BAP Advisory Committee, 2024-2025
Manash Maitra
Bangladesh Association of Phoenix is pleased to introduce Mr. Manash Maitra as a member of its Advisory Committee for the term 2024-25. Mr. Maitra, the youngest of three siblings, was raised by parents dedicated to education and instilled with humble values. He earned his Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with honors from BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology) in 1993. Following this, he pursued a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University in the USA.
Mr. Maitra joined Intel (Chandler, Arizona) in February 1997, where he contributed for 26 years. Currently, he serves as the GM/Sr Director of Software at Symbotic, an AI-based Warehouse Automation company in Boston, Massachusetts. Despite residing far from his motherland, Arizona, particularly Chandler, has become a second home where he lives with his wife, Rachana Maitra, and their two children – son Avishek Maitra and daughter Monami Maitra.
With nearly three decades of residence in Arizona and active participation in numerous community events, Mr. Maitra considers it an honor to serve the Bangladeshi community as an Advisor at the Bangladesh Association of Phoenix. He is humbled to be part of this vibrant community and is eager to enhance his contributions by fostering growth and opportunities. Joining the advisory committee excites him as it provides an avenue to assist residents, build community, and leverage his strong interpersonal, leadership, open-minded, organizational, and public speaking skills. His ability to connect with residents from diverse backgrounds is a key asset
With nearly 25 years of active engagement with the Bangladesh Association of Phoenix, he has consistently supported and promoted community events to stimulate growth and foster collaboration with other multi-ethnic communities. Throughout this journey, he has participated in various volunteer programs, including MLK and MOVE, and has held positions ranging from Interim President to Vice President and General Secretary. From the planning to execution stage, he has been a driving force behind initiatives such as charity events, multilingual/multicultural programs, educational webinars, career discussions, and games.
What he finds most rewarding is the opportunity to interact with people, gather their feedback, and work hands-on to address issues to the best of his ability.
In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling, hiking, watching movies, and indulging in Bengali dramas. Acting in Bangla drama is a passion of his, and he has proudly participated in 10 dramas, including a performance in Bangamela-2019, with hopes for more! He has also established a hiking group named ‘Nilgiri’ with enthusiastic community members, providing a positive fitness program that promotes both physical and mental health.
He willingly accepts the responsibility to stay informed about the organization’s activities and provide advice to the executive directors regarding the appropriateness and general merits of policies and activities. Please feel free to reach out to him for any questions or comments. He values your impartial feedback for the betterment and cohesiveness of our community, aiming to bring prosperity and happiness. TOGETHER, let’s make this happen!
Selina Khanam
Bangladesh Association of Phoenix proudly welcomes Selina Khanam as a member of its Advisory Committee for the term 2024-25. Known affectionately as Selina Bhabi by a vast number of community members, young and old alike, Selina Khanam is a devoted mother to her two daughters, both of whom attended schools in Arizona, from middle school through Arizona State University (ASU). Now she is the grandmother of four grandchildren. Selina Khanam and her family have been deeply involved in organizing and performing Bangla cultural activities in the US and overseas.
Selina Khanam and her family have been deeply involved in organizing and performing Bangla cultural activities in the US and overseas. She loves working with children. She worked as a volunteer in Make-A-Wish Foundation and Save the Children organizations. She created a Bangla music school in the US in 1990 to help children learn Bangla music living in the US. Mrs. Selina and her daughters were the teachers in that school. Her school ran for over 11 years in Arizona, and over five years in Kentucky and in Alabama.
Throughout her life, Selina Khanam has been instrumental in organizing and participating in various Bangladeshi national cultural events, including ‘Pohela Boishak,’ ‘Ekushe February,’ ‘Bijoy Dibosh,’ and ‘Shadhinota Dibosh,’ among others. She has held the position of Cultural Secretary in the states of Alabama and Kentucky, and also in the state of Nigeria where she lived for a few years.
Selina Khanam established a cultural organization, ‘Jhonker’, and under its banner she participated in many cultural events in many cities across the US and Canada and received many recognitions for her team’s performances. Some of the cultural events Jhonkar participated in were: Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North American Bengali Conference (FOBANA), Banga-Mela, North American Bengali Conference (NABC), Bangladesh Cultural Alliance of the Midwest (BCAM), ‘Shahitto Sommelon’ and many more cultural programs hosted by Bangla-speaking Indian communities in the US.
One of Mrs. Selina’s daughters performed in ‘Notun Kuri’, a Bangladeshi reality television competition series for child artists during 1987-88, and received a number of national(Presidential) awards. Selina Khanam holds a Master of Arts (MA) degree from the University of Dhaka Bangladesh. Her profession was teaching, so is her passion. She received many awards and recognitions including “Teacher of the Year” award from the Learning Care Group in the US. Mrs. Selina humbly says, she enjoys being part of her community’s life and wish to remain involved in the cultural world.
Akram Hossain
Bangladesh Association of Phoenix is delighted to introduce Mr. Akram Hossain as a member of its Advisory Committee for the term 2024-25. He is genuinely excited to advocate for the Bangladesh Association of Phoenix (BAP), a remarkable organization that has been dedicated to serving the Bangladeshi community in Arizona for many years.
As a first-generation Bangladeshi American immigrant, Mr. Akram has been a resident of the beautiful West Valley city of Glendale, Arizona since 1990. He is a proud parent of two wonderful children, with his daughter pursuing a career in medicine and his son studying at ASU. Employed in a management position at a world-class retail store for over 20 years, he is deeply committed to both his job and the community where many immigrant families work for a living.
Having previously served as a director of the Bangladesh Association of Phoenix (BAP) from 2001 to 2002, Mr. Akram continues to contribute actively to community building, volunteering, and welfare, even after his retirement from formal community service. He has witnessed the significant population growth in Arizona, bringing both opportunities and challenges to the Bangladeshi community. BAP, through its tireless efforts, has made a positive impact day in and day out, and Mr. Akram is proud to be a part of such a noble cause.
He takes this opportunity to express gratitude to all members for their continued support and dedication to our organization. He thinks, together, we can continue building a strong and vibrant community for Bangladeshi Americans in Arizona.