Michigan: It has been decided to name a road in an American city after the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia. A street in Hamtramck city of Michigan state of America will now be known as ‘Khalida Zia Street’. This naming has been done in honor of the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, who died on 30 December. Hamtramck is America’s first Muslim-majority city and is home to the state’s largest Bangladeshi immigrant community. Hamtramck, once known as ‘Little Warsaw’, has today become a Muslim-majority city in Michigan. Recently, the city administration has once again come into limelight when the city administration decided to rename a road section as ‘Khalida Zia Street’.

BNP said ‘International recognition’
The media cell of Khaleda Zia’s party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) shared information about this decision on Facebook. The party termed it as international recognition of Khaleda Zia’s important political leadership and contribution in the history of Bangladesh. However, this is not the first time that a road in America has been named after a Bangladeshi leader. According to reports, a road in Chicago has already been named after Ziaur Rahman, the late President of Bangladesh and husband of Khaleda Zia.

‘Khalida Zia Street’ becomes part of Carpenter Street
The Hamtramck City Council approved a proposal to rename a portion of Carpenter Street. According to BNP’s media cell, this decision was possible due to the active role and efforts of four councilors of Bangladeshi origin working in the City Council. The Bangladeshi expatriate community living in America did not consider this decision merely a symbolic change.

Members of the expatriate community say the move is a broader recognition of Bangladesh’s political struggle and leadership, Bangladesh Business Standard reported. The decision is also linked to Hamtramck’s history, where Muslim representation has become an example of American public life. The city is home to Michigan’s largest Bangladeshi immigrant community.

Hamtramck: City of Muslim Americans
Hamtramck is located in Wayne County, Michigan, United States. It exists as an enclave within Detroit. Detroit, which has been the center of America’s automobile industry. The city was named for Jean-François Hamtramck, a French-Canadian soldier who commanded Fort Shelby during the War of 1812.

According to a BBC report, the city grew rapidly with the opening of the Dodge Automobile Factory in 1914. Thousands of workers came here and Hamtramck emerged as an industrial center. The city’s demographics changed with new waves of migration in the late 20th century. Immigrants from Yemen and Bangladesh began to settle here, while the Polish-American population declined with Detroit’s industrial decline. Today Hamtramck is the city with the highest percentage of immigrants in Michigan. It has the largest number of Bangladeshi immigrants in the state and also has the second largest proportion of Arab population after Dearborn.

America’s first Muslim-majority city
In 2013, Hamtramck was recognized as America’s first Muslim-majority city. This change also affected the governance system. By 2015, the city elected the country’s first Muslim-majority city council. In 2022, Hamtramck became the first American city to be governed by an entirely Muslim city council and Muslim Mayor Aamer Ghalib.

A glimpse of identity from many cultures
The streets of Hamtramck reflect its multicultural identity. Signboards in Arabic and Bengali are visible at shops. Bangladeshi clothing, Yemen’s traditional jambia (small curved sword) and Poland’s famous sweet paczki are common here. Former mayor Karen Majewski told the BBC in 2021, ‘When you live so close, you have to rise above differences.’

Controversy has also been associated
However, the city also faced some controversies. In 2004, tension arose over the broadcasting of Islamic azaan in public places. Some residents believe that the ban on bars near mosques hurts the local economy. Additionally, rumors spread of Sharia law being imposed by the Muslim-controlled city council.

When Hamtramck became America’s first Muslim-majority city, it attracted global media attention. Today, amidst all the debates, life here is progressing normally. It is noteworthy that in 2013, Hamtramck was officially declared America’s first Muslim-majority city.