Abdul Wahed Mahfuz
An agricultural entrepreneur
in Florida

Abdul Wahed Mahfuz, a Bangladeshi-origin American, is the first Bangladeshi Entrepreneurial Businessman in the state of Florida. He came to the United States over 40 years ago. He started his first business in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County in 1981. He worked very hard and expanded his businesses in South Florida. Additionally, he helped many Bangladeshis when they first arrived to the United States by providing them housing, job assistance and basic necessities in the early 80’s when there was no foundation of Bangladeshis in South Florida. Throughout his 40 years in Florida and to this day, even after the Bangladeshi community grew, he continues to help the community in many different ways.

He is widely familiar as “Mahfuz” and he hails from an aristocratic and educated family of Borkol Chandasnaiash, Chittagong. His grandfather, Mawlana Mazharul Haque, was a respected principal in Hugli, West Bengal in the early 1900’s. Abdul Mahfuz father, Abdul Hai M.A and mother, Anwara Begum. His father received his Master’s Degree from Dhaka University in 1929 in a time where many Muslim people did not have a chance to even have any higher education. His eldest brother, Dr. Abdul Wazed Mahmud, came to the United States in the mid 1960’s. His eldest brother then brought their family to the United States later on.

His wife, Nazmun Mahfuz is a female entrepreneur. She helped him from all aspects of the business and together they grew their establishments. During the mid 90’s, Nazmun Mahfuz established the first Bengali TV program in Florida. It was the only Bengali TV show on American television broadcasted on air every week on PBS and cable television in South Florida for many years. His daughter, Tasmin Mahfuz, is a news anchor in Washington DC area. She won the prestigious “The Gracie’s Award” for journalism. His son, Tamzid Mahfuz, has a Master’s Degree and is a business analyst.

Even after becoming a well-established businessman and entrepreneur, he felt something missing in his heart and the need to do more. Aspiring to fulfill his emptiness, he purchased a forty-two acre land seventeen years ago which includes a lake in Florida. The land in Florida is known to be very fertile for agricultural purposes as there are many tropical fruit trees and vegetable nurseries. He planted two hundred different kinds of tropical fruit trees and vegetables including mangos, jackfruits, lychees, coconuts and etc. He also brought various kinds of seeds including squash, tomato, bean, chili, snake gourd and etc from Bangladesh and planted them. The view of his farm is very pleasant and beautiful. Besides his family and friends, many people go there to see the green and lovely environment of his farm. He distributes his thousands of fresh fruits and vegetables to family, friends and devotees of several Mosques in South Florida year-round. His two projects have been established and are surrounded by 300 bighas respectively.
Abdul Mahfuz, after living in the United States for so long, did not forget his motherland even after his successful career in America. Whenever he gets time, he visits Bangladesh. He established “Borkol Abdul Hai Anwara Begum Girls’ High School” in his own homeland naming it after his parent’s names about 20 years ago. Through this school, the underprivileged girls have the opportunity to receive higher education. Many of the girls went on to have respected occupations such as college teachers and lawyers. The school is fully funded by Abdul Mahfuz. Furthermore, he has taken steps to establish a Polytechnic College. He believes that the young generation needs to be provided technical education so that they can be protected from unemployment. According to Abdul Mahfuz and his wife, the Bangladeshi community in the United States has brightened the image of Bangladesh through philanthropical efforts and initiatives.

Dr. Omar Ishrak
Chairman, Intel Corporation

Dr. Omar Ishrak is one of the Bangladeshis who have been able to brighten the image of Bangladesh by dint of their talent, wisdom, intelligence outside Bangladesh. Dr. Omar Ishrak has been elected chairman of the board of directors of Intel Corporation, the world’s second-largest American technology giant. He joined the company as an independent director in March 2017. He replaces Andy Brayant, the outgoing chairman of the board. Andy Brayant has worked for the organization in various capacities for more than three decades and has been its Chairman since 2012. About the newly elected chairman Bangladeshi American Dr. Omar Ishrak, he said, “Omar Ishrak is quite qualified and skilled to run such a global organization.”
Dr. Omar Ishrak is truly fortunate to be the first person to chair such a world-renowned electronics company. Prior to joining Intel Corporation in 2016, he was the chairman and CEO of Medtronic, a world-renowned medical technology company. The headquarter of this company is also in the USA.

