One river, two homes. The Surma still flows.
Sylhet Sodar Dakshin Surma Association of Michigan, established 2018, brings together families from Sylhet Sadar and Dakshin Surma Upazila — preserving our language, festivals, and food, while building a home for the next generation in Michigan.
From the banks of the Surma to the shores of the Great Lakes
Sylhet Sadar and Dakshin Surma Upazila sit along the Surma River in Sylhet District, Bangladesh — a region known for its tea gardens, wetlands, and a tradition of community that travels with its people wherever they settle.
As families from these upazilas put down roots across Metro Detroit, Hamtramck, and beyond, Sylhet Sodar Dakshin Surma Association of Michigan was founded in 2018 so that distance from home would never mean distance from each other.
Today we are a volunteer-run community organization, based at our office on Conant Ave in Detroit, connecting first-generation immigrants and their Michigan-born children through language, faith, culture, and mutual support.
Our Mission
"To keep the warmth of home alive in every Michigan winter — through community, culture, and care for one another."
— FOUNDING CHARTER, SOUTH SURMA ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN
Our Committee
Elected by the membership for a two-year term, our committee and advisory council volunteer their time to keep the association running.
Md Lilu Mia
Jafor Iqbal Mollik
Vice Presidents
Secretariat
Portfolio Secretaries
General Members
Advisory Council
For privacy, individual committee members' personal phone numbers are kept off this public page. To reach any committee member directly, please contact the President or General Secretary above, or use the office contact form below.
Four currents, one community
Like tributaries feeding the same river, our programs each serve a different need — together they hold the community together.
Pohela Boishakh & Eid
Annual celebrations of the Bengali New Year, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Eid-ul-Adha with food, music, and traditional dress for the whole family.
Sylheti & Bangla Classes
Weekend classes for Michigan-born children to learn to read, write, and speak the language their grandparents grew up with.
New Arrival Support
Help with housing leads, school enrollment, and navigating Michigan winters for families newly arrived from Sylhet.
Bridge Programs
Mentorship pairing young professionals with elders — sharing job guidance one way, oral history and recipes the other.
Upcoming gatherings
All events are open to members and their guests unless noted. RSVP through the contact form below.
Recent event
A look at our most recent community gathering — thank you to everyone who joined and to our generous sponsors.
বনভোজন ২০২৬
Held Sunday, August 16, 2026 at Holmes Park, South Pavilion — 3001 E Thirteen Mile Rd, Warren, MI 48092.
The day included an opening ceremony, sports competitions, a community lunch, and a prize raffle — made possible by our sponsors and local businesses along Conant Ave and beyond.
Join the association
Membership includes
- Voting rights at general meetings and elections
- Free or discounted entry to all cultural events
- Access to mutual aid and new-arrival support network
- Priority registration for language classes
- Monthly community newsletter
We'd love to hear from you
Whether you're new to Michigan, want to volunteer, or are planning to join — reach out and someone from our committee will respond within a few days.