The 22nd conference of the Federation of Bangladeshi Associations in North America (Fobana) was formally inaugurated at Hotel Hilton in New York on Thursday.

Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof SMA Faiz inaugurated the conference organised by America-Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (ABCCI).

The three-day conference features seminar, symposia, cultural programme, talent show, NRB conference and award giving function.

The opening ceremony was attended by Editor of the Naya Diganta Alamgir Mohiuddin, Editor of the Ittefaq Rahat Khan, Prof Ahmed Kamal and Editor of The New Age Nurul Kabir, according to a message received in Dhaka yesterday.

Inaugurating the conference, Prof Faiz expressed his satisfaction over the presence of Bangladeshis at the function and termed it a 'mini Bangladesh'.

He also said that the expatriate Bangladeshis are playing a vital role in helping the development process of the country by sending remittances.

The VC also expressed his hope that such conferences would help promote Bangladeshi culture, history and traditions abroad.