Honoring Dr. Pryalal Karmakar

An event was held at the Walter Reed Community Center to recognize and celebrate the contributions by Pryalal Karmakar to the Bangladeshi and other multicultural communities of Arlington and Northern Virginia and to mark the occasion of achieving his doctorate in Business Management. 

Doctor Karmakar, better know as Prio, came to the US alone at age 18 from Bangladesh. He served our nation for ten years in the US Marines, and took opportunities to advance himself educationally. He founded the Prio Bangla charitable organization, organized the annual Prio Bangla Multicultural Festival along Columbia Pike, implemented social service initiatives including free medical clinics, immigration and legal advice centers, Virginia Humanities projects, active civic engagement projects, and climate awareness initiatives. He currently serves as a Program Manager (Policy & Plan) at the Pentagon for the Assistant Secretary of Defense. He is married to his wife Puley, also originally from Bangladesh and a professional IT consultant, and is raising their family together with her.

His example of achievement and community service as a beacon and role model for immigrants to our nation was recognized by many speakers, including Arlington County Board members Libby Garvey and Takis Karantonis, CPP director Andrew Schneider, attorney Sudeep Bose, Tannia Talento from Senator Mark Warner's office, David Bearinger from Virginia Humanities, Arlington County Board candidate JD Spain,  Studio Pause director Sushmita Mazumdar, Arlington arts and civic activist Natalie Roy, Arts Commission member Tina Worden, Chairman of the Federation of Bangladeshis in North America Mohammed Alamgir, Arlington County Sheriff Jose Quiroz, and by several of his colleagues from the US Marine Corps. among other distinguished guests.  Proclamations in honor of Dr. Karmakar were presented from Senator Warner, Congressman Beyer,  Governor Youngkin, and the Arlington County Board. The event was emceed by Lloyd Wolf and Rebecca Mimms, and was catered by Cafe Sazon.

Photography by Lloyd Wolf.