I was born and raised in a rural village in Bangladesh and made New York my home in 2001. Since then, I've built a life in western Queens as a mother, educator, organizer, and lifelong advocate for an inclusive New York where every person is seen, respected, and heard.

From Bangladesh to Queens

Mary grew up in a small village in Bangladesh before immigrating to New York in 2001. Like many immigrant New Yorkers, she arrived with hope, determination, and a commitment to work hard and support her family. She quickly found herself helping others navigate life in a new country — from language and culture to housing, work, and community.

She became the founding Program Manager of Time Television, the first Bangladeshi HD television channel in New York City. In that role, Mary helped build a platform where Bangladeshi New Yorkers could see themselves reflected, stay informed, and share their stories. This work wasn’t just about media — it was about representation, identity, and community power.

Mary later served as an outreach specialist at Urban Health Plan, a network of community health centers, connecting families with medical care and support services. She saw firsthand how gaps in healthcare, housing, and income spill over into people’s physical and mental health. She has also worked in public schools, supported two political campaigns in Niagara Falls, and served in the office of New York State Senator Jessica Ramos, always centering working families, immigrants, and people too often left out of policymaking.

A non-traditional student, Mary began at LaGuardia Community College and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in media and communication and a master’s degree in education from New York University. She pursued her education while raising three children in New York City, navigating the same everyday challenges — childcare, long commutes, rising costs — that so many families face. Her journey shapes her belief that opportunity should never depend on where you start in life.

Today, Mary is raising her three children, all born here and attending NYC public schools, in western Queens. She is not a career politician. Her decision to run for State Assembly comes directly from listening to her neighbors, seeing inequality grow, and knowing that working people deserve leaders who understand those struggles from the inside.

“I’m running to help create an inclusive New York,” Mary says, “where everyone is respected for who they are and has access to basic human rights without discrimination.”