A luminary of Bangladesh Dr. Omar Ishrak has completed a bachelor degree in electronic engineering. He later moved to London and earned a PhD in Electrical Engineering from King’s College, University of London. He was very meritorious from his childhood. He has a deep affection for people as much as he is addicted to acquiring knowledge. He likes to do challenging work. He is also dedicated to the welfare of the people.
A skilled, experienced and accomplished executive Dr. Omar Ishrak is a member of the Board of Trustees of Asia Society. The Asia Society is an Educational Organization that conducts and collaborates to strengthen relationships and participation between the people, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United Kingdom in a global context.

Dr. Omar Ishrak took over Intel at a time when the market was facing a lot of competition. Intel is the world’s second largest and lowest cost electronics manufacturer which was founded in 1938. Intel produces quality electronics products at affordable prices, including the X86 series of microprocessors, which are mostly used in personal computers. Evaluating Intel, Fortune magazine listed it as one of the 500 largest companies in the United States in 2019.

Dr. Omar Ishrak is the only Bangladeshi American who has taken over as chairman of a globally established electronics manufacturing company like Intel. It is not only matter of joy and proud for Bangladeshi Americans but also the people of Bangladesh. Dr. The US embassy in Dhaka has also congratulated Dr. Omar Ishrak on being the head of Intel.

Dr. Omar Ishrak has also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Medtronic. It is one of the leading medical technology companies in the world. Its head office is located in the USA since 2011. By April 26, he had made significant progress in Medtronic’s board company. Prior to joining Medtronic, he served senior positions at General Electric, a worldwide business, for 16 years and also served as President and CEO at General Electric Healthcare Systems. GE Healthcare is a division of worth of 12 billion approximately. Prior to that, he was the Senior Vice-President of Healthcare.

Whenever and wherever Dr Omar Ishrak was in charge, he encouraged every worker to engage in job and make them enterprising to work in new ways. He would tell them I had come so far through work from an officer. He used to advise everyone to acquire skills at work.

In the initial 13 years, Dr. Omar Ishrak has accumulated experience in technology development and business management of such inert materials and has developed a wide range of products from various ranks in Diasonics, Vingmed and Philips Ultrasound.
Dr. Omar Ishrak believes, if we want to move Bangladesh forward, we need to develop the technology sector. Therefore, technical education should be given priority in the education system.

Izzy Hossain
A Renowned Engineer and Social Figure

The talented and genius surely win in the world. Izzy Hossain, a Bangladeshii American has proved it true through her successes. She has become able to reach to an enlightened position in terms of both engineering and cultural personality through her sharp thinking, talent and hard work. Izzy Hossain is also well known as a contemporary intellectual.

Izzy Hossain has been talented since childhood. She went to the United States for higher education after passing SSC from Holy Cross Girl’s School and HSC from Holy Cross College, a top level school in Dhaka. She graduated in 1997 from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in the United States with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. She also holds an MSEEE degree from the same university. She is currently one of America’s top female engineers. As a talented engineer, she has achieved success in her career as well as established herself as a rising star in the world of art and culture.

Izzy Hossain, a talented and self-confident engineer, has been working as a skilled engineer for over 20 years. Her skills and experience have already given her the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of technological advances. She is known as an acumen consultant in the field of engineering. If anyone asks her why she joined the industry, her answer is ‘I have a love & passion for STEM’. She is currently working as Engineering Manager of Intel, a world-renowned and established company. Intel has gained a reputation as a computer processor maker, largely through technological advancement. At present, the company is making significant contributions in other fields of computer.

