lET’s GET socIAl: lITTlE BANGlAdEsH
Eleven years ago, Mohammad Hanif arrived in Dubai to make this city his home. Today, this 36-year-old works as an assistant manager at Al Ansari Exchange, Dubai Festival City, and says he’s found his Little Bangladesh here. Hanif, who hails from Chittagong, runs a social media community page to bring Bangladeshis in the UAE together. Called ‘Bangladesh community in UAE’, it’s his little attempt to keep the Banglas together. Though the page has only 2,900 Likes, he shares that the members meet up and bond outside the virtual world as well. “I created the page in 2012 and ever since it has served as a source of information and a forum — where we share both our memories and problems. We also try to help one another and as a result no one is left feeling alone in a foreign land.”
Every summer, the group visits a construction site, “We distribute water and juice among the workers, and sit down and have a chat with them. It’s our small effort of giving back to the community. The big smiles on their faces ensure we return each year.”
On December 16, Victory Day of Bangladesh, the group plans to meet up over a picnic in the desert. “We’ll sing Bangla songs and enjoy good Bangla food with families and friends.” Another day they don’t fail to meet up is March 26, Bangladesh’s Independence Day. “I wanted to bring together my fellow Bangladeshis. There are times when we all miss the lives that we’ve left behind and in those moments simple things like being able to talk in one’s language, eating food from our land, etc. helps.” The group also hosts singing competitions for children, a much-looked forward to event. Well, a true blue Bangla has to know how to sing, right? Join them: facebook.com/BDCOMUAE