My parents won't accept him, and I'm so torn

As-salamu alaykum. I’m 19F from Syria, and I’ve grown close to a 19-year-old Bengali Muslim man through MSA. Our connection developed slowly and naturally while working together-nothing rushed or flirtatious at first. Over time we started talking more and eventually admitted our feelings for each other. We’ve already discussed marriage seriously: roles, emotional needs, parenting, faith, and the kind of home environment we want. We both want the same things. When I talk to him I feel a calm and peace I’ve never known before. I’ve had crushes before, so I can tell the difference between excitement and that steady peace - this feels like peace to me. We did make a mistake early on: before we acknowledged our feelings we hung out a few times in public as friends because we enjoyed each other’s company. We both realize that wasn’t the best start and we want to correct it and make things halal properly. But that early impression has made my parents prejudiced against him. When I tried to explain his character, his sincere intentions, the respect he shows me, and how he wants to involve both families, my parents didn’t want to listen. They immediately said no. This is largely cultural: my family cares deeply about reputation and community opinion. They expect me to marry an older Arab man who is financially established and in a high-status job. They think staying within our ethnicity is necessary for honor and compatibility. They say he’s too young and won’t be stable financially. No one in my extended family has married outside Syria. They told me to cut him off, leave MSA, and they’ve started monitoring my phone. I know they’re acting out of fear and shock, but it still hurts. I don’t want to disrespect my parents, run away, or break the family ties - I love them. But I also don’t want their traditional, and frankly prejudiced, expectations to decide my whole future. I have a very strong feeling he could be my naseeb, and we’re both ready to do what’s needed. We plan to speak with an imam for guidance. He’s not encouraging rebellion. He’s not rushing me. He’s calmly said he will wait as long as it takes and wants to do this the right way. We both feel this is from Allah, and we’re praying tahajjud and making dua every day asking Allah to soften my parents’ hearts. I’ve met his mother and she likes me a lot. The only real barrier now is my parents. I don’t know what to do. They think I’ve cut him off but I’m still in contact. I don’t see them changing their minds easily. Maybe I’m overreacting, but part of me thinks the only way this will work is to proceed and let them accept it later. But I deeply value my parents’ respect and approval - they love me, yet they’re not open-minded. I’m so lost and unsure how to move forward. Please make dua for ease and guidance.