Engineer Izzy Hossain is a senior member of Tech. Staff & AT & T. She was an engineer at Bell Labs/Lucut Technologies in Mary Hill, New Jersey from 1999 to 2004. This diligent and good-looking engineer is not only involved in the field of engineering, she is also known as a singer and reciter. She has been involved in the cultural activities since childhood. The busyness of work in a famous company like INTEL could not harm her psyche and thinking. She used to recite poems and sing songs regularly. She has made a name for herself, especially as a Rabindra Sangeet artist. Her recitation attracts people very much.
She also cherished Bengali culture in abroad. Izzy Hossain is known as a prominent artist in the Bangladesh community of Texas, USA. Her daughter Alyina has appeared in a number of shows on National TV, featuring the talented mother Sukanya Eliana’s COVID-19 feature on DELL’s commercial. Areeb Hossain is also a distinguished scholar. He completed his MS-Phd from the National Science Foundation as an environmental engineer.
Izzy Hossain is also a painter. She has drawn a series of paintings on global warming. She loves to read stories on the Liberation War. She has been involved herself in the development of Bangladesh even in the midst of busyness and abundance abroad. She has also participated in various programs in the Bangladesh community. She always says Bangladesh is our roots. When the roots get dry, the tree cannot survive. If we also forget the culture of Bangladesh, we will not exist.

Tasmin Mahfuz
Television Journalistand News Anchor

Tasmin Mahfuz is an award-winning broadcast journalist and currently, the main evening news anchor at WDVM News for the 5 p.m, 6 p.m, 7 p.m, 7:30 p.m, 10p.m and 11 p.m newscasts.
At WDVM, Tasmin presents the news to audiences in regions of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania – anchoring newscasts on-air for a total of 4 hours every weeknight.
Previously, Tasmin was the Southern Utah Bureau Chief at ABC 4 Utah. She launched the station’s first TV news bureau and was responsible to cover an area of 20,000 square miles that has a population of 200,000+ people.
In 2012, her first reports as a broadcast journalist were from Istanbul, Turkey. Then, she started a job as a news reporter with an international network called Ebru TV where she reported from New York City, New Jersey and Washington DC. Tasmin’s assignments included covering the devastation after Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.
Tasmin also reported live from the United Nations, providing breaking news from the UN General Assembly, on US-Iran relations, the Crimean annexation and developments in Syria. She even secured interviews with New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Tasmin was born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of Emory University in International Studies. After graduation, Tasmin completed a two-year internship at the United Nations and also received a master’s degree in Legal Studies.
Tasmin started her broadcasting career in television from a young age. Her mother, Nazmun Mahfuz, produced and hosted weekly television shows for South Florida’s PBS and cable television. Tasmin learned the basics of TV from her mom and would often host segments of the shows.

n June 2015, the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation awarded Tasmin “the Gracies”Award for Outstanding Producer in TV News in the nation. Established in 1975, the annual Gracies Awards celebrates the accomplishments of women in media in the U.S. Also in 2015, the Society of Professional Journalists – Utah Chapter presented Tasmin an award for ‘multimedia journalism’.
Tasmin is a citizen of the world. She describes herself as passionate, ambitious and articulate. Tasmin understands cultures across the globe and reflects a positive demeanor in her everyday manner.

Soma Syed

An experienced litigation attorney and acumen social organizer

Soma Syed is a New York civil litigation and transactional attorney with 16 + years of experience. She is the principal of the Forest Hills based law firm, Soma Syed & Associates. She represents multi-faceted clients in all aspects of real estate law & foreclosure defense, business & corporate law, matrimonial & family law, immigration law, non-profits law, and general litigation. She is admitted to practice law in New York, the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York, the Southern District Bankruptcy Court, the Eastern District Bankruptcy Court, the U.S. Tax Court, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Soma Syed is a child of immigrants and believes in civic participation and giving back to the community. Her sense of duty to community has been shaped by her parents who were public servants, educators, freedom fighters, and advocates for women’s rights and education. Over the years, she has been active in various non-profits, began helping immigrants as a teenager by assisting her late father with immigration paperwork. She is a frequent presenter on immigration, Landlord & Tenant, real estate and business law, and volunteered with the Volunteer Lawyers Program in Housing. She interned at the NY Senator office learning public policy and engagement, was a volunteer attorney for the Queens Volunteer Lawyers Project (QVLP) representing homeowners in foreclosure, volunteered with New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) to answer landlord & tenant questions relating to victims of Hurricane Sandy, and is a frequent panelist on issues related to immigrants and immigration, women’s rights, law and politics. Ms. Syed was one of the attorneys who protested the travel ban and was at the JFK Airport during the travel ban to provide legal representation to travelers. She has also been recognized for her legal work during the Covid-19 on unemployment benefits, landlord and tenant rights, immigration rights, small business assistance and government relief programs in addition to overseeing and running an early critical N95 mask donations to frontline workers.

