USANewsOnline.Com : On August 8, 2022 ASAAL, the Alliance of South Asian American Labor opened its 18th Chapter in Los Angeles, California. ASAAL is a labor and community-based organization created to educate, activate, participate and promulgate South Asian Americans to be active in American politics. It was founded by the legendary labor leader Maf Misbah Uddin in 2008 in Manhattan, New York.
The inaugural meeting was presided by Dr. Zainal Abedin, Ph. D., once an adviser to President Bush while Majib Siddiquee, MBA, LLB was the master of ceremonies. With 18 chapters in 10 States across the United States of America ASAAL has become one of the most influential organizations among South Asians in America with its consistent political action and activism on behalf of our community.
At the Los Angeles Chapter inaugural meeting, the members from all over Los Angeles and all walks of life gathered at the Banquet Hall of India’s Clay Pit here in Los Angeles. National President Maf Misbah Uddin and Secretary Mohammed Karim Chowdhury joined virtually from New York. The meeting started around 9:00 PM.
The Master of ceremonies then introduced National Secretary Karim Chowdhury to give his welcoming remarks and to introduce chief guest Founder & National President Maf Misbah Uddin. Secretary Chowdhury in his remarks said, “our community is growing, we are succeeding in almost every professional field but there are very few South Asians in Politics, ASAAL wants to change that, we won’t be on the menu anymore, we must be on the table where decisions are made that affect our day to day life. ASAAL is the bridge between our community and mainstream politics. Los Angeles let’s cross that bridge together.” He then added, “we are lucky, we have the visionary Maf Misbah Uddin, President of a New York City union for the last 22 years and the Treasurer of District Council 37 for the last 19 years who has created this wonderful tool we call ASAAL for the South Asian community. With this we can change American politics to work for us, we can become a partner and friend to the politicians thus bringing results for our community.”
In his keynote speech, National President Maf Misbah Uddin stated that “On behalf of the ASAAL family I bring greetings from 17 Chapters across nine States while thanking everyone who joined us today as a member, as a family, and as a guest. Special thanks to Dr. Zainal Abedin, Majib Siddiquee, and Mushfiqur Chowdhury for their hard work in organizing efforts that made the ASAAL Los Angeles Chapter possible. We know, we are not born to be self-centered but to be the center for all around us. We must give back to the community and the time to give is now! To give we need positions of power and we can achieve that through the ASAAL movement.”
“We can’t do it alone, our community is growing, we must come together as one. The ASAAL Los Angeles chapter is the beginning, soon you will be all across California. You no longer need to go to elected officials they will come to you. Your unity is your strength, when strength transforms to power under the ASAAL banner no one can stop us. We help politicians get elected, once elected they come to you, recognize you, appreciate you, and together we can improve our community”, he added.
The National President then announced that a 35-member Executive Board committee was formed from among those who paid at least 2-year membership dues with Dr. Zainal Abedin Ph.D., once an adviser to President Bush, as the President and Majib Siddiquee MBA, LLB as the Secretary! The National President then requested President Dr. Zainal Abedin to read out loud the rest of the members and their position.
The remaining Board members are Mohammad Shamsuddin Manik, Executive Vice President; Suman Barua, Corresponding Secretary; M. Wahid Rahman, Treasurer; Mikayeel Khan, Political Director; Md. A. Mahbub, Director of Organizing; Salma Parveen, Women’s Committee Chair; Obaidul Huq Pirjada, Immigration Director; Mushfiqur Chowdhury Khasru; Executive Director.
The Vice Presidents are Al-Mamun Laskar, Mahadi Hasan, Nasiruddin Chapol, Mohammed Rafiqul Islam, Abdul Motaleb, Manjurul Alam, Mohammed Harunur Rashid, Abdur Rob Shohan;
The trustees are Eng. Mahbub Ali, Abul Basit, Badrul A. Chowdhury, Mohammed Iftekhar Rahman, Kanchan Chowdhury, Mohammed Mehdi, and Masud Tito Hossain.
The Women’s Committee Members are Sabina Islam, Liza Abedin, Yasmin Abedin, Zakia Abedin, Parveen B. Zaman, Sathi Barua, Ulfat Parvin, Salima Yasmeen, and Roksana Parvin.
The Youth Committee Chair is Imran Abedin, CPA, MBA with the rest of the committee is in formation.
President Uddin then administered the oath of office to the entire new committee and requested the newly elected President and Secretary to give their acceptance speech. Dr. Zainal Abedin said, “This is the good news that ASAAL chartered its 18th Chapter in Los Angeles today. I am glad that 35 of us gathered here to welcome ASAAL in the American West. This is the first time I have seen an organization that works so hard only to make us all politically involved and be part of American politics.” The Chapter President then added, “ASAAL from now on in Los Angeles will dedicate itself to promote the South Asian American Workforce and the Community members in their Socio-Political-and business aspirations. Let’s strengthen ASAAL’s efforts for all South Asian Americans to achieve new heights in their Socio-Political and Business goals in America,” he added.
Newly elected Secretary Majib Siddiquee in his speech said, "The South Asian Community is excited to have an ASAAL platform in Los Angeles, California to be able to express and demand its needs and priorities to and from the policymakers of Municipal, State and Federal governments.” He then said, “Our National leadership is playing a powerful role with the goal of uniting the South Asian community in the United States. The moment I heard about ASAAL we knew we needed this here in Los Angeles a long time ago. I’m sure that we will achieve great things through organizing our community and will reach a respectable height among mainstream political leaders and elected officials”!
The Los Angeles Chapter President Dr. Zainal Abedin thanked everyone again and then asked them to join him for dinner. Everyone agreed it was a great gathering, more people joined the ASAAL movement. We are moving forward with a brighter future and are within reach!