Bangladeshi American Advocacy Group Holds Town Hall on 2026 US Elections in New York
The Bangladeshi American Advocacy Group (BAAG) held a town hall meeting in Woodside, Queens, New York, on October 4, urging greater political participation and civic engagement among Bangladeshi Americans ahead of the 2026 US elections.
The “BAAG Leadership Town Hall Election 2026” brought together community leaders, organizers, advocates and representatives of various organizations to discuss voter awareness, electoral participation, community priorities and stronger representation in policymaking.
Participants emphasized that a community’s political influence depends not only on its population or economic standing but also on organized civic engagement. Discussions highlighted voter registration, casting ballots on Election Day, maintaining communication with elected officials and presenting community concerns and priorities in a coordinated manner.
BAAG President Zainal Abedin stressed the need for more active and coordinated participation by Bangladeshi Americans. He said voter registration alone was not enough; community members also needed to understand the electoral process, vote regularly and effectively communicate their concerns to policymakers.
He also called for a long-term, unified community agenda, noting that coordinated efforts could help strengthen the community’s political influence and ensure its priorities received greater attention.
BAAG General Secretary Shahana Masum highlighted voter education and community engagement, particularly the importance of involving young and first-time voters, promoting civic responsibility and developing future leaders.
Other participants included Patrick Martinez, the Democratic primary winner for the New York State Assembly seat in District 30; attorney Moin Chowdhury, District Leader-at-Large of the Queens Democratic Party; retired NYPD Lieutenant Commander and political figure Shamsul Haque; political figure Mohammed Sabul Uddin; Time TV CEO Abu Taher; CPA Zakir Chowdhury; Babbi Syed, a candidate for general secretary in the Bangladesh Society election; Jamaica Muslim Center General Secretary Mohammed Fakhrul Islam Delwar; former organizational general secretary J. Molla Sani; Bangladesh American Society Secretary Ameni Mehedi Babu; and Imam Muhammad Shahidullah, among others.
The meeting also focused on encouraging younger generations of Bangladeshi Americans to pursue careers and leadership roles in politics, public administration, advocacy and public service. Participants called for stronger cooperation among different generations and community organizations.
Past election experiences were reviewed, including successful outreach strategies, coordination challenges and barriers to voter engagement. Participants also discussed leadership development, voter education initiatives, collaboration among organizations and the importance of maintaining regular communication with elected representatives before and after elections.
Organizers said the 2026 elections should be viewed not merely as an electoral cycle but as an opportunity to strengthen the long-term political and civic capacity of the Bangladeshi American community.
The central message of the town hall was that stronger political representation requires organized and sustained civic participation, enabling Bangladeshi Americans to play a more influential role in public policy and decision-making.