She is a recipient of various awards and certificates for her legal, civic and community work. NYS Governor Cuomo recognized Ms. Syed for her legal and community work with a “Certificate of Recognition” in 2017. She has been honored by NYC Public Advocate Leticia James with a Proclamation, National Action Network (West Nassau Chapter), South Asian Political Action Committee (SAPAC), 2016 SAPAC Heroes Award, and a recipient of numerous other honors by elected officials in New York City, Long Island and Westchester. She is the senior VP of CAG (Community Alliance Group) and lifetime member of ASAAL.

Soma Syed is very active in legal communities. She is the President of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association (QCWBA), Chairperson of the Queens County Women’s Bar Foundation (QCWBF), Chairperson of the NYS Bar Association Committee on the Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) and member of the South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY) and South Asian Indo-Caribbean Bar Association of Queens (SAICBA-Q). She enjoys working with people and their legal problems and finding cost-effective solutions. She received her J.D. from the Albany Law School of the Union University and B.A. from the City College of the City University. She hopes to continue serving the community in the various charitable, political, community and legal organizations she is part of. Currently, she is exploring a run for the City Council from Jamaica, New York. She grew up and lives with her husband and family in Queens, New York City.

Selina Sharmin MLS
Coping Skills Librarian
New Americans Program
Queens Public Library

Ms. Selina Sharmin is currently the Coping Skills Librarian for New Americans Program at Queens Public Library in Queens, New York City, since 2011. Ms. Sharmin coordinates lectures and workshops, primary languages other than English presented in Queens Public Library’s sixty five branches to help 2.3 million immigrants in Queens adjust to life in their new country in America. She conducted a Bengali Story time for the first time at Queens Public Library in 2007 and American Public Television PBS Kids had a special book reading program in Bengali “Parenting Tips with Selina” in 2013.
During this Pandemic since March 2020, Ms. Sharmin coordinated more than 250 virtual presentations in various languages through Webex: Bengali, Chinese and Spanish. Topics were related to COIVD-19 Mental Health & Anxiety, Yoga, Unemployment & Housing Benefit in NYC, How to apply for Health Insurance in NYC, Computer Online Classes in Bengali, Computer Online Classes in Spanish and U.S. Citizenship Virtual Classes.
Ms. Sharmin received her Masters of Library and Information Science Degree from St. Johns University USA in 2006. She earned a scholarship from Queens Public Library and achieved Post Master’s Degree in Library Science from Queens College USA in 2009. She also achieved another Degree in Library and Information Management from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1997. She has completed a computer diploma course from New York City, 2001. She has also successfully completed certificate for Financial Counselor from City University of New York 2014. Ms. Sharmin has given lectures for Master’s of Library Science Schools students in St. Johns’s University and South Carolina University of Library Science School in USA since 2015. Ms. Sharmin attended New York State civil service exam for Librarians and her score was 100 out of 100 in 2016. Currently, she is a candidate for PhD Program at Long Island University C.W. Post, New York.

