Rahman wins award for 'Bangladeshi Diaspora'

 The Bangladeshi Diaspora, which came about as a modified version of Rahman’s doctoral dissertation, gives a history of migrant groups of Bangladeshi-Americans that go back to the 1940s and how they came to the United States. The book also tells how 9/11 impacted Bangladeshi citizens in the United States and their identity. It also gives an account of how the Bangladeshi citizens tried to maintain their identity and also their religious identity as Muslims in the United States after 9/11. Another point of discussion is the media’s role in connectivity to the Bangladeshi community.

“If I didn’t write the book who would? I wanted to tell their stories following 9/11,” Rahman said. “Their stories needed to be told. This is not only their stories but is also my family and friends’ stories.”

Rahman will travel to Anaheim, Calif., the first week of June to the annual meeting of the Asian/Pacific American Librarian Association to receive his award.