The third largest city in New Jersey renamed a portion of Union Avenue Bangladesh Boulevard this weekend in a nod to its growing Bangladesh community.
The Patterson Times reports an estimated 15,000 Bengalis live in Patterson, a city of 146,000.
Hundreds filled the streets to mark the occasion of the street sign unveiling. The festivities included a concert.
“We take pride in our heritage of being Bangladeshis in the United States,” said Nadia Hussain who was among those in attendance. “We are very much a part of the diverse and historical fabric of the city. The naming of this street commemorates and acknowledges this fact and illustrates how the Bangladeshi community’s roots in Paterson run deep and vibrant to this very day.”
Some 800 signatures were turned into the Patterson City Council in November to support the name change. Many Bengali-owned businesses line the two block area. The city council gave its unanimous approval while dozens of Bengalis who packed the hearing cheered.
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