Ms. Sharmin is the first Bangladeshi Woman Librarian at Queens Public Library since 2007 and first South Asian who became President elect for New York Library Association/Ethnic Services Round Table (ESRT) 2019-2020. She provides continuing education for Public Library practitioners at various American Library Association’s Annual Conferences, New York Library Association’s Annual Conferences and New York Black Librarian Caucus Inc. Conferences. She also offered training for Government and Foreign delicate from China, Korea and Taiwan on behalf of Queens Public Library in 2017. Ms. Sharmin has worked as a Children Librarian, Young Adult Librarian, Adult Librarian, Reference Librarian, and Special Services Librarian at Queens Public Library since 2000.
Ms. Sharmin originally from Tangail, Bangladesh and immigrated to New York City in 2000. She is an active member of the American Library association USA, Public Library Association USA and serving in several voluntary governance positions including the Executive Board. She is one of the active member for Queensboro President’s Task Force in NYC since 2011. She received a citation of honor from Queens Boro President Melinda Katz in 2015 for serving 2.3 million immigrants community in Queens for promoting Bengali language and culture in mainstream America. Mrs. Sharmin Also received an award from International Federation of Library Association (IFLA) in 2016 for writing an Essay about serving immigrants in America. This essay competition held throughout the whole world and Ms. Sharmin was one of them out of 100 recipients. Furthermore 2020, She is the President for her own non-profit organization “Nolak Women for Bangladeshi Women USA, Inc.

She believes, “If we want to change the society, we need to read books so that we can change our mindset and outlook.”

Nargis Ahmed
Community Activist
President,
Banglsdesh Society NY inc (2007-2008)
Convener, FOBANA 2019

Nargis Ahmed, a Bangladeshi-American from New York, is one of those personalities who have brightened the image of Bangladesh through their intelligence and works. She is a shining star in the Bangladeshi community and immigrant community in the USA.
The talented woman was born at Hajiganj in Comilla, Bangladesh. She was elected the President of Bangladesh Society, an umbrella organization of Bangladesh community in the USA for the year 2006-2007. She was the first and only woman to have the privilege of being president.

Nargis Ahmed was admitted to Dhaka University after passing SSC from Azimpur Girls High School and HSC from Eden College. But, she moved to the USA in 1981 due to her marriage with pharmacist Mushtaq Ahmed. She has studied travel and tourism there and found the ladder to make her financially established. She has been a full time travel agent and supporter for more than 24 years as a manager at Juris World, a world-renowned travel agency.

Nargis Ahmed has consolidated her position as news presenter in 1996 at Ruposhi Bangla, the first Bangla TV outside Bangladesh. She took part in theater in 1987 as a woman in the American Bangladeshi community. Dil Afroz Ahmed known in the Bengali community as Nargis Ahmed, is a unique figure in the Bangladeshi communities all over USA. She has been able to highlight a positive image of Bangladesh through her important role in social services and mainstream American politics besides her professional life for 36 years. She has been a member of the Queens Community Board for more than 15 consecutive years.

Since 1988, she has been involved in the mainstream politics. In 1991, she took an initiative to involve Bangladeshis in the US mainstream politics by establishing Bangladesh American Public Affairs Front (BAPAF), which has given many Bangladeshis access to politics. Her role in establishing the rights of the Bangladeshi community and immigrants is unforgettable. She also played a role as fundraiser for Bill Clinton in the election.

In 1988, she founded Bangladesh Sangsad with 11 members for the development of Bangladeshi community. The sangsad provides English education for the elderly and American Customs Manners and Ethics training for the elderly, employment for new immigrants, free medical care, assistance to OP-1 visa holders, teaching Bengali to the younger generation and attracting them to Bengali culture. The Men’s Guidance Club was opened on behalf of this sangsad. It teaches the do’s and don’ts of the USA life.
As the President of Bangladesh Society, she has taken a number of initiatives which are taking Bangladesh community ahead. She also arranged English learning program for adults, good Bangla learning for children and computer training for youth. She also raised funds from rich people there and helping the victims and helpless people in the country at different times. She took initiatives to create awareness among the people which is appreciated largely in the community.
Good looking Nargis Ahmed served as Executive Secretary of Fobana for 3 years in 2001. She has been working for the development of various cultural activities including Bengali music and theater through cultural organizations. Under her leadership, ‘Drama Circle’ was established in 1995. She is the founding president of this organization. She is also one of the initiators of the recent celebration of Falgun along with the celebration of Bengali New Year. She was the first to initiate this festival on 1st Baishakh by introducing panta hilsa and colorful sarees in earthenware pots.
Nargis Ahmed is a famous politician who is close to Bangladeshi immigrants. She has been a co-chairman of the voter registration committee of Asian American Democratic Association of Queens. She is a member of the New York Democratic Party’s South Asia Pacific community board for the past 15 years. She is a female member of the South Asian Ocean Region.

