Rafiqul "Manik" Islam Oral History Interview
Oral history interview with Rafiqul "Manik" Islam on July 18th, 2022, conducted by Subat Matin. Rafiqul “Manik” Islam was born in Sandwip, Bangladesh. He came to United States for the first time in 1971 but left and then permanently settled in America in 1986.
Rehana Alam Oral History Interview
Oral history interview with Rehana Alam on July 18th, 2022, conducted by Subat Matin. Rehana Alam was born in Sylhet, Bangladesh, although she is originally from Sandwip growing up her family moved around a lot. Rehana immigrated to the United States in 1991 with her two sons while her husband had been working in America to provide for the family.
Mohammed Sufian Oral History Interview
Oral history interview with Mohammed Sufian on July 11th, 2022, conducted by Subat Matin. Mohammed Sufian was born in Sandwip, Bangladesh and first immigrated to the United States in 1989. He came through a visit visa with his wife and had to leave behind his four children in order to establish his life in America first.
Mohammed Abdul Jabbar Oral History Interview
Oral history interview with Mohammed Abdul Jabbar on July 11th, 2022, conducted by Subat Matin. Mohammed Abdul Jabbar was born in Chittagong, Bangladesh. His family is from Sandwip and growing up he would visit Sandwip to see relatives and visit his village.
Humayon Kabir Oral History Interview
Oral history interview with Humayon Kabir on July 17th, 2022, conducted by Subat Matin. Humayon Kabir was born in Sandwip, Bangladesh and immigrated to the United States in 1983. Humayon came with a visit visa and almost immediately began working. He worked a construction job alongside his father and brothers and eventually established his own construction business.
Mohamed Borhan Uddin Oral History Interview
Oral history interview with Mohamed Borhan Uddin on July 5th, 2022, conducted by Subat Matin. Mohamed Borhan Uddin was born in Sandwip, Bangladesh. He immigrated to the United States in 1976. Uddin talks about having to leave his family behind after getting married because he needed to provide for them and the only way that was possible was to work abroad and be away from his family for years.
Neak Chowdhurey Oral History Interview
Oral history interview with Neak Chowdhury on July 17th, 2022, conducted by Subat Matin. Neak Chowdhury was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh and immigrated to the United States in 1981. When she first moved to Brooklyn there were not many Bangladeshi people living here at that the time.
Rafiqul "Rafiq" Islam Oral History Interview
Oral history interview with Rafiqul "Rafiq" Islam on July 19th, 2022, conducted by Subat Matin. Rafiqul “Rafiq” Islam was born in Sandwip, Bangladesh and immigrated to New York in 1982. Islam had been a businessman from the get-go, opening many businesses in Bangladesh and a few in America.
Mohammed Idris Alam Oral History Interview
Oral history interview with Mohammed Idris Alam on July 18, 2022, conducted by Subat Matin. Mohammed Idris Alam was born in Sandwip, Bangladesh and immigrated to New York City in 1980. His father first immigrated to the U.S. which made it easier for Idris Alam to get his visa.
Ashna Ali (she/they) is a Best-of-the-Net-nominated, diasporic Bangladeshi poet, educator, and cultural critic based in Brooklyn. Raised in Italy, they are queer and disabled.