exchange of new technologies is taken place which is a demand of time. We should take the opportunity in the age of this golden chapter of world economy. We must attract more foreign investments.

Mahtabur Rahman Nasir said, Bangladesh is far behind regarding the investments at individual level. Development of the most of countries of South-East Asia has been made possible through foreign investment. He said we who are working in abroad. If of them 40 percent entrepreneurs and businessmen used to invest in Bangladesh, billions of investment can be done in the country. And if this is happened, the foreign investors also want to invest in our country.
In the two-day summit, different session over potentiality of gold industry, real estate, digital banking and export and import industries in Bangladesh were conducted. Highlighting the investment of Middle-East countries including United Arab Emirates, the NRBs urged to the other foreign investors to invest in the economic zones of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Business Council under Dubai Chamber of Commerce has been working for the trade interest of the NRBs entrepreneurs and business there. For this purpose, this business summit has been arranged for greater interest of them. In the closing ceremony, President and Managing Editor of Business America Magazine Enamul Haque Enam thanked and greeted to all the participants for taking part in the first Global Business Summit. He informed that the second edition of this summit will be arranged in a greater stage in the next year.
The summit was concluded with a colorful cultural program where traditional dances and songs were performed. Country’s renowned singer Pintu Ghosh entertained the audiences at the closing ceremony.

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