She has made a huge contribution in the field of social service. Currently, Nargis serves the community as the Director of Desi Senior Center. The Desi Senior Center has set up Jamaica Muslim Center in 2014. She has a great contribution in establishing the Senior Citizen Recreation Center in Jamaica. She is the program director of the center. She was elected Secretary General of the Advisory Council of Al Mamur Islam School in New York in 2014. Nargis Ahmed is unique as a ‘trend center’ in the Bengali community. She has received many recognitions and awards for her achievements. She has been awarded with Asian American & Pacific Islander Hero Award including Best Asian American by Congressional Proclamation City Comptroller most recently.
She is a shining example of women’s empowerment in the USA. Her husband, Swami Mushtaq Ahmed, is a pharmacist by profession. This proud lady has a happy family with two daughters- Munira Ahmed and Kaynath Ahmed.

Moin Choudhury, Esq.
Managing Attorney
Moin Choudhury Law Firm, PC
District Leader at Large
Democratic Party, NY

Moin Choudhury, a Bangladesh-born young lawyer, has been able to establish himself in the United States. He is the Managing Attorney for Western Law, a law firm founded in Queens, New York. He is a learned lawyer in the US Supreme Court.
As a student, Moin Choudhury graduated from Banani Model High School in the USA. Later, he received a degree in Attorney at Law from the US Supreme Court. He received a master degree in law with distinction in 2002 from Touro Law School in New York.
This young and talented lawyer is practicing law at The United States Supreme Court, Michigan Supreme Court and The US Court of International Trade, New York. He is a professional member of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the New York States Bar Association (Out of State).

Moin Choudhury is probably the first Bangladeshi American attorney to have an opportunity to work in this profession as a skilled lawyer in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of International Trade and the Michigan Supreme Court.
Moin Choudhury joined the State Bar of Michigan in 2005 and began his advocacy career in the Wayne County of Michigan. Beginning of his career, he had the opportunity to work as a Criminal Defense Attorney. There, he had the opportunity to meet and learn from numerous clients awaiting trial including war criminals from the Iraq war. It has enriched his career.

He has gained experience in various aspects of the legal profession. He has acted as a lawyer in many accident cases. He got the verdict of collecting millions of dollars in the case of the client involved in the accident and arranged for the client to get it. This skilled and resourceful lawyer also serves as a lawyer in client’s immigration cases and has the honor of winning most of the cases.
Moin Choudhury, a self-confident and talented lawyer, has already established Moin Choudhury Law firm PC and he is its managing attorney. The organization is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Michigan State Bar, and the United States.

As a prominent lawyer, Moin Choudhury is involved in the mainstream American politics. He thinks that America is the meeting place of the people of all the countries of the world. Bangladesh needs to be presented more brilliantly here. In a country like America, when someone from Bangladesh gets any recognition for good deeds, that recognition enhances the image of Bangladesh.

According to him, we Bangladeshis are proud in many ways. We are proud of our 21st February which is recognized as World Mother Language Day today. We are also proud of our war of liberation. He is in favor of celebrating these days with due respect and importance in the Bangladesh community. He thinks that the development of Bangladesh must be continued. He himself is an optimistic man. According to him, strong initiatives need to be taken to reduce the rate of corruption in Bangladesh. Due to this corruption, Bangladesh is not reaching its desired development goal.

He said the people of Bangladesh community in America do politics but they are united on the issue of development of Bangladeshis. This trend should be introduced in Bangladesh as well that “Politics is for individuals, but Bangladesh is for all.”
As a lawyer, Moin Choudhury hopes that the rule of law will be established in Bangladesh and the judiciary system will be made free from influence. He believes that Bangladesh is a country of immense potential and its development will be possible. But for this, we need planned initiatives and the whole nation must work together.

Moin Choudhury, a young and talented lawyer, is associated with many social organizations in Bangladesh. He comes to the country whenever he gets time from busy schedule. “Even though we are now American citizens, we have not forgotten our motherland,” he said. He opines, “Though we are citizens of America but Bangladesh is our roots.”

