How many Bangladeshi Americans live in New York? What is the history of Bangladesh immigration to the United States? And what is life like for Bangladeshi Americans today? If you are curious about the Bangladesh community in New York these may be some of your most pressing questions. Well, we’ve got you covered.
In this post we’ll be highlighting a number of topics to help you learn a bit more about Bangladeshi immigration to the United States:
- History of Bangladeshi Immigration to the U.S.
- Bangladeshis in New York
- Famous U.S. Bangladeshis
- Remittance from Bangladesh to the U.S.
- Transfer money with Small World
History of Bangladeshi Immigration to the U.S.
The most recent U.S. census estimates that there are around 800,000 Bangladeshi Americans living in the United States. This number is composed of Bangladeshi immigrants and first and second generation American citizens. This is a testament to the large growth in immigration from Bangladesh to the U.S. that has taken place during the latter half of the twentieth century and the early twenty-first century.
Immigrants from present-day Bangladesh have been arriving in the United States since the 1880s. Since the 1970s many Bangladesh immigrants have settled in urban U.S. areas and acquired work in major cities like New York, New Jersey, Detroit and Atlantic City. In 1971, the Los Angeles Bangladesh Association was created and today there are Bangladesh Associations with large numbers across States like Texas, Michigan and New York.
In fact, New York is the center of Bangladeshi immigration to the U.S. and today has thriving Bangladeshi communities throughout the five boroughs. Over 250,000 Bangladeshi-born immigrants live in New York and it has become a hub for Bangladeshis since the 1970s.
Bangladeshis in New York
New York City is home to the largest and most vibrant Bangladeshi community in the United States. The community is spread across the Jackson Heights neighborhood in the borough of Queens. With a variety of Bangladeshi grocery and clothing stores and a number of authentic Bangladeshi restaurants it is the ideal place to visit if you want to learn about and experience Bangladeshi American culture. Neighboring communities like Elmhurst and Woodside are also home to a large population of Bangladeshi Americans.
So why has New York become such a hotspot for Bangladeshi immigrants since the 1970s? Well, New York more so than many other states is home to a fantastically diverse population and it is a city where immigrants, from many countries, have been able to succeed since the 19th century. Today, the Bangladeshi community within New York is so developed that it is one of the most welcoming places for Bangladeshis to move to if they want to start a new life outside of Bangladesh.
There is also plenty of support in New York for Bangladeshi immigrants. For example, the Consulate General of Bangladesh in New York is able to provide consular services and support for new immigrants and individuals that have lived in New York for a while. This level of assistance is testament to the development of a great community of Bangladeshis in New York over the past fifty years.
Famous U.S. Bangladeshis
There are a number of notable U.S. Bangladeshis who have made their name through business or sport or scientific achievements in America.
- Sal Khan
An educator and founder of the free online education platform Khan Academy, Sal Khan was born in Louisiana to parents from Bangladesh and India. He has around 6.7 million Youtube subscribers and has amassed approximately 1.9 billion views on the platform. In 2012, Sal Khan was listed as one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world.
- Sanjoy
Sanjoy Deb is a famous musician, producer and DJ. His most famous song is called ‘Shangri-La’, which charted on the U.S. Top 40 songs. He was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh and raised in San Jose, California. He graduated with a degree in business from the San Jose State University but decided to transition into a career in electronic music.
- Anika Rahman
Anika Rahman is a well-known Bangladeshi American lawyer and human rights activist. Rahman was born in Bangladesh and moved to the U.S. to study international relations. She went on to study at Princeton and Columbia Law School before beginning a successful career as a lawyer and nonprofit leader.
- Iqbal Quadir
Quadir is an entrepreneur and teacher who made his name as a promoter of the role of innovations and entrepreneurship in improving the prosperity of low-income countries. He was born in Jessore, Bangladesh and moved to the U.S. in 1976. He later became a U.S. Citizen and has taught at the Harvard Kennedy School and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Remittance from Bangladesh to the U.S.
The United States has become a remittance hotspot for Bangladeshis in recent years. The U.S. overtook the UAE as the second biggest country of remittance for Bangladeshis. This is testament to both the growing communities of Bangladeshi-American communities across the U.S. and the ease with which you can now send money back and forth from the U.S. online.
Bangladeshi expatriates in the U.S. remitted $343.5 million. Many Bangladeshis based in the U.S. are living in better circumstances than they would be if they lived in Bangladesh and can therefore afford to send money home to support family and friends. The thriving communities of Bangladeshis in places like New York have helped to improve the social and economic lives of second and third generation Bangladeshi Americans.
Moreover, as a result of the strength of the U.S. dollar compared to the Bangladeshi Taka the money sent home is able to go further and provide greater support.
Transfer Money with Small World
If you’re based in one of our licensed states in the United States and you want to send money home to your loved ones in Bangladesh, you can use Small World.
Small World is an international money transfer service that helps millions send funds overseas. Whether you prefer to send funds via airtime top-up, bank deposit, cash pickup or mobile wallet, Small World is here for you.
Your first digital transaction is always free of transfer fees!
