Division, Calls for Unity and Recognition of History Surround Shahid Minar Opening in Atlantic City

The newly inaugurated permanent Shahid Minar in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has sparked concerns about division, disappointment and frustration within the Bangladeshi community.

Against this backdrop, leaders of various political, social, cultural and regional organizations in Atlantic City and South Jersey, along with representatives of civil society, held a press conference calling for proper recognition of the history behind the Shahid Minar project and greater unity within the community.

The press conference was held Wednesday evening, September 30, at Bengal Club. Speakers said their intention was not to personally attack any individual or organization. Rather, they said their goal was to protect the dignity of the Shahid Minar, present the historical facts accurately and ensure collective participation and rights within the community.

The press conference was moderated by Kajal Sarkar. Speakers said the history of observing International Mother Language Day, February 21, in Atlantic City goes back many years. According to them, Bengal Club of Atlantic City has been organizing the observance since 2000.

They said the organization has never considered the February 21 observance to be its exclusive event. Instead, it has worked with people representing different political views, including supporters of the Awami League and BNP, as well as social, cultural and regional organizations, to organize the observance collectively.

According to the speakers, when an initiative to establish a permanent Shahid Minar in Atlantic City emerged in 2023, representatives of Bengal Club and various political, social and regional organizations came together under the leadership of Mohammad Akbar Hossain, president of the Atlantic City Bangladesh Press Club.

They said the collective effort continued in 2024. Later, with financial contributions from various individuals and organizations and the labor of Bengal Club members, a temporary wooden structure modeled on a future permanent Shahid Minar was built. The temporary structure remained at the same location through 2025 and 2026.

At the press conference, speakers alleged that the official ribbon-cutting flyer and press materials of Ducktown CDC, which they identified as the primary organization behind the permanent Shahid Minar project, listed Bengal Club of Atlantic City as a “community partner.”

Despite that recognition, they alleged that no representative of Bengal Club was given an opportunity to speak at the inauguration ceremony.

The speakers said the issue was not simply about being denied an opportunity to speak. They questioned why representatives of various political, social, cultural and regional organizations, the press club, Lions Club, business associations and civil society were not adequately involved in what they described as a historic inauguration process.

The press conference also addressed an incident involving journalist Subrata Chowdhury. According to the speakers, Shahid Khan of the Atlantic County Bangladesh Association referred to Chowdhury in front of those present as a “false journalist” and accused him of writing false information.

Chowdhury said the writing that had been criticized was not a news report but a personal piece he had published on his own Facebook account.

The speakers said that if anyone has objections to a journalist’s work, those objections can be addressed through facts and reason. They said personal insults are not acceptable. They also described such an incident in front of the Shahid Minar as unfortunate, particularly because the monument symbolizes the struggle for language rights and freedom of expression.

The speakers also raised questions about whether the national anthem of Bangladesh was performed and whether a one-minute silence was observed in memory of the Language Movement martyrs during the inauguration ceremony.

They said different accounts had circulated regarding the matter. If the national anthem was performed and a minute of silence was observed, they called for the release of the full video of the ceremony or other credible evidence documenting it.

The press conference presented four demands. They included proper recognition of the contributions of individuals and organizations involved in establishing the Shahid Minar from 2023 to the present; open discussions and coordination with different community organizations for future February 21 and Shahid Minar-related programs; ensuring that the Shahid Minar is respected as a universal memorial rather than being treated as the achievement or property of any individual or group; and resolving personal and organizational disagreements through dialogue.

Writer and journalist Ibrahim Chowdhury, Helal Hasan, Ali Chowdhury, Mohammad Didar, Sheikh Amin, Said Doha, Paplu Chowdhury, Faruk Hossain, Enamul Haque, Sabur Mia, Akbar Hossain, Mohammad Shahin, Zakir Hossain, Monirul Alam Babu, Awlad Hossain and others spoke at the press conference.

The speakers said they do not consider any organization or individual an enemy and do not want further division within the community.

They said the focus should not be on control or dominance over the Shahid Minar, but on ensuring broad participation and proper recognition of the historical contributions of everyone involved rather than assigning exclusive credit to any individual or group.

At the conclusion of the press conference, the speakers called on members of the entire community to stand together in front of the same Shahid Minar next February 21.

They said that for future generations, the community should leave behind not only a permanent Shahid Minar but also an accurate history of its establishment and a united community.