Immigrants International Celebrates National Immigrants Day

IRIN RAHMAN

"National Immigrants Day" was celebrated in New York with great enthusiasm and grandeur. Organized under the banner of "Immigrants International" by community leader, philanthropist, and Executive Director of the organization, Attorney Moin Chowdhury, the inaugural event took place on Wednesday, October 28, at the Queens Palace in Woodside.

The event was attended by distinguished guests, including influential U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng, judges from various New York courts, mainstream political figures, and prominent community leaders. Seven individuals from diverse professional backgrounds were honored for their achievements and outstanding contributions to the community and their respective fields. Speakers at the event also urged all voters to cast their ballots in the upcoming November 3 elections.

The program commenced with a solo dance performance by a young-generation dancer, followed by a welcome address from the organizer, Attorney Moin Chowdhury. Seven distinguished personalities were then presented with awards:

Honorable Justice Karen Gopee – New York State Supreme Court

Honorable Justice Cassandra A. Johnson – Queens County Surrogate’s Court

Rob Chowdhury – Real Estate Industry Leader

Adil Rana – NYPD Inspector

Shiv Dass – President, Jackson Heights Indian Merchants Association

Khandakar Abdullah – NYPD Inspector

Dr. Mohammad Enamul Haq – Eminent Physician

Attorney Moin Chowdhury, along with other community dignitaries, presented plaques to the honorees.

In addition to the invited guests and awardees, speakers included Edwin I. Novillo (candidate for Queens County Supreme Court Judge), Emond Weng (candidate for Queens County Civil Court Judge), Jasmine Valle-Bueno (candidate for New York Civil Court Judge), Abu Taher (CEO of Time Television), and Ibrahim Chowdhury (Editor of the Weekly Prothom Alo). The event was hosted by prominent businessman Rocky Aalian.

During the event, citations were presented to the seven honorees on behalf of U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng. In her brief address, Congresswoman Meng commended Attorney Moin Chowdhury for his community work and recalled his book on immigration law. She emphasized:

"America is a nation of immigrants. Immigrants are the ones who built this country. To make this nation stronger, we must elect qualified candidates through the elections, and everyone should participate in the November 3 elections."

Congresswoman Meng made special mention of NYPD Inspector Adil Rana, noting:

"I have known him for a long time. Inspector Rana was my special guest during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. President Obama even greeted him upon leaving. Children from the Muslim community in my Queens constituency are growing up proudly as Americans and serving their country with honor." In his welcome speech, Attorney Moin Chowdhury stated:

"America is a land of immigrants. There are legal pathways to stay here. No legal immigrant can be deported, and certainly not American citizens. As long as you have valid documentation, living in this country will present no problems."

He urged all voters to elect qualified candidates in the November 3 election and encouraged anyone facing immigration issues to reach out to his office.

When real estate leader Rob Chowdhury received his honor, prominent politician and businessman Giash Ahmed, alongside the South Asian American Realtors Association (SAARA) General Secretary Nuruzzaman Sardar, leading a delegation including Ferdous Khan, Sarwar Khan Babu, and Mohammad Masud Shiraji, congratulated him and presented him with an honorary plaque on behalf of SAARA, praising his success in the real estate sector.

The second part of the event featured a cultural program. Popular diaspora artists Shah Mahbub, Kamruzzaman Bokul, Prema Rahman, Mitul Haq, and Nasir performed songs, with Babu Zaman hosting the segment. The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony. Throughout the evening, a digital screen highlighted the activities of Attorney Moin Chowdhury and "Immigrants International," an organization established in 2024. A large number of Bangladeshi-Americans attended the event, which was managed under the overall supervision of the organization's Administrative Director, Tariqul Islam Mithu.