Maf Misbah Uddin
President
Municipal Labor Union in USA

Maf Misbah Uddin, a Bangladeshi American, is a highly educated and talented professional leader who is the President of District Council 37, AFSC ME, Local 1407 in New York and Treasurer of AFSC ME. He has been serving this important position since 2000.
Misbah Uddin was born in a political conscious family on February 16, 1954. His father was a renowned leader from Bengal who was jailed together with Mahatma Gandhi during the non-violence movement against British colonialism.
As a student, Misbah Uddin was very meritorious. He completed his master degree in Mathematics in 1978 from Dhaka University. He obtained another master degree in Demography in 1980 where he stood first in first class.
In 1984, Misbah Uddin obtained a Graduate Teaching Assistantship to study at Ball State University in Indiana. He completed his third master degree in Actuarial Science there in 1986 which is a rare incident.

Misbah Uddin is a very outspoken and organizing person. He lives in Jamaica, New York. In 1988, he joined the City Of New York as an Actuary through immigration sponsorship to work for the City’s five retirement systems. Misbah Uddin became active in union politics and in 1992 became an Executive Board Member of Local 1407 which represents the City’s Accountants, Statisticians, and Actuaries.
In May 2000, Misbah Uddin ran a brilliant campaign and unseated a popular two term incumbent by more than a two to one margin to become President of Local 1407. He gained wide popularity through his ability, skill and sincerity in organizational activities. As a result of this popularity, he was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2016, he was elected President of the Municipal Workers Union of the United States of America by a wide margin. Misbah Uddin is the only Bangladeshi American in the United States to have been elected President of such an important organization. He is not only proud of his success but also Bangladesh. This has brightened the image of Bangladesh.
In 2001 he was appointed as the Secretary-Treasurer of the District Council 37 Fallen Heroes Fund after the 9/11 tragedy. In 2004, Misbah Uddin was elected as the Treasurer of DC 37, an umbrella organization of 61 unions with 150,000 members and 60,000 retirees, a position he was re-elected in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019. Misbah Uddin is the first minority to have attained one of the most prestigious positions in the New York City Labor movement. He serves DC-37 on the Finance and Asian Heritage committees as chairman and as a Trustee of the Benefit Trust, Health & Security, Annuity, and Education Funds where he helps to manage a $400 million welfare fund.

In September of 2004, he was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC), a coalition of over 100 unions with over 325,000 members. He was re-elected unopposed again in September 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 as their representative. Through the MLC, he helped negotiate Health and Welfare benefits for all New York City active and retired employees. As chairman of the Asian Heritage Committee he brings forth the Asian contribution and culture to American Society and especially to the entire DC-37 Union Family.
As chairman of the Asian Heritage Committee, he has highlighted Asian contributions and culture in American society and particularly in the DC-37 Union family, which has increased the dignity of Asians among the Americans.

In 2005, Misbah Uddin was elected as an at-large Executive Board member of APALA, AFL-CIO at its Las Vegas Convention. In 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019 Misbah Uddin was appointed to the APALA National Executive Board by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to represent it’s 1.6 million union members. In the 2013 APALA Las Vegas Convention, Misbah Uddin presented a resolution which he authored and passed to give the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to the Bangladesh Garments Industries. This was a huge achievement for Bangladesh.

In 2008 Misbah Uddin called upon all South Asians in the American labor movement and community leaders to come together in New York City where he formed the Alliance of South Asian American Labor (ASAAL) to empower South Asians in America through education, activism, and participation. Today, ASAAL has thirteen chapters where seven are in the State of New York and a chapter in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Washington DC. In the last few elections, ASAAL has played an important role in electing progressive and/or South Asian candidates throughout the City and State of New York and beyond.

Through ASAAL political activism and lobbying efforts “School Holidays in New York City’ was announced in 2015 during Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha and was incorporated into the New York City Public School System, the largest School System in USA.

Maf Misbah Uddin is conducting important activities for Bangladesh and South Asians including protecting the dignity of the working-class people there.

