MEMBERS of Ballarat\u2019s Bangladeshi community got together last week to catch up, socialise, and share food and culture.<\/p>\n
The event took place on Friday at the Ballarat Masonic Centre and co-organiser Ahsan Chowdhury said it was an \u201cexcellent\u201d for the city\u2019s Bangladeshi locals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really good to see everyone having a relaxed afternoon. We\u2019re all migrants from Bangladesh so we discussed our national issues and events, music,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really good bonding among the community members. They love to share their feelings, their struggles over good food and each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s good for our older members who might not know many people here to see that connection continued and getting to see new or younger faces.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about meeting each and everyone, getting to know new members of the community and saying goodbye to those who are leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nearly 115 people attended with the event organised by a committee of about 15 people.<\/p>\n
Activities like quizzes and guessing games were put on for the kids while adults took part in trivia and poem-reading.<\/p>\n
First established in 2017, the social gathering was the community\u2019s first in about four months and Mr Chowdhury said it showcases a strong Bangladeshi culture in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think events like these are a message that that this is a colourful bonded group. We love to enjoy culture and our food with other people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis event was more for our Bangladeshi community but we do have our religious festival gatherings, usually two a year that we invite people of all cultures to come to.\u201d<\/p>\n
The organising group is a voluntary association of Bangladeshis, and Mr Chowdhury said he hopes to establish a registered community body by mid-next year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MEMBERS of Ballarat\u2019s Bangladeshi community got together last week to catch up, socialise, and share food and culture. The event took place on Friday at the Ballarat Masonic Centre and co-organiser Ahsan Chowdhury said it was an \u201cexcellent\u201d for the city\u2019s Bangladeshi locals. \u201cIt was really good to see everyone having a relaxed afternoon. We\u2019re […]<\/p>\n