Public Employee Press

Union presents cyclone relief aid for Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s ambassador to the United States, M. Humayun Kabir, and Consul General Md Shamsul Haque were special guests at DC 37 Jan. 25.

As she welcomed the ambassador, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts was joined by City Council member Hiram Monserrate of the 21st District in Queens and Una Clarke, who was representing her daughter, Congress member Yvette D. Clarke.

DC 37 Treasurer Maf Misbah Uddin, who chairs the union’s Asian Heritage Committee, presented the ambassador with a giant check for $17,450 to symbolize the contribution that DC 37 members and locals made for the victims of Cyclone Sidr.

The tropical storm swept through Bangladesh in November with 150-mile-an-hour winds and torrential rains, flooding homes and farms, killing more than 3,000 people and destroying over 500,000 homes.

The union committee quickly began collecting aid funds, and Roberts called on members to contribute in her December PEP editorial.

“We are extremely grateful for this generous contribution,” said Ambassador Kabir, “and we thank Maf and all the union members for their efforts during this difficult time.”

The event also served as a “town hall” gathering for members of New York’s Bangladeshi community to meet Kabir, who took time to answer their questions. “We believe that we should reach out to everyone,” he said.

Council member Monserrate also welcomed the distinguished guests from Bangladesh and for the first time came out publicly in support of Intro. 452, the City Council bill that would allow 45,000 DC 37 members covered by residency requirements to live in surrounding counties.