ASAAL-MI Chapter Host Annual Dinner and Candidate Forum

UsaNewsOnline.Com, Michigan : On Oct 12th, 2019, Saturday, Alliance of South Asian American Labor Michigan Chapter hosted it’s 2019 annual dinner and Warren City Council Candidate Forum. The event took place at the Bismillah Kabab N Curry Restaurant located at 4214 E Ryan Road in Warren, Michigan, USA.

ASAAL-National President MAF Misbah Uddin, ASAAL-National Corrosponding Secretray Jed Matalon and NYC Voter Assistance Commissioner Mazeda Akther Uddin joined the Michigan Chapter Leaderships for the ASAAL-MI annual dinner and the Candidates Forum.

The event started at 5:30 with the happy hour to 6:30. At 6:30 ASAAL-MI chapter’s General Secretray Mohammed Feroz welcomes the candidates, special guests and community members. Mr. Feroz introduced ASAAL-MI chapter’s President DR. Mohammad (MD) Alam and thanked all the candidates and guests and community members for joint the forum. Dr. Alam officially introduced Dr. Khaja Shahab Ahmed, ASAAL-MI chapter’s Executive Vice President as the Chair of the Forum and then requested MAF Misbah Uddin, Mazeda Akther Uddin, Jed Matalon, Asma Yeasin (ASAAL-MI Chapter Women Co-Chair), Mahbube Rabbi Khan (ASAAL-MI Chapter Vice President), and MD Feroz to come to stage and take their seats.

At the beginning of the forum, MD Alam asked to be silent for a minute in remembrance of belated R.I.P. Nazrul Islam, ASAAL-MI Chapter’s Former Chairman of the Board of Trustee. Mr. Islam passed away on 1/15/2019 in Hamtramck, Michigan, USA. Alam offered tributes to Mr. Islam’s contribution and commitment towards Alliance of South Asian American Labor Michigan Chapter.

Among the Mayoral candidates Kelly Colegio the current Mayor Pro-team for Mayor joined the forum and addressed the community and shared her plan and platform of candidacy. Current Mayor James Fouts did not attend despite the invitation. Many community members asked why is Mr. Fouts is not there. In response, ASAAL-MI leadership informed the crowd that it’s his own choice, whether to join or not.

Mrs. Colegio promised the community and ASAAL-MI of the partnership if elected as the Mayor of Warren, Michigan. She asked everyone to vote for her on Nov 5, 2019. At the end she thanked ASAAL-MI for the forum and the opportunity to appeal her candidacy before the South Asian Minority Immigrant Community.

City clerk Candiadte Keith Sadowski, current City Council member joined and address the forum. Mr. Sadowski affirmed that if elected as the Clerk will work as the gatekeeper of the election and electoral process. He also expressed interest and perhaps partnership with the ASAAL-MI community and he thanked for such Forum and the organizers and requests for future events as well as offered help and assistance to continue civic and community Developemt.

City council at-Large Candiadte Diane Young attended the forum and she is very hopeful and also offered to work with ASAAL-MI community. Mrs. Young said if she is elected she would like to have South Asian Community to be actively involved and engaged in the city events and city-wide inclusion. She thanked ASAAL-National President MAF Misbah Uddin and the ASAAL-MI team.

From 1st District Candiadte Melody Magee, from 2nd District Candiadte and current council member Jonathan Lafferty, and from 5th District Candiadte Henry Newnan Jonied the forum. All the candidates expressed partnerships with ASAAL community and hope to join community in building civic relationship. Candidates said they are happy to work with ASAAL as its a Labor Organization. The labor movement and community approach is the key to a successful community. They all joined ASAAL-MI chapter as an honorary members.

Among the guests MAF Misbah Uddin, Jed Matalon and Mazeda Akther delivered speech. MAF Misbah said he is so happy to be part of Michigan Annul Dinner and the Candiadte Forum. MAF thanked the candidates and pledges for supports towards the Candidates towards their victory. MAF also said the ASAAL is fully supporting the UAW and their strikes. Mr. Uddin asked the Michigan ASAAL Leaderships to work closely with local unions and union leaders. Finally he said ASAAL is happy to support all of our candidates.

Jed Matalon said the South Asian American community is an educated community and a wealthier community only lacking is in the political platform. So he suggested to keep organizing such events. Jed Matalon is also a Vice President of Local 1407 a union in NYC.

Mazeda Akther addressed the forum and reminded the community to take an active role in the upcoming 2020 census. She also inspired many woman to be part of the political and socials civic platforms.

ASAAL-MI Chapter Vice President Mahbube Rabbi Khan addressed at the forum. Mr. Khan said it is our duty to raise our sons and daughters with a positive attitude of political awareness. He believe ASAAL-MI is an appropriate platform for raising our 2nd generation at the stake of political civic engagements.

ASAAL-MI Chapter Youth Director Engineer Mahamud Salam said the 2nd generation and young stars are our future and he believes we must create professional career platform as well as political platform for them.

From the community Misbahur Chowdhury asked questions to the candidates. Some raised issue at the forum were how to release higher school tax burden, Property tax and Levey, safety & security, Election and Absentee ballots and environmental safety i.e. a tree plantation programs. Michigan State Representative Lori Stone said she is so happy to partnership with ASAAL community and her office is open for future events and community development engagement.

Chair of the forum Dr. Khaja Shahab Ahmed thanked and welcomed the crowed again. Dr. Khaja said he is so happy to see how the Bangladeshi American community are becoming more engaged and creating awareness in the political process. He promised the crowed that ASAAL-MI will come up with a score card and will issue endorsement based on candidates standing and forum performance.

Dr. Khaja asked the Bangladeshi community to help ASAAL-MI endorsed candidates. He reminded the forum that he had a great primary ran for the 1st District in August of 2019. He aimed the Bangladeshi community and said do not forget that he won all eight polling locations yet was defeated because of absentee ballot proceeding. Now he is asking the ASAAL-MI Warren community to be registered as absentee ballot holders. Finally he thanked the entire ASAAL-MI chapter’s Executive Committee.

After Dr. Khaja’s Speech, MD Alam asked the attendees to join ASAAL-MI chapter’s annual dinner. Mr. Alam thanked and introduced Afzal Choudhury the owner of Bismillah Resturant and the event ended with special dinner.

Among the community members Mustaque Ahmed Mukta, Faisol Ahmed, Kodor Mia, Abdul Majeed, Khondoker Yousuf Kamal, Misbah Choudhury, Mohammed Montazurul Haque, Amirul Islam Faiez, Fariqul Islam, Abdul Jalil, Mary Matcanzcki, MD Ataur Rahman, Manik Barua, Nazmul Islam, MD Khursheed Alam, Mohammed Choudhury, Engineer Mohammed A. Malique and many others .