Zohran Mamdani and Jon Kabir share stage in New York
Music briefly took centre stage at a fundraiser in Queens today (14 December) when Bangladeshi musician Jon Kabir joined a room full of donors backing New York mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The evening unfolded at the Thikana Community Hub, a newly opened space attached to the Thikana Group's offices, where more than 200 guests from the Bangladeshi American community gathered for a fundraiser supporting Mamdani's transition effort. While the event was rooted in civic organising, it was the unexpected singalong that gave the night its lighter moments.
Kabir appeared on stage with vocalist Ruhin Hossain. Mamdani was in the room as they launched into a cover of 'High Hopes' by Panic! At The Disco. As the chorus rolled in, much of the audience joined along, turning the performance into a shared moment rather than a polished concert. A projected backdrop reading "Zohran, a new era, New York" hovered behind them, while Mamdani laughed, clapped and urged the crowd on.
Speaking to The Business Standard (TBS), Kabir said the musical bit was never meant to be a headline act. "Basically, I joined Thikana as head of programmes and events. This event with Zohran Mamdani was in the plans for a couple of weeks," he said. "We played a couple of songs for him. I basically played the guitar and lent some backing vocals. We covered High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco."
Kabir also confirmed that while he exchanged greetings and had a few casual conversations with the mayor, he had no interest in turning those chats into talking points. He declined to share details, keeping the focus on the event itself.
The fundraiser was organised by Thikana, led by group CEO Mushrath Shaheen, and inaugurated by chairman M M Shaheen. Support came from Rivertel CEO Ruhin Hossain, while Thikana TV CEO Khaled Muhiuddin was also present. Organisers said the evening raised more than $150,000.
Held inside the 6,000-square-foot community hub, the gathering reflected how cultural figures, community media and local politics often overlap in immigrant spaces in New York — sometimes with a guitar thrown into the mix.