North American Bengali Conference

Last updated
North American Bengali Conference (NABC)
নর্থ আমেরিকান বঙ্গ সম্মেলন
StatusActive
GenreCultural festival
CountryUnited States and Canada
Inaugurated1981 (1981)
Most recent{{End date|2024))
Attendance4000–12,000
Website cabusa.org

The North American Bengali Conference (NABC) is an annual Bengali culture conference held in the United States and Canada, typically around the weekend of July 4. It was established in 1981 by the Cultural Association of Bengal in New York, and is hosted by a different organization every year. [1] The conference includes performances, readings, discussion, networking, and class reunions.

Contents

Performers are often from the United States, Canada, Bangladesh, and India. [1] Audiences are primarily Bangladeshi American, Indian American, Bangladeshi Canadian and Indian Canadian. In 2022, Bangladeshi actor-producer Shakib Khan was appointed as the Bangladesh Outreach Brand Ambassador of NABC, the first and only brand ambassador in the 42-year history of the conference. [2] [3] [4]

2022 Banga Sammelan Chaos

The 42nd NABC which was originally scheduled to be held in 2020 but was canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which was to be held at Westgate Las Vegas. Thus the conference which had originally touted big names like Sonu Nigam, Jeet Ganguli and Padmashree Hariharan was postponed and rescheduled at PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT AND CASINO for the weekend of 1st-3rd July. Many of people who registered in 2020 also booked and secured rooms at the previous resort through NABC for the original convention dates. Since that money is handled by CAB and then divided out to the hotel there was virtually no way for convention goers to recoup money even with hotel staff confused saying they never received money from CAB the event goers were left with no way to recoup funds. In 2022 the headliners of the convention were said to have been Sunidhi Chauhan, Amit Kumar, and Sudhesh Bhosle along with many artists from Bangladesh including Jaya Ahsan Abanti Sithi Amina and James Nagar Baul. Bangladesh actor Shakib Khan should have also been the brand ambassador for the conference and was expected to attend. Many other artists from Bengal like Saheb Chatterjee, Madhuraa Bhattacharya, Malabika Sen, and Racharna Bhattacharya were also contracted to appear. On the conference weekend goers were notified that all these artists and more were not to attend citing Visa issues and payment discrepancies. As a last minute saving grace Salim and Sulaiman were booked at a much cheaper rate even when many NABC attendees shelled out over $400 for convention tickets alone to see SUNIDHI CHAUHAN. Many programs were cut or started hours behind schedule or changed halls completely. There we only about 1800 attendees on record this year given the current pandemic situation. Only after the conference did we hear that IMAN CHAKRABARTY AND POUSHALI BANERJEE along with many others from BENGAL including the Sunday Night performer SUNIDHI CHAUHAN were not paid per their written contracts. Even as far as their visa applications were not filed. After the conference CEASARS ENTERTAINMENT the owner of Planet Hollywood as well as many of NABC 2022's affiliate hotels sued Cultural Association of Bengal for not paying event fees and resort fees for an undisclosed amount.

Disorder at the 2023 conference

The 2023 North American Bengali Conference was held at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and various events across the city were expected to take place, including a torch procession from Albany Avenue/Bader Field. The conference was expected to generate from around $1 million to $8 million in revenue. [5] Many of the flagship singers and producers that were expected to appear at the conference such as Arijit Singh and Javed Ali did not appear at the conference, which sparked outrage amongst the conference goers. Other small events, such as the opening ceremony, which was supposed to contain a student choir and a talent show, were postponed and cancelled, respectively. Sports were also expected to be held at the event, but they were cut out after the conference failed to bring singers and caused fury. The KPC Hall of Fame President Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, who was the chief planner of the event, was blamed by many acclaimed performers and other event conveners such as Jayati Chakraborty, sitarist Sahana Chatterjee and Raghab Chatterjee. [6] The performers at the lineup also said they were denied water, food, and many other performers on the lineup could not stay any longer and left.

After the issues in 2023, the organization began restructuring and pledged to hold the 2024 and 2025 NABCs in a more orderly fashion.

Venues

NABC hosting Partner organizations (CAB Sister organizations)

  1. Ananda Mandir, NJ
  2. GSCA NJ
  3. Kallol NJ
  4. BCAA
  5. BASC
  6. Dakshini Los Angeles
  7. Prabasi Bay Area
  8. Uttoron Seattle
  9. Pragati Philadelphia
  10. Prabasi of New England
  11. KPC Bengali Hall of Fame
  12. BSF Florida
  13. Toronto Kalibari
  14. Krishti Edmonton
  15. Prabasi Bengali Cultural Association (PBCA), Toronto
  16. Bengali Association of Greater Chicago (BAGC)
  17. ICC Garden State
  18. ECDPA NY
  19. Vedanta Society NY
  20. Tagore Society of Houston
  21. RDM NJ
  22. Bharatiya Kala Kendra NJ
  23. Paschami Bay Area
  24. Sanskriti Washington DC
  25. Prantik of Baltimore
  26. Sanskriti Bay Area
  27. Saikat San Diego
  28. Bengali Association of Nevada
  29. Bengali Association of Minnesota
  30. Valley Bengali Community LA
  31. Ankur Sacramento
  32. Bengali Community of Sacramento
  33. Anandahwini NY
  34. BADV Newark
  35. Dhroopad INC Washington DC
  36. GSPC, Jersey City
  37. BCS, South Jersey
  38. NASKA Connecticut
  39. Lipilekha NJ
  40. New York Kali Mandir
  41. Chicago Kali Bari
  42. Sreeshti NJ
  43. Mrittrika NJ
  44. Udaan Delaware
  45. Ghorroa Philadelphia
  46. Washington Kali Temple

See also

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