Ashram’s Vision: Building a Stronger Community - Editor’s Corner
For over a decade, Ashram has been providing a space for Bangladeshi Canadians to reflect on their heritage while embracing their Canadian identity.
In addition to providing a platform for self-expression through its pages, Ashram has organized events to showcase Bengali culture, music and performers. The recent concert featuring artists from Ottawa, Toronto and Bangladesh stands as a testament to this commitment. In the past, the magazine also reached out to English, French and other cultures to reduce distance between Bangladeshis and others. Despite limited resources, it partnered with the Canadian Red Cross to raise funds for disaster relief in Nepal, an initiative that reflects our commitment to humanitarian values. Through these efforts, Ashram continues to promote a secular, vibrant, and forward-looking image of the Bangladeshi Canadian community.
As the community evolves, so too has the magazine. Recognizing the importance of broader engagement, Ashram transitioned from a Bangla-only publication to a bilingual platform in Bangla and English. This evolution not only bridges linguistic divides between Bangla speaking Canadians the wider Canadian public, but also connects first-generation Bangladeshi Canadians with and younger generations growing up in Canada.
Communities thrive when diverse groups, defined by profession, geography or other backgrounds, make efforts to connect and communicate with each other. Such collaboration fosters unity, strengthens collective identity, and shows how diversity can be a real strength. It also opens doors for young leaders to step up and guide the community forward.
Ashram can only grow beyond its limited resources if the entire Bangladeshi community comes together in support. The magazine has already benefited from the help of Bangladeshi businesses, which have shown strong support for community activities. If other groups also step up, we will be able to grow faster and become a stronger and consistent platform for reinforcing connection between Bangladeshi Canadians and other Canadians. Often, it’s not just financial contributions that make a difference; moral support and active involvement can be even more important. Such active participation can help Ashram continue its mission to build a stronger sense of community identity.
In a multicultural country like Canada, our differences are visible and often celebrated. But our goal is to turn those differences into strengths. By embracing diversity, we can build stronger connections with each other and with other Canadians.
We are grateful to all who have stood by us, offering encouragement and taking part in our activities. Your continued support inspires us, and we look forward to working together to achieve our vision.
Ottawa.
September 23, 2025
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23-09-2025
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