Bangladesh's presence has found a lasting place on the map of the United States. An important street in Hamtramck, Michigan, has been renamed after Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who passed away recently. The Hamtramck City Council has approved a proposal to change the name of Carpenter Street to Khaleda Zia Street, marking a rare honour for a Bangladeshi leader on American soil.
Street named after Khaleda Zia
Khaleda Zia died in Dhaka on December 30 at the age of 80. Soon after her death, the decision was taken in Hamtramck to honour her legacy. Earlier, a street in Chicago had been named after her husband, former Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman.
The renaming of the street was made possible by the city council, which currently includes four members of Bangladeshi origin. Their proposal to rename Carpenter Street received approval, reflecting the strong connection between the city and its Bangladeshi community.
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Hamtramck's changing identity
Hamtramck, located in Michigan's Rust Belt near Detroit, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years. Once known as 'Little Warsaw' because of its large Polish immigrant population, the city is now home to a growing Bangladeshi and Yemeni community.
The city became America's first Muslim-majority city in 2013. In 2022, it also made history by forming the country’s first all-Muslim city council. According to census data, about 40 per cent of Hamtramck's residents were born outside the United States.
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Local culture has changed along with the population. Donut shops have turned into Yemeni cafes, while Polish restaurants now serve South Asian food, such as at the popular Sylhet Cafe. Despite facing controversy and being labelled 'Sharia-ville' by critics, Hamtramck stands today as a unique example of multicultural living. Mayor Amir Ghalib has said that, despite differences of opinion, people in the city continue to live together peacefully.
