Mission Statement
The Bangladeshi American Bar Association (BABA) aims to strengthen the rapidly growing Bangladeshi American legal community with a recognized and trusted forum for professional growth and advancement, and promote civil rights and access to justice for the Bangladeshi community living in the US. Our goals and objectives include:
Access to Justice
To educate the Bangladeshi community living in the US by providing legal information and access to a network of pro bono services.
Leadership Building
To encourage High School and College going Bangladeshi Americans to come to this profession and bring change in the society.
Professional Growth
To provide mentorship and support for professional development opportunities for individual law students and attorneys.
Diversity and Inclusion
To promote diversity and inclusion efforts that ensure equal participation in the legal profession and greater representation in the judiciary.
Civil Rights
To combat efforts to limit and marginalize the Bangladeshi Americans and immigrant communities.
Collective voice
Become a collective voice in the greater legal community like ABA and State Bars.
Attorneys’ Alliance
To promote continued integration, solidarity, connectedness, coordination and concerted initiatives – professional as well as social – of collective interests among the American attorneys of Bangladeshi origin.
Board of Directors
Raju Mahajan
President, BABA
Raju Mahajan is an Employment and Immigration Attorney licensed in Maryland and Washington DC. Upon graduation with a MA degree from West Virginia State University, he enrolled in Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Law to pursue legal education. He graduated with a JD degree in 2019 and started his own firm named Raju Law.
Other than practicing law, Raju is involved with many professional and progressive political organizations. He is the founding President of Bangladeshi American Bar Association. He is also a member of ABA’s Labor and Employment Law Section and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He loves talking to people, traveling and living in mountain cabins.
Najma Hussain
Vice President, BABA
Ms. Hussain is a licensed attorney in the states of New York and New Jersey. She received her law degree from Suffolk University Law School in 2018. Ms. Hussain is the current Co-President of the New England Muslim Bar Association (“NEMBA”) and Vice President of Bangladeshi American Bar Association (“BABA”).
Ms. Hussain currently works at John Hancock/Manulife’s Private Markets and General Account Compliance Team. She is responsible for Manulife Investment Management Private Markets’ US investment advisory activities conducted through Manulife Investment Management Private Markets (US) LLC. Her work includes regulatory filings, policy and procedure development, investments anti-money laundering compliance matters, specialized compliance testing, and client compliance reporting. Ms. Hussain also supports the Team’s general compliance activities related to the General Account.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Hussain was a SJC certified student attorney and worked as a law clerk at various Boston based law firms. She also held numerous internships with Manulife’s Government Relations and Corporate Responsibilities department. She is the current co-president of the New England Muslim Bar Association.
Shafi Chowdhury, Esq.
Treasurer, BABA
A lawyer experienced winning difficult yet rewarding cases. Seasoned with courtroom and trial experience, especially in front of the Immigration Courts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Additionally, experienced handling and winning immigration cases before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Also successfully handled real estate, personal injury, civil litigation and divorce cases.
Nousheen Ehsan
Secretary, BABA
Nousheen Ehsan Brishty (professionally known as Bri Ehsan) was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A former student of the prominent Holy Cross Girls’ High School, Nousheen emigrated to the United States with her family in 2003 and continued her educational journey. She graduated with Latin Honors from University of Missouri – St. Louis with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement. While in college, Nousheen lived in St. Louis, a city that was gravely impacted by racial injustice. As a socially conscious, community-oriented citizen, she became compelled to act and stand up against the various racial inequalities in her city. She met with various local and national leaders including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former United States Attorney General Eric Holder in an effort to advocate for her community and find solutions to the social justice issues that plagued St. Louis. Inspired by the words of these political pioneers, Nousheen became involved in local politics to help elect political candidates who will properly represent her community and be a voice for those who are voiceless. She later attended law school at Southern Illinois University School of Law with scholarships and graduated in 2020. While in law school, she managed the high profile local campaign for the current St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell as the Deputy Campaign Manager and Field Director. Nousheen has currently accepted a position as an incoming Assistant Prosecutor and Legislative Liaison for St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office, pending Bar admission in July 2021. She will continue her work in politics and in the community, with ambitions of getting involved in national politics later on in her career. Nousheen has recently received the great honor of being appointed as the Secretary for the Bangladeshi American Bar Association (BABA).