BONY Podcast

Season 4 - Episode 20: We need more people from Baruch, from NYU, from CUNY, from every level and depth of universities, backgrounds, and experiences to join government. Whether you are South Asian or first-generation, whatever your experiences may be, they are so important and hold great value. Now on the internet, anybody can search out to get a small glimpse and taste of what a job in a field such as policymaking, government, or foreign policy may look like. 

Available on all Podcast platforms and on BengalisofNewyork.com/bony-podcast. Subscribe and share. Link in bio. Also, Amazon Alexa/Echo knows us! Just say, “Alexa, play BoNY Podcast."

Season 4 - Episode 19: Tania Begum was inspired to become a pharmacist, following in her father's footsteps to serve the community in healthcare. In 2013 she and co-owner Mahbubur Motlib opened Community Rx Pharmacy in Warren, Michigan, to serve the growing Bangladeshi community and other diverse communities. "We don't have a Bengali-speaking pharmacy in this location… we want to be with the people and be their support center, a resource center for them,” she says. Tania says being a pharmacist is more than filling medicine bottles, rather it's an opportunity to educate people about their health and guide them through their healthcare needs. “I found that passion where I want to be with people and the newcomers who don't understand the medication... who feel like they're lost... in the healthcare system,” she says. Her father was a pharmacist in Bangladesh prior to moving to the United States. Tania is one of metro Detroit's Bangladeshi Women Entrepreneurs.

Listen to the entire conversation with Tania Begum on the BoNY Podcast.

Available on all Podcast platforms and on BengalisofNewyork.com/bony-podcast. Subscribe and share. Link in bio. Also, Amazon Alexa/Echo knows us! Just say, “Alexa, play BoNY Podcast."

Season 4 - Episode 18: I work in the aerospace industry and have a background in mechanical engineering. I believe that no one should be intimidated by engineering; from my experience, it is not as scary as others make it out to be. I have jobs where my manager did not even go to college, and they were doing just fine. I'm not saying one should pursue that route over going to college; all I am saying is that if you have the desire to study a subject, such as engineering, do not be intimidated by it. 

Available on all Podcast platforms and on BengalisofNewyork.com/bony-podcast. Subscribe and share. Link in bio. Also, Amazon Alexa/Echo knows us! Just say, “Alexa, play BoNY Podcast."

Season 4 - Episode 17: Introducing Mafruza Begum, owner of Mersiha Homecare Services LLC 

Mafruza Begum is the owner of Mersiha Homecare Services LLC in Hamtramck, Michigan. She opened the business in 2014. She was inspired to open a homecare service after her father suffered from a stroke and was unable to find culturally sensitive and Bangla language homecare services for her father. She is one of metro Detroit's Bangladeshi Women Entrepreneurs.

Listen to the entire conversation with Mafruza Begum on the BoNY Podcast.

Available on all Podcast platforms and on BengalisofNewyork.com/bony-podcast. Subscribe and share. Link in bio. Also, Amazon Alexa/Echo knows us! Just say, “Alexa, play BoNY Podcast.

Season 4 - Episode 16: Tamanna Choudhury is the business owner of Bengali Nastha Michigan. Tamanna creates homemade treats such as frozen samosas, rolls, kabobs, to order chicken roast, and specializes in making wedding taals. Tamanna says she wanted to generate income at home while she cared for her young children. Although she began making snacks for several years, she launched her Facebook page in 2015. She says making her own income brings her joy and allows her to help others. Tamanna is a Bangladeshi Women Entrepreneur.

“Whoever is able to accomplish something, keep doing it. Whether you are able to accomplish that at home or outside of the home... there isn’t only one type of business. Do what you’re comfortable with. It feels peaceful (satisfying) being able to do something for yourself," she says.

Listen to the entire conversation with Begum Rafique on the BoNY Podcast.

Available on all Podcast platforms and on BengalisofNewyork.com/bony-podcast. Subscribe and share. Link in bio. Also, Amazon Alexa/Echo knows us! Just say, “Alexa, play BoNY Podcast."

Season 4 - Episode 15: So we know that it is not possible to reach 100% of the students and provide 100. So, therefore, we are essentially trying to reach out to as many students as possible. From the very recent data extracted last week, I know that 3,200 students among 4,000 are within our reach. So what we are doing is taking the software email in their mobile app and installing it into their mobile app in the slum area. Our model is also to expand the opportunity of education. It is a considerable concern for us, not only to give them lessons but also to keep them in the schools because there has been a significant migration. Right now, most of the people from the talent area who have income, they've been moving towards the village.

Listen to the entire conversation with Ijaz Mahmud on the BoNY Podcast.

Available on all Podcast platforms and on BengalisofNewyork.com/bony-podcast. Subscribe and share. Link in bio. Also, Amazon Alexa/Echo knows us! Just say, “Alexa, play BoNY Podcast."

Season 4 - Episode 14: Begum Rafique is an owner of Ummah Fashion and Ummah Outfitter, family-owned businesses. She was selling Bangladeshi and Islamic clothing for 17 years out of her home before opening her storefront. Begum opened Ummah Fashion in 2018 in Hamtramck, Michigan. Begum says she is honored to serve unique designs to her community, many of which are custom-designed by her, and shipped from Bangladesh, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Here she is pictured organizing hijabs in the store during Ramadan in 2019. Begum is one of metro Detroit’s Bangladeshi Women Entrepreneurs.

“All of us need to work. No work should be undermined. If you stick with something honestly and you give dignity and hard work, then InshaAllah... you can do many things if you are serious, if you have a commitment... InshaAllah day by day you will be successful,” she says. 

Listen to the entire conversation with Begum Rafique on the BoNY Podcast.

Available on all Podcast platforms and on BengalisofNewyork.com/bony-podcast. Subscribe and share. Link in bio. Also, Amazon Alexa/Echo knows us! Just say, “Alexa, play BoNY Podcast.

Season 4 - Episode 13: Shamsun Nehar began her business Cakes by Lucky in 2014 after baking for her friends and family. She took up cake decorating as a creative outlet from her day job as a senior software engineer for the engineering company Continental Automotive. Now she's baked and decorated over 500 cakes for weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions for metro Detroit's Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani and multicultural communities. Part of her work involves decorating with South Asian or desi themes such as incorporating saris, long fabrics worn by South Asian women, dholkis or drums, sherwanis, outfits worn by men, on the cakes using fondant. Shamsun is one of metro Detroit's Bangladeshi Women Entrepreneurs.

Season 4 - Episode 12: Introducing Fariha Ahmed, owner of Farihennart 

Fariha Ahmed began experimenting with henna since middle school. Over the years she felt drawn to creating. During high school she began pursuing her hobby as a professional henna service. She launched her business Farihennart in 2016 via Instagram. Fariha is one of metro Detroit’s Bangladeshi Women Entrepreneurs. 

Listen to the entire conversation with Fariha Ahmed on the BoNY Podcast.

Available on all Podcast platforms and on BengalisofNewyork.com/bony-podcast. Subscribe and share. Link in bio. Also, Amazon Alexa/Echo knows us! Just say, “Alexa, play BoNY Podcast.

Season 4 - Episode 11: Introducing Nargis Hakim Rahman, who will be hosting a series of Bangladeshi Women Entrepreneurs in the Greater Detroit area.

Project: Bangladeshi Women Entrepreneurs series.

In collaboration with the South Asian American Digital Archive (saada.org) 

Description: Documenting Detroit's Bangladeshi Women Entrepreneurs who have found creative ways to own businesses while upholding and celebrating culture and traditions.