Bangladeshi-Americans should take part in American politics
Photo: AFP
I would like to express my appreciation for your editorial entitled "President Obama's second term: What it means for Bangladesh". America's size and power make it the "most important bilateral partner" (as your editorial described it) for many countries around the world. American politicians respond to the concerns of American citizens, and US-Bangladesh relations do not play a large role in American politics. But according to U.S. Census figures, there are 86,000 American citizens of Bangladeshi descent, as well as 11,000 citizens of mixed race with some Bangladeshi ancestry. Additionally, there are hundreds if not thousands of Americans living in Bangladesh now, and thousands more (including myself) who have had the privilege of travelling and spending time in Bangladesh. Often immigrants to the U.S. have diluted political power because they do not participate in the American political system. Bangladeshi-Americans, and others who want to encourage good relations between America and Bangladesh, can vote, donate to political campaigns, volunteer for campaigns or political organizations, email or call politicians, and write to American newspapers. The 54,000 Bangladeshis in the U.S. who are not U.S. citizens can do all of these except vote and donate money. Several cities in the U.S. have large enough Bangladeshi-American communities to sustain informal networks or even organized groups of Bangladeshi-Americans; these groups in particular are well-equipped to educate and influence political leaders. The Bangladeshi-American community, and other Americans with an interest in Bangladesh, can be a powerful voice for Bangladeshi concerns in American politics. The Daily Star should encourage its American readership to take part in the American political process.
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