“Building Bridges Across Boundaries” Overcome the struggle for Success As a women : Mazeda A Uddin

I am a Bangladesh-origin American women, relentlessly strives to upgrade the status of the Asian population, particularly the Bangladeshi immigrants by equipping them to be assimilated to mainstream America. With this end in view I involved myself in multifarious humanitarian, social and political bodies what enabled me to assist the people in need. I am a combination of many extraordinary qualities — better to say: six in one: a mother, humanist, social worker, organizer and political activist.

I was very involved in my community when I was a student in my native country of Bangladesh. I helped people in my College and I was very concerned for the welfare of my fellow students. I enjoy helping. I take on challenges that are fun, rewarding and interesting. It is from this background that I learned leadership skills.

I am tireless activist for justice and equality uses my time, energy and talent for the last 30 years to the cause of the immigrants, particularly those who newly arrive in the United States. I also stands for those distressed and destitute who are underpaid, mistreated and underrepresented. I am  a true friend of the immigrants as I helps them by working in the public school system in the Bronx, providing assistance to those who are in financial crisis or have employment needs.

My most unique success was to persuade the New York State Government to print ballot papers in the Bengali language, NYS DMV, Public Schools, and Hospitals. This is an unparalleled achievement and a milestone in the history of the Bangladeshi immigrants in America and credit for such achievement as a South Asain Women ??

The greatest challenge is to get the women in my community more involved in politics in the USA.  The South Asian women are very traditional in nature and are reluctant to get involved in the political arena. I choose to work on women’s issues that we all care about such as gender inequality, discrimination etc.

Leadership always presents challenges both to my abilities and to me as a woman. Women are still victims of inequality, discrimination, violence, and even the threat of death simply because they are women..

As a South Asian (Bangladeshis) for my glorious contribution, as my relentless endeavor paved the way for the inclusion of Bengali in the ballot papers. According to me inclusion of Bengali in American voting system is another step forward to the internationalization of the Bengali language.. under represented in both voting booths and labor unions.

My soul still resides in Bangladesh. All miseries of any Bangladeshi torment her heart. I  sided with the garment workers of Bangladesh when they staged protest against underpayment. I alleged the Bangladeshi women are the hardest workers in the world with the lowest remuneration. To determine a fair wage for the garment workers, I suggested the North American and European buyers talk to the Bangladesh government and garment workers.

Another front where I urged is to have an old care home for senior Muslims. Muslim seniors should have facilities where there prevails running water, individual sleeping quarters, private bathrooms so that they can practice their religious obligations and so on. Citing her bitter experience how an elderly Muslims perform his prayer with mud due to the want of running water, she expressed her doubt saying whether the seniors get what they need, or are properly treated and fed in the homes meant for the elderly people of different faiths. For this reason I said, “We need a Muslim Elderly Home, designed for prayer and practice of religion, without risking the brittle health of the aging generation that has left us decent livelihoods.” Finally December 1,2014 South Asian senior Center day care started in Jamaica Muslim Center (QUEENS).

Being a human rights activist I raised my voice against the atrocities and random killings against the Rohingya Muslims of Arakan. I claims tens of thousands males were killed, women were raped and houses were set on fire. To create international public opinion, she lobbied with the United Nations and the United States administration suggesting them to exercise their role to stop genocide against the Muslims being committed by the Buddhists.  I demanded that the Muslims should get the citizenship of Myanmar, enjoy the right to practice and culture their religious faith. I demanded that the United Nations should provide enough food, medicine, shelter, and other essentialities in those countries where the Rohingya refugees fled away. I urged “let us do what is right and save these people from the horrors of genocide.”

My field of work also extended to New York City Schools where a sizeable number of Muslim students of different ages are studying. Though NY City Schools have a lunch system, most of the Muslims students do not avail of the facility, as the foods are not prepared on the basis of the Muslim religious guidelines, what is known as ‘halal food’. As a result, most of the Muslim students are deprived of lunch provided by City Schools and return home starving the whole day.

This discrimination drew the attention of I wrote to the Chancellor of New York City Board of Education suggesting providing ‘halal food’ to the Muslim students. I suggested that Muslim students should be provided at least with non-meat cafeteria foods or they should be allowed to bring their lunch from their home. I claims that there are over 1 million students in city schools and their number is rapidly increasing. She alleged that the Muslim students are at a grave disadvantageous and unfortunate position in the school system that affects them academically and more importantly, physically. Pointing to the logic of my demand I argued that young kids need requisite energy to get the best possible education from our school system.

My lauded activities in various strata of society launched a crusade against social discrimination, religious persecution, economic exploitation, and political repression. I am less known to our community in comparison to my wide-range of activities.

It is time for a change. Discrimination is a serious issue, often a crime, and should not be tolerated. For decades, women before me, like myself, have fought hard to get us this far, but the struggle for equality is not over.  We shall persevere.