At New Five Star, a cafe and restaurant on Unionport Road in Parkchester, nearly every table is filled with customers speaking Bengali.

“It’s so much fun, and I’m listening to everybody,” said owner Mostaque “Rafiq” Ahmed. “It feels like we’re in Little Bangladesh.”

“Little Bangladesh” is a term of affection many use to describe the ethnic enclave centered around Unionport Road and Starling Avenue.

What You Need To Know

Parkchester is home to a growing Bangladeshi community often called “Little Bangladesh,” centered on Unionport Road and Starling Avenue

More than 12,200 households in Bronx Community District 9 speak Bengali, about 7.7% of the population

The community expanded significantly after the U.S. Diversity Visa program in the 1990s brought Bangladeshi immigrants to the area

Residents say shared culture, faith and local businesses make Parkchester a strong, supportive place to live and raise families

“I love everything. It’s like my community. My people, my culture. Our groceries, our restaurants — everything is here,” said customer Sumaiya Meem.

From clothing vendors and mosques to supermarkets carrying imported goods that are not widely available, Parkchester — part of Bronx Community District 9 — is home to thousands of residents who grew up in Bangladesh.

A 2024 Data USA survey found Bengali was spoken in more than 12,200 households, accounting for 7.7% of the district’s population, which also includes Soundview.

Mohammed Mujumder left Bangladesh after the U.S. government introduced the Diversity Visa program in the 1990s.

“Our country had a 50,000 visa lottery. Half of them came here,” said Mujumder.

The program awarded approximately 50,000 immigrant visas to residents of Bangladesh as part of a U.S. effort to attract people from countries with low immigration rates.

“When they came, after five years, their wives, father, mother, neighbors, nieces and nephews — they started to come,” said Mujumder.

Mujumder is the longest-serving member of Community Board 9, which includes Parkchester. He is also the first person of Bangladeshi descent to serve as chairman of a New York City community board, and he considers it part of his role to help lead the community.

Recently, he comforted the family of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, a Parkchester resident who was killed in a mass shooting in Midtown last July.

“I visited his home,” said Mujumder. “Spoke to the family members. We are all devastated. And on the other hand, the community is proud that someone Muslim, also Bangladeshi American, sacrificed his life for the best interest of the community.”

The funeral for the husband and father, who was posthumously promoted to detective, drew large crowds to a local mosque in Parkchester.

“This community is really strong, really good, really supportive,” said Mohammad Azad of Parkchester.

Many residents say living in a tight-knit community where a majority share their Muslim faith and cultural ties makes Parkchester an ideal place to live.

“I want my kids to know our culture too, like the Bangladeshi culture,” said Meem. “There are a lot of mosques. So, we go to mosques. We pray, so it’s great for kids to grow up here.”