By Shah J. Choudhury
Enthusiasm is running high among Bangladeshi immigrants in New York as the 2026 election of Bangladesh Society Inc., one of the largest social and community organizations in North America, approaches.
On Sunday, September 6, candidates submitted their nomination papers to the Election Commission at Queens Palace in New York. From the evening until 10 p.m., the venue remained vibrant with the presence of candidates, supporters and well-wishers, creating a festive atmosphere surrounding the nomination process.
Two major panels are contesting this year’s election—the Selim-Ali Panel and the Kunu-Firoz Panel. In addition, two independent candidates have entered the race, setting the stage for what is expected to be a highly competitive election.
Candidates had collected their nomination forms from the Election Commission on September 2. With the submission of nomination papers, the election campaign has now entered a more active phase.
Greater Focus on Women’s Representation
Women’s representation has also received attention in this year’s election. The Selim-Ali Panel has included two women candidates: Shahnaz Hossain, contesting for the position of Women and Children’s Affairs Secretary, and Rumana Ahmed, running for Literary Secretary.
The Kunu-Firoz Panel has also fielded a female candidate. Outside the panels, Rabbi Syed has submitted his nomination as an independent candidate for General Secretary, while Shakti D. Gupta is contesting independently for Cultural Secretary.
Election for 19 Positions
According to the constitution of Bangladesh Society, the election will be held for a total of 19 positions.
The six top executive positions are President, Senior Vice President, Vice President, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary and Treasurer.
There are also eight secretary-level positions: Organizational Secretary, Publicity and Public Relations Secretary, Social Welfare Secretary, Cultural Secretary, Literary Secretary, Sports and Recreation Secretary, School and Education Affairs Secretary, and Women and Children’s Affairs Secretary.
The remaining five positions are Executive Member seats.
Nearly 35,000 Voters
The Bangladesh Society election is scheduled to take place on October 25. With nearly 35,000 eligible voters, the participation of two strong panels and independent candidates is expected to make this year’s election particularly competitive.
As election day approaches, campaign activities are expected to intensify across the Bangladeshi community in New York. The focus is now on which panel and candidates will ultimately earn the confidence and support of the community’s voters.
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