The members of Bangladeshi expatriate community celebrate their cultural festivals by organising programs at homes, hotels, public parks and beaches.
“Trips, picnics and get-together parties are organised by organisations of Bangladeshi community on different occasions to celebrate cultural festivals,” Eng Anwar Hossin Akon, Convener of Bangladesh Community Qatar (BCQ) told The Peninsula.
He said that parties are also organised on Bangladesh’s district levels with the contribution of the participants. “We invite people for picnic and gathering through personal contact of friend circles for known people,” said Akon.
He said that the expenditures are shared by the participation in term of subscription, contribution and sometimes companies sponsor the programmes specially at occasions like Qatar National Day and Bangladesh Independence Day and cultural festivals.
“The programmes attract big number of people, recently over 1,000 people went to a picnic,” said Akon adding that members of expatriate community of Bangladesh enjoying their lives in Qatar without feeling any sense of isolation.
He said that traditional foods are served at the programmes from Bangladeshi restaurants. “Sometimes food is prepared at the venue by a team of expatriate community who reached earlier to the venues,” he added.
Speaking about the availability of food products of Bangladesh, Akon said: “Varieties of grocery items, fish and vegetables imported from Bangladesh are available in large quantity in local markets.”
He said that a favorite dish of Bangladesh community is made of dried fish (sudki) which is considered essential to serve at family gathering.
“Hilsa fish is also very important for Bangladeshi nationals and is served at almost all parties. Both types of fish are available in local market,” said Akon.
He said that Bangladesh Community Qatar (BCQ) with other Bangladeshi expatriate organisations are trying to have a cultural center like other community in Qatar. “BCQ plans to add new section to help the newcomers from Bangladesh by offering financial and logistic support and job orientation courses,” said Akon.
BCQ also coordinates with all government organizations. Akon said: “BCQ has maintained good coordination with different ministries and government organisations.” He said that representatives of BCQ participate the programs organised by the Ministry of Interior, Civil Defense, Qatar National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) etc.
“BCQ in collaboration with other organisations of Bangladeshi community mobilized over 50 people for unified services programme of the Ministry of Interior,” said Akon. He said that the programme aimed at creating awareness about the services of the Ministry and those related to safety and security.
“Dozens of socio-cultural organizations of Bangladeshi expatriate community are operating in Qatar. There are a number of professional organisations like Institution of Engineers of Bangladesh-Qatar, Institution of Diploma Engineers of Bangladesh; and Journalists and Writers Organisation. They hold seminar every year and get together like annual picnic and iftar parties. Some organization are also working on district levels,” said Akon.
Community school: The hub of social gathering
The Bangladesh community school, ‘Bangladesh MHM School & College’ operating in Abu Hamour organises a number of programs on different occasion to celebrate cultural festival of Bangladesh. “Big number of Bangladeshi expatriate community, including families, representatives of Embassy of Bangladesh and students participate the programs,” Mohamad Kurban Ali, Deputy Director of Administration of Bangladesh School told The Peninsula.
He said that the school organises International Mother Language Day on February 21. “The day is marked by organising a number of cultural programs, painting contests and quiz competitions,” said Ali.
He said that National Day of Bangladesh is observed on March 26 at the premises of the school where inter-house football and handball matches are played with other fun-filled activities. “The school also hosts a cultural programme including singing and dancing on April 14 on the occasion of new year Bangladesh ‘Nawa Barsho’. Thousands of Bangladeshi expatriate community participate the event,” said Ali.
He said that Bangladesh school with 1,250 students, majority from Bangladesh, is operating at Abu Hamour. “The school running Bangladesh National Curriculum is also have students from India, Egypt, Eritrea and even some Qatari students. Islamic studies and Qatar history and Arabic are being tough as mandatory subjects. Over 800 seats were added with the opening of two new building in 2017,” said Ali.
He said that academic year of Bangladesh school begins from January and concludes in December. The school is closes for summer vacation from July 1 to August 29.
