Irin Rahman, New York – Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi has expressed interest in reviving and rebuilding the inactive Bangladesh Caucus in the U.S. Congress following the November 3 midterm elections. He has indicated his willingness to help reactivate the congressional group and take on a leadership role to advance the interests of Bangladesh and Bangladeshi Americans.
Suozzi shared his intentions while speaking with prominent members of the Bangladeshi and South Asian communities during a Diwali celebration at the Hindu Temple Society auditorium in Flushing on Monday evening, October 26.
Representing New York’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Long Island and Queens, Suozzi serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees key areas of tax policy, trade and Social Security. He is also associated with the House Select Committee on China.
Known for his centrist political approach, Suozzi advocates bipartisan cooperation and practical solutions rather than ideological confrontation. He also serves as a Democratic co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus in the House of Representatives.
Community representatives hope that his involvement could help bring renewed attention to issues affecting Bangladeshi Americans and strengthen their representation in Washington.
Among those attending the event were former State Minister Enamul Haque Shamim, former parliamentary whip Nazrul Islam Babu, National Press Club President and former lawmaker Farida Yasmin, journalist and editor Naim Nizam, Queens Democratic Party District Leader Dr. Dilip Nath, New American Voters Association President Dipa Nath, Dr. Pradip Kar, founder of Genocide ’71, Shaktigupta, associated with the New York Police Department, Bijoy Sarkar, a founding member of the U.S. chapter of Oikya Parishad, and Shyamal Chakraborty, a leader of United Hindus.
Republican Congressman Benjamin Gilman was the founding chairman of the congressional Bangladesh Caucus. Following his death, Democratic Congressman Joseph Crowley assumed a leadership role in the caucus.
Crowley represented New York’s 7th Congressional District from 1999 to 2003 and the 14th District from 2003 to 2019. His district included several communities with significant Bangladeshi American populations. After Crowley lost the 2018 Democratic primary to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the caucus became increasingly inactive, according to community observers.
Against this backdrop, Suozzi’s expressed interest in helping revive the Bangladesh Caucus has generated renewed optimism among Bangladeshi Americans in New York. A revitalized caucus could provide an important platform for raising community concerns, strengthening engagement with U.S. lawmakers and promoting closer ties between the United States and Bangladesh. However, Suozzi’s formal appointment as chair and the proposed reorganization have yet to be officially confirmed.
