Bangladeshi Community Association

The Hon. J.S. LEE (21:42): I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the South Australian Bangladeshi Community Association (SABCA) for celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2024;

2. Notes that SABCA was established in 2004 and is the largest community organisation for Australians with Bangladeshi heritage and Bangladeshis in South Australia;

3. Acknowledges the important work of founding members, current and past presidents, committee members and volunteers of SABCA for their hard work, dedication and contributions in delivering 20 years of outstanding community service in South Australia;

4. Commends SABCA for their essential role to organise cultural and social events and also to provide information and practical assistance, such as airport welcome services, accommodation assistance and information seminars to new Bangladeshi migrants, permanent or temporary residents, international students, humanitarian visa holders and working visa holders;

5. Recognises SABCA's Bangladeshi Community School is a member of Community Language Schools SA with two campuses (namely Goodwood and Elizabeth) and commends the school principals and teachers for providing educational support to South Australian Bangladeshi children to learn Bangla language and promote cultural development; and

6. Commends SABCA for their commitment to developing awareness of Bangladeshi culture, language, tradition and lifestyle among the wider community to build an inclusive and harmonious multicultural South Australian society.

It is a privilege to rise today to acknowledge 20^th anniversary of the South Australian Bangladeshi Community Association, fondly known as SABCA. It was established in 2004 and is the largest Bangladeshi community organisation in our state and is actively engaged in volunteer community activities. The association has been passionately dedicated to promoting and preserving Bangladesh's unique culture, language and traditions and building intercultural connections with the wider South Australian community for two decades.

I would like to first extend my heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to SABCA's current chairperson, the very energetic Mr Mohammad Tarik, and the hardworking executive committee, many volunteers, sponsors, supporters and their families who are the backbone of the association. I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge the founding members, past chairpersons and past committee members, who from the very beginning were committed to doing all they could to help build and promote multiculturalism and support Bangladeshi migrants to meaningfully contribute to our peaceful, democratic and respectful society in South Australia.

In addition to thanking Mohammad Tarik, the current SABCA chairperson, I would like to highlight the immediate past chairperson, Mohammad Asaduzzaman, and past chairperson Mr Mahbub Siraz Tuhin, who has also served as chief editor of the SABCA annual magazine for a number of years. I was proud to attend SABCA's Bengali New Year celebration. It was also great to see the Hon. Russell Wortley, along with the member for Torrens, Dana Wortley, who were also at the function.

On Saturday 10 May, Mr Mahbub Siraz Tuhin was presented with a very special award of recognition, a very well deserved acknowledgement for his outstanding contributions to the Bangladeshi community over so many years. Mahbub has received a number of awards in recognition for his community service work, including a City of West Torrens 2021 Australia Day Award for Community Service, which particularly highlighted his efforts to raise funds and support the Bangladeshi community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While SABCA is renowned for hosting wonderful cultural and social events such as the cherished annual Bengali New Year celebrations, the association also does so much more for the community. I commend the SABCA Association for the important role they play in providing information and practical assistance to new Bangladeshi migrants to support their smooth transition into life in South Australia.

From airport welcome services to accommodation assistance and information seminars, the SABCA new migrant advisory service is an invaluable resource for new Bangladeshi migrants, permanent and temporary residents, international students, humanitarian visa holders and working visa holders. Under chairperson Mohammad Tarik's strong leadership, SABCA has also focused in recent years on hosting career expos to provide essential support and guidance to newly arrived students and immigrants as to how to navigate the Australian job market and hosting seminars to raise awareness and share important health information on topics such as cervical cancer and bowel cancer.

SABCA also manages the Bangladeshi Community School to promote the cultural development education of young South Australian Bangladeshi students. Established by. SABCA, the Bangladeshi Community School has its own elected management committee led by principal Mohammad Azmul Hoq (Pappu) and a team of enthusiastic and talented teachers.

With two campuses located in Goodwood and Elizabeth, the school certainly educated many young students, supporting them to learn Bangla language and gain a greater understanding of their unique cultural heritage. For Bangladeshi people Bangla is not just a language but also an important aspect of their ethnic identity. In fact, the idea for International Mother Language Day was initiated by Bangladesh, in part to commemorate those who tragically lost their lives fighting for recognition of the Bangla language as the official central state language on 21 February 1952.

International Mother Language Day is a national holiday in Bangladesh, highlighting the important role that language plays in preserving and developing tangible and intangible heritage. Founded with a vision to bridging the gap between generations growing up in Adelaide with Bangladeshi heritage, the Bangladeshi Community School has become a foundation of cultural preservation and education in the community.

I would like to take a moment to highlight the contributions of Mr Mostak Ahmed Chowdhury, who served for more than 12 years as a principal of the Bangladeshi Community School and still offers his guidance and wisdom to the school community. In Mr Chowdhury's words:

The benefits of exposing children and community members to their own and other languages are twofold—they are learning, maintaining and thriving in their own cultures, and at the same time they are appreciating, respecting and learning wider Australian cultures too. Our activities stimulate the young community members to grow as globally and socially responsible Australian citizens.

This commitment to embracing and enhancing our multicultural community and building bridges between generations and cultures is something that is deeply embedded in everything that SABCA does. I am always impressed and inspired by the Bangladeshi community's selfless contributions to our society and their positive approach to life.

Once again, I express my sincere thanks to everyone involved in SABCA for their many achievements and wonderful contributions to enrich our vibrant multicultural state over the past 20 years. Congratulations to all the committee for their wonderful leadership. On the celebration of their 20^th anniversary I wish the South Australian Bangladeshi community continued success and growth into the future. With those remarks, I commend the motion.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.