President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama invites BADC Chairman Nazmul Hassan Shahin to the White House on AAPI Heritage Celebration

USA NEWS: The US President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama invited Bangladeshi American Democratic Caucus (BADC) Chairman Nazmul Hassan Shahin at the White House AAPI Reception on Wednesday, June 22, 2011.  The reception was held at the White House in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage. The President and the First lady invited several hundred Asian American leaders from different states of the United States of America to the White House.  The BADC Chairman Shahin was very happy to be invited by the President and the First Lady. He said, “The President and the First Lady invited the Bangladeshi American Community to the White House by inviting me.  I represented every Bangladeshi Americans in the White House at the AAPI Heritage Reception. “  He added, “The Bangladeshi American Democratic Caucus, the Bangladeshi American Community, and Bangladesh were highlighted at the Reception as a result of the hard work and dedication of our leaders.  Our leaders made BADC a strong grass root political voice of the Bangladeshi Americans in the mainstream politics of the United States of America.”The guest started arriving at the White House at 3:00 pm.  BADC Chairman Shahin joined the guest from other states during social hour between 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and exchanged greetings and political views with them. Shahin also met Congressman Mike Honda and AAPI Congressional Caucus Chairwoman Congresswoman Dr. Judy Chu at the reception.

The President joined the guests at 4:15 pm.  The President greeted the guests by saying, “Welcome to the White House.”  The President acknowledged the contribution of the Asian American Community in the American economy by saying, “The Asian Americans and the Pacific Islanders are achieving success in every sector of American life.”  The President applauded the Congressional delegation, especially Congresswoman Dr. Judy Chu and Congressman Mike Honda for their leadership and hard work for the Asian American Community.

At the end of the speech, the President spent sometimes with the Asian American leaders.  The President greeted the invited guest and spoke to them.  BADC Chairman Shahin was in the front and had a chance to shake hands with the President and speak to him about BADC, Bangladeshi Americans, and Bangladesh.  Shahin handed a letter on behalf of the BADC Board thanking the President for nominating Ambassador Dan Mozena as Ambassador to Bangladesh succeeding Ambassador James F. Moriarty.  Shahin applauded the President for doing a superb job and helping rebuild the American Economy from a deep economic recession.

Shahin also handed a letter to the President thanking him for helping the American Auto Industry and saving thousands of jobs in Michigan, signing the historic Healthcare Reform Bill, the Wall Street Reform Bill, and the Housing Assistance Bill.  In the letter, Shahin requested the President to visit Bangladesh in the near future and help improve the US-Bangladesh bi-lateral interest.  He also requested the President to ask US Congress to consider duty free access of the Bangladesh garments to the US market.   The President acknowledged BADC and the Bangladeshi community and asked Shahin to hand the letters and a copy of the BADC Newsletter to the Press staff of the White House.

Indeed, the reception was a very interesting experience for many Asian American Community leaders.  BADC Chairman Shahin was glad that he had a chance to talk to the President at the White House on behalf of the BADC Board and the Bangladeshi American Community in the USA.  Shahin said, “We need to keep the momentum going.  We need more Bangladeshi Americans, specially the youths, to get involved in the mainstream politics through the Bangladeshi American Democratic Caucus (BADC).”