Canada Bangladesh Muslim Community (CBMC) is a Bangladesh community group in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The group’s main focus is practice and encourage Islamic way of life among all generations of Muslim Bangladeshi-Canadians. Founded in 2014, Canada Bangladesh Muslim Community organizes wide variety of activities for its members and community. Most of the activities are focused on educating and mentoring the Bangladeshi youth community in a fun way – such as essay competition for youth, civic cleaning drive, gardening, annual picnic, sporting competition, blood donation drive, Islamic discussion, Iftaar Mahfeel etc.
Objectives
- To sustain and promote the religious, cultural and social values and traditions and ideals of the Bangladeshi Muslims in Canada by involving Canadian Bangladeshi youth who are born and/or raised in Canada; to enable them to think through their identity trajectory; to establish an identity that is multifaceted, Islamic, Canadian and Bangladeshi in order to become proud Canadian of Islamic faith.
- To promote greater understanding, mutual respect, tolerance and cooperation amongst Canadians of diverse religious, cultural, social and multi-faith groups in Canada.
Activities of Canada Bangladesh Muslim Community (CBMC)
- Conduct seminars and discussions on topics of interest germane to the CBMC’s objectives.
- Organize an annual Blood Donor Clinic in partnership with the Islamic Society of Cumberland (Bilal Mosque) and other interested parties.
- Participate in the yearly Petrie Island Cleaning Initiative in partnership with Orleans Multicultural Association and other interested parties.
- Organize an annual community picnic and encourage celebrating diversity by engaging youth of different age groups through various activities during the picnic as well as through all of the CBMC’s activities.
- Organize an annual Badminton and Basketball Tournaments involving community members across the National Capital Region with a view to strengthening friendship amongst our children and their friends.
- Support CBMC’s youth wing titled CBMC Green’s approved activities.
- Distribute Qurbani (Udhiyyah) meat and non-perishable food products for the Ottawa-based Sadaqa Food Bank.
- Organize an annual Iftar Mahfeel during the month of Ramadan along with associated activities, such as, Essay Competition and Student of the Year Award; recognition of a Canadian of Bangladeshi origin for his or her contribution in his or her field of endeavours by according a Distinction Award.
Most of the activities are done by Bangladesh community as a volunteer. Sometimes students are given credit for their volunteering work. Sometimes the group provides stipend or scholarship as an encouragement.