Bangladeshi Americans exhibit a highly entrepreneurial footprint that is rapidly evolving from small-scale retail into higher-growth corporate structures. Through education and outreach, the Diaspora Action Foundation supports expanding entrepreneurial opportunities for Bangladeshi Americans and all minority entrepreneurs. The Foundation also supports decreasing red tape and expanding incentives that will allow small businesses to thrive.
Our voices belong in the rooms where America’s future is shaped.
We fight for the welfare and interests of Bangladeshi Americans—and champion a stronger, more prosperous relationship between the United States and Bangladesh.
A diaspora organized for lasting influence.
The Diaspora Action Foundation supports, educates, and promotes the welfare of Bangladeshi Americans while advancing the economic, cultural, and national security importance of the U.S.–Bangladesh relationship.
We are building the premier national organization dedicated to fighting for Bangladeshi Americans and their interests—with credibility, resolve, and a clear seat at the table.
Ambassador M. Osman Siddique
Founder and ChairThe Diaspora Action Foundation was founded and is chaired by former U.S. Ambassador and proud Bangladeshi American M. Osman Siddique. Ambassador Siddique immigrated to the United States as a teenager and went on to become a successful entrepreneur and United States diplomat. These experiences shaped Ambassador Siddique's deep commitment to the Bangladeshi American community — and his belief that the diaspora's voices must be heard at the highest levels of government and public life. The Diaspora Action Foundation is the vehicle for that mission.
View Full BioBoard of Directors
Jon Danilowicz
Board MemberView Bio
Ambassador Farooq Sobhan
Board MemberView BioAmbassador M. Osman Siddique
Founder and ChairView Bio
Faisal M. Rahman, Ph.D.
Board MemberView BioCouncil of Advisors candidates are currently under consideration and will be announced at a later date.
Shared priorities.
One stronger voice.
Our Priorities
Our agenda starts with the daily realities of Bangladeshi American families and reaches to the defining questions of commerce, democracy, security, and belonging.
The United States is a nation of immigrants. Bangladeshi Americans make up approximately 6% of the South Asian American population in America, a figure that is growing every year.
The Diaspora Action Foundation supports a just and transparent immigration system that respects the value of family unification and provides a path to citizenship for young undocumented immigrants and immigrants with temporary status.
No American should face discrimination, harassment, or violence because of where they come from, what they believe, or how they worship. Yet Bangladeshi Americans — many of whom are Muslim — continue to face Islamophobia, anti-South Asian bias, and online harassment that threatens their safety, dignity, and sense of belonging.
The Diaspora Action Foundation stands firmly against all forms of hate. We advocate for strong federal and state anti-hate crime enforcement, greater accountability for online platforms that allow harassment and incitement to spread, and community-level programs that build solidarity across racial and religious lines. We believe that protecting Bangladeshi Americans from hate is inseparable from protecting the pluralistic values that define America at its best.
Bangladesh is one of the most important and fastest-growing nations in South Asia — a country of 170 million people with a dynamic economy, a strategically significant geographic position, and deep ties to millions of Americans. The Bangladeshi American diaspora is a living bridge between the two countries, and its contributions strengthen both nations.
The Diaspora Action Foundation believes a robust U.S.-Bangladesh relationship is essential to American economic and national security interests. We support deepening bilateral trade and investment, expanding people-to-people ties, and ensuring that Bangladesh remains a stable, democratic, and prosperous partner in a region of growing geopolitical importance. Bangladeshi Americans have a unique role to play in that partnership — and the Foundation is committed to amplifying their voice in shaping it.
The Diaspora Action Foundation is committed to protecting the civil liberties and constitutional rights of Bangladeshi Americans at home. We believe every member of our community deserves equal protection under the law, free from surveillance, profiling, or discrimination on the basis of race, religion, or national origin.
We will advocate at the federal and state levels to ensure that the rights of Bangladeshi Americans are upheld — and that our community has access to the legal resources and civic education needed to exercise those rights fully.
Turning shared priorities into lasting progress.
Our Goals
We translate the strength, expertise, and aspirations of the Bangladeshi American diaspora into informed public policy, meaningful partnerships, and sustained engagement between the United States and Bangladesh.
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Educate and inform decision-makers
Educate lawmakers, senior government officials, civic leaders, and the public about the policy priorities that can strengthen U.S.–Bangladesh economic, social, diplomatic, and national security ties. Through credible research, briefings, and public education, we will help ensure that the perspectives and contributions of Bangladeshi Americans inform the decisions shaping both nations’ futures. DAF will also work to inform the United States-Bangladesh Congressional Caucus about issues affecting the diaspora and the bilateral relationship.
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Convening dialogue and elevating leaders
Host events and forums across the United States—including at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and in New York City—as well as in Dhaka and communities throughout Bangladesh. These convenings will foster substantive dialogue, increase exposure for U.S.–Bangladesh entrepreneurs and thought leaders, and deepen national understanding of the Bangladeshi American community and the bilateral relationship. Programs will be developed with like-minded nonprofit organizations, think tanks, public institutions, and leaders across critical industries.
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Build enduring people-to-people ties
Facilitate high-impact exchanges between the two countries for public officials, business leaders, academics, innovators, and civil society representatives. In addition to bringing Bangladeshi political and business delegations to the United States, we will facilitate reciprocal visits by American political and business delegations to Bangladesh. By creating opportunities to share expertise, develop relationships, and identify areas of mutual interest, we will help build a durable foundation for cooperation across the governmental and economic spectrum.
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Keep our community informed and connected
Keep the Bangladeshi American diaspora apprised of important developments, resources, and opportunities through timely email and digital communications, including a regular newsletter. Our communications will connect community members to civic, professional, and educational opportunities while offering clear ways to participate, lead, and make their voices heard.
Become a member
Our movement needs your voice.
Bangladeshi American leaders and allies across the country are joining our movement. There’s a place for you, too.
Join the Diaspora Action Foundation to help strengthen our community’s voice and build closer ties between the United States and Bangladesh.
Please email info@diasporaactionfoundation.org to learn how to become a member today.
Support our mission with a donation.
The Diaspora Action Foundation is powered by people who believe Bangladeshi Americans deserve a strong, unified voice. Your gift supports advocacy, community outreach, and education. Every contribution—of any size—makes a difference.
Donate Today