From Dhaka’s power corridors to a Detroit suburb street sign: Hamtramck City Council in Michigan has renamed part of Carpenter Street ‘Khaleda Zia Street’ in memory of Bangladesh’s late former PM, deceased on December 30 aged 80.
The segment between Joseph Campau and Conant Streets now bears her name, thanks to advocacy from Bangladeshi council members. They spotlighted Zia’s foundational role in politics and her inspirational pull on local expatriates.
Hamtramck’s story is one of reinvention. Once a Polish stronghold, late-20th-century migration from Yemen and Bangladesh flipped the script, crowning it America’s first Muslim-majority municipality. An all-Muslim leadership slate—from mayor to police chief—marks the shift.
This drew intense spotlight, especially with Mayor Amer Ghalib’s win, fueling talks on identity politics. Council insists it’s pure representation of the people’s choice.
For the Bangladeshi community—the city’s largest—it’s an emotional anchor. As signs embrace Bengali script, the renaming salutes their hand in economic revival and political engagement.
Supporters frame it as well-deserved recognition of diaspora impacts on daily life.
Zia’s tenure defined eras in Bangladesh, blending nationalism with tenacity amid adversity. Her passing stirred tributes worldwide; this American nod extends that reverence.
Hamtramck proves small places can make big statements on multiculturalism. ‘Khaleda Zia Street’ encapsulates a narrative of migration, memory, and the melting pot’s enduring evolution.