Atlantic City Shaheed Minar: Community Leaders Call for Unity

Subrata Chowdhury, Atlantic City, New Jersey : Community leaders in Atlantic City and South Jersey have called for unity within the Bangladeshi-American community amid growing concerns, frustration, and division surrounding the newly inaugurated permanent Shaheed Minar in Atlantic City.

Leaders of various political, social, cultural, regional, and community organizations, along with representatives of civil society, held a press conference Wednesday night, September 30, at the Bengal Club auditorium in Atlantic City. Helal Hasan presented a written statement on behalf of the organizers. At the outset, the organizers emphasized that the press conference was not intended to personally attack any individual or organization. They said their primary objectives were to present historical facts, uphold the dignity and significance of the Shaheed Minar, and advocate for unity and the collective rights of the Bangladeshi community.

The press conference featured remarks from writer and journalist Ibrahim Chowdhury, Helal Hasan, Ali Chowdhury, Mohammad Didar, Sheikh Amin, Saeed Doha, Paplu Chowdhury, Faruk Hossain, Enamul Haque, Sabur Mia, Akbar Hossain, Mohammad Shaheen, Subrata Chowdhury, Zakir Hossain, Monirul Alam Babu, Aulad Hossain, Faruk Talukdar, and others.

Speakers said the Shaheed Minar, a symbol of the Bengali Language Movement and the sacrifices of the martyrs, should serve as a unifying symbol for the Bangladeshi community. They expressed concern that if further division develops around a monument intended to represent unity, the physical presence of a permanent Shaheed Minar alone will not be enough to uphold the spirit and values of Ekushey February.

The speakers strongly condemned what they described as efforts to create division within the community surrounding the inauguration of the permanent Shaheed Minar. They called on community members to put differences aside and work together to preserve the monument’s dignity and historical significance. The community leaders also called on everyone to stand together at the same Shaheed Minar on February 21, when Bangladeshis and Bengali communities around the world observe International Mother Language Day and commemorate the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement.

They stressed that future generations deserve more than a permanent monument. According to the speakers, the community should also leave behind an accurate history, respect for the sacrifices of the language martyrs, and a united Bangladeshi-American community. The speakers said the permanent Shaheed Minar in Atlantic City can become a meaningful symbol of Bengali heritage and history if the community works collectively to preserve its dignity and promote unity.