MD S ISLAM (Nannu)
President
N.K. Trade International Trading Company ENK
Japan

Though most of the Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have been living a comfortable life abroad but they always think of their homeland Bangladesh. Nannu Mds Islam is one of them, who are the ‘key persons’ in the Japanese business arena. He is the Entrepreneurial Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of N.K. Trade International Trading Company, one of the leading companies in the Japanese car business. Nannu Mds Islam has a diversified career who had to spend a lot of labor, talent and perseverance to achieve this high position.

Nannu Mds Islam was born in an aristocratic business family of Gandaria at Old Dhaka in Dhaka Metropolitan City. His father’s name is Haji Abdul Jabbar and mother Mamtaz Begum. His father had a paddy field in Badamtali. They have a huge family of 9 siblings. After completing SSC in 1983 from Gandaria High School, Nannu Mds Islam passed HSC in 1985 and graduated from the same college. While studying in college, he got involved in luggage exporting to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore through his senior business brothers in the area. He was attracted with the glamour and lifestyle of these developed countries. He decided to go to Germany for study and work purpose because he felt that it was difficult to support a large family with his father’s income. With this thinking, he took initiative to go to Germany with his friends without finishing graduation. Moreover, many of his friends in the country were tortured for taking part in anti-Ershad movement. This fear was working on him too. For this reasons, he along with his friends went to Germany in 1985.

Nannu Mds Islam thought that he needs to establish his own business instead of taking the German government’s kindness. From this thought, he was thinking of leaving Germany and coming to Japan. Seven months later, on his way to Bangkok, he took a three-day transit facility at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan. He enjoys touring Japan with transit facilities. He took 8 days transit. Though Germans used to take down on black people but he understands that the Japanese are not like them. He respects the Japanese human values and decides to stay in Japan and did not return to Germany. He comes to know from the Bangladeshis staying there that if a student visa is available, he can stay there. He took admission to a language institute but the authority of language institute said that he can’t do this now rather he would have to re-enter Japan from another country. He did so. He returned to Germany via Bangkok. After few days, he came to Japan from Germany on a student visa. Then, he started classes at Tokyo International Language School. It is notable that he did a German English language course in the country before moving to Germany. After taking these two courses and practicing these languages, he became quite proficient in German and English.

He was admitted to Tokyo International Language School in Japan with his friends. Thus, he started his struggle in Japan. Besides attending to language classes in Japan, he also did a 3-month course on hotel management. As a young man, Nannu got a job at Sheraton International Hotel in Japan. He received a 30% bonus with a salary of 60,000 yearly. By working in the hotel, he got acquainted with many top entrepreneurs of Bangladesh.
One of them is Morshed Khan, a well-known entrepreneur and former minister and chairman of Pacific Group. When he went to Japan, he would stay in this hotel. Morshed Khan was an importer of Nissan & Excel cars in Bangladesh. After the acquaintance, Morshed Khan asked him to work with his company. He joined to Japan’s Orient Trading in 1993 as Export Manager.

Experienced and skilled Nannu Mds Islam saw that it is very difficult to sell a car in Bangladesh for 15/16 thousand dollars. He thought differently. He told Morshed Khan to import used cars for 3/4 thousand dollars by making them brand new. For this, he founded his own company named N.K. International Trading Company. Thus, he began his new life as an entrepreneur. Then, he did not have to look back. He is a pioneer in the export of ‘re-conditioned’ cars to Bangladesh. He is also the founder of Yellow Cab in Bangladesh in 1997. He did this with an aim of exporting his reconditioned car to Bangladesh and introducing transport system in this country as developed countries. He also gave an opportunity to hundreds of people to become an owner of ‘Yellow Cab’ business through lending process of the country’s banks and financial/leasing institutions at that time.
This thinking figure has succeeded wherever he has taken initiative. N.K. International exports cars to about 56 countries around the world.
Nannu Mds Islam has a great affection to his motherland Bangladesh. He has written on his Facebook wall ‘Bangladesh Love My Country & People’.
Nannu Mds Islam, a talented and good man from head to toe, always expects the development of Bangladesh. According to him, there are plenty of hardworking and honest people in Bangladesh but corruption and irregularities are hampering the development of the country.