Over 300 businesses owned by Australian Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have come together to support one another and build trusted relationships that generate referrals and business growth.

The newly formed Australia Bangladesh Business Forum (ABBF) was inaugurated over dinner at Rydges in Campbelltown on Tuesday evening.

The event was attended by the cream of Bangladeshi business people who enthusiastically hailed the forum as a major step forward for business relations between Australia and Bangladesh.

Addressing the gathering, ABBF’s Founder-President Abdul Khan Ratan explained the forum’s vision to facilitate professional and business collaboration for the Australian Bangladeshi diaspora within the Australian and global marketplace.

“We have created the forum with the intention of providing people with a connective platform to source advice and services from within the business community and facilitate their interaction in the broader business environment,” Mr Ratan said.

Mr Ratan is a prominent local businessman of over 20 years standing. As the president of BD Hub Sydney, he tirelessly works to shine the spotlight on the rich culture of Bangladesh through immensely popular events like the annual Chand Raat Festival, while providing local residents of Bangladeshi origin opportunities to come together.

ABBF’s founding General Secretary Brian Laul pointed out that now more than ever, networking, knowledge sharing and information dissemination remain critical for business survival and growth.

“The forum will be able to facilitate consultancy, networking opportunities, governance and entrepreneurial support for Bangladeshi businesses within the Australian landscape and beyond,” Mr Laul said.

A multi award-winning business person of over 25 years standing, Mr Laul is currently Vice President of the Greater Cumberland Chamber of Commerce and Chairperson of Rainbow Crossing Inc. He is the first person of Indian sub-continent background to be honoured on Australia Day as Campbelltown’s Citizen of the Year 2023.

The Australia Bangladesh Business Forum (ABBF) is a not-for-profit organization that aims to provide the Australian Bangladeshi business sector with a common voice, which will listen to local business needs, advance their interest and support our community sectors through direct advocacy to encourage local investment. It invites any business person to become an associate member by going to its website https://australiabangladeshbusinessforum.com

As an ABBF associate, you are promptly known as a credible, engaged member of the business community, committed to improving our economic outlook and seeking to encourage multiculturalism in our region and beyond.

The ABBF’s founding Executive Committee has been declared as follows:
President: Abdul Khan Ratan
Vice President: M Z Ahmed Rubel
General Secretary: Brian Laul
Treasurer: MD Khandaker Mazharul Islam
Executive Members: MD Shafik Sheikh, MD Nazmul Hasan, A S MD Muzammel Hossain, Mohammad Khan, Sumi Akther

The ABBF boasts of a large Advisory Board whose members together bring a wealth of knowledge to the organisation. They are:
Dr Ayaz Chowdhury, Dr Serajul Haque, Shoel Khan (International Affairs), Reza Karim, M A Hadi, Hossain Arju, Mahfujul Chowdhury, Mohammad Zaman, Shafiul Alam Shahin, MD Nurul Masud, Sayed Akram Ullah, Farash Uddin Bulbul, Alamgir Hossain, Wahed Khan, Muhammed Ibrahim Khalil Masud, Gynandra Karki (International Affairs), Hari Adhikari, Hossain Kabir, Tanvir Ahmed, Abu Abdullah (Media & Publications), Abu Reza Arefin, Akidul Islam, Shahadat Bin Islam, Masud Parvez, Shah Kamal, Niffar Sayla, Sayed Rahman, Mohammed Lutfur Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman Talukder, Talat Mahmoud, Faisal Azad, Ifty Waset, Torun Rahman, Mohammed Kamruzzaman Bappi

The ABBF will hold a Gala Dinner and Presentation Night at Ottimo House on Sunday, 16 July from 6pm. For further details email Mr Ratan at ratan_khan75@yahoo.com