New York street co-named Little Bangladesh

A part of McDonald Avenue in Kensington of New York has been officially co-named "Little Bangladesh." 

According to the authorities this decision was taken to celebrate the Bangladeshi community there and its contributions to the neighbourhood.

Council member Shahana Hanif said "Little Bangladesh" was named to see the neighbourhood as "our home and to further establish our commitment to serving and protecting this community."

According to a local newspaper, Brooklyn Paper, Shahana Hanif, leaders from the local Bangladeshi community, city Comptroller Brad Lander, and Assembly member Robert Carroll unveiled the new street sign at the corner of Church Avenue on October 16. 

The growing Bangladeshi community has been a cornerstone of the area for years — especially on the streets surrounding McDonald and Church, filled with Bangladeshi cafés and restaurants.

About 16 percent of the city's Bangladeshi population lives in Brooklyn, according to a 2019 survey by the Asian-American Federation. The number of Bangladeshi people living in New York City doubled between 2010 and 2020, according to city data.

The co-naming solidifies the street as a permanent home for the local Bangladeshi community, Shahana Hanif said.

Bangladeshi-origin Shahana Hanif is the first Muslim woman to be elected to the City Council.