Bangladeshis will be an essential part of America's socio-culture in the next 35 years: Rehman Sobhan
The 35th New York International Bangla Book Fair 2026, one of the biggest events of Bengali language and culture in North America, has started. The four-day fair was inaugurated at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in New York on Friday. The theme of this year's fair is 'As many books as life'. The fair will continue till next Monday (May 25).
Eminent economist Professor Rehman Sobhan was the chief guest at the opening ceremony. He said, 'In the last 35 years, Bangladeshis have become known as a visible ethnic group in America; In the next 35 years, Bangladeshis will become an essential part of the socio-culture of this country. Regarding the country's history, he said, "Through the correct study of history, we should continue to strive for consensus on many controversial issues of our national history."
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the intellectual tradition of Bengali, Rehman Sobhan was awarded the Muktdhara Sukartya Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.
Participating in the special discussion, sociologist Professor Rawonak Jahan said that the concept of secular Bangladesh was as strong as the foundation for their generation; But now in Bangladesh a section of the new generation is seen supporting religion based politics, which is very sad.
Fiction writer Imdadul Haque Milan inaugurated the event. He insisted on taking a big international initiative to translate Bengali books. Earlier, Ziauddin Ahmed, chairman of the organizing organization Muktdhara Foundation, gave a welcome speech.
Biswajit Saha, the founder of Muktdhara Foundation, was given a special honor on the occasion. This book fair was started in New York in 1992 on his personal initiative. A documentary on him was also shown.
The pre-opening ceremony began with traditional drumming and Rabindra Sangeet. On the opening day there were recitals, music, dances and special commemorations. Three personalities of Bengali language and culture, Mahasweta Devi, Abul Kalam Shamsuddin and Tapan Roy Chowdhury, were honored on the occasion of their birth centenary.
Leading publishing houses of Bangladesh and Kolkata participated in the fair. Ananya's publisher Monirul Haque said, 'New York International Bangla Book Fair is not just a book selling event; Rather, it has become one of the centers of cultural identity and emotions of the diaspora Bengalis.
Publishing houses participating in the fair include Muktdhara Foundation (New York), University Press Limited, Prathama Prakashan, Ahmed Publishers, etc. Granth Prakash, bdnews24.com, Ankur Prakashani, Anboy Prakash, Kathaprakash, Kabi Prakashani, Nalanda, Batighar, Granthkuthir and Jaldhi.
In this four-day event, there will be unveiling of new books, literary discussions, poetry readings, children's programs, cultural performances, author-reader chats and special discussions on expatriate culture.
Prominent writers, poets and artists from Bangladesh, India and North America (USA and Canada) are participating in it. Among them are Channel Eye Managing Director Faridur Reza Sagar, Deepen Bhattacharya, Taufiq Imroz Khalidi, Subodh Sarkar, Farooq Moinuddin, Sadat Hossain, Monirul Haque, Mostafa Sarwar, Zafar Ahmed Rashed, Gautam Dutta, Shams Al Momin, Farooq Ahmed, Rokeya Haider, Ferdous Sajeedin, Khorshedul Islam, Ashraf Kaiser, Golam Farooq Bhuiyan, Raju Alauddin, Syed Zaki Hossain, Birupaksh Pal, Nazrul Mintu, Ashraf Ahmed, Mohitosh Talukder etc.
