Bangladeshi diaspora

Bangladeshi diaspora

Regions with significant populations
Saudi Arabia	2,500,000 (2010)[1]
Pakistan	2,000,000 (2012)[2][3][4][5]
UAE	700,000 (2013)[6]
Malaysia	500,000 (2009)[7]
UK	500,000 (2009)[8]
Kuwait	230,000 (2008)[9]
Oman	200,000 (2010)[10]
Qatar	150,000 (2014)[11]
USA	143,619 (2007)[12]
Italy	113,811 (2013)[13]
Bahrain	90,000 (2007)[14]
Singapore	80,000 (2006)[15]
Australia	52,920 (2011)[16]
Maldives	40,000 (2008)[17]
Canada	24,600 (2006)[18]
Japan	15,000 (2008)[19]
South Korea	13,600 (2013)[20]
Greece	11,000[21]
Spain	7,000[21]
Germany	5,000[21]
Brazil	1,000[21]
Religion
Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity

The Bangladeshi diaspora consists of people of Bangladeshi descent who have immigrated to or were born in another country. First generation migrants may have moved abroad from Bangladesh for better living conditions, to escape poverty, or to send money back to families in Bangladesh.

The world's largest Bangladeshi diaspora population is in Saudi Arabia, where there are almost 3 million. There are also significant migrant communities Pakistan, as well as the various Arab states of the Persian Gulf, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, where Bangladeshis are mainly classified as foreign workers. The United Kingdom's 2001 census found 300,000 British Bangladeshi mainly concentrated in east London boroughs (Tower Hamlets and Newham); the migration to Britain is mainly linked with chain migration from the Sylhet region (95% of population). Besides the UK and Middle East, Bangladeshis also have a significant presence in the United States, mainly in New York (where many are also from Sylhet, Chittagong, and other regions), in Far Eastern countries such as Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, and in other Western countries such as Italy, Canada, Australia.

Middle East

Bangladeshis in the Middle East form the largest part of the worldwide Bangladeshi diaspora. Approximately 2,820,000 live within the Middle East, with half of them in Saudi Arabia, and a quarter of them in the United Arab Emirates. Bangladeshis who come to the Middle East are primarily guest workers or day labourers.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has over two million Bangladeshis, making it the largest Bangladeshi diaspora community. Bangladesh is one of the largest labour suppliers to Saudi Arabia, in 2007 Bangladeshi workers obtained the biggest share, with 23.50 per cent of the 1.5 million Saudi Arabia visas issued.

United Arab Emirates

There are over a million Bangladeshis residing in the United Arab Emirates as of 2013.

South Asia

India

Maldives

Bangladeshis in Maldives are mostly illegal immigrants,according to Maldivian foreign ministry some 50,000 Bangladeshi are now (2011) working in this country, a nation of only around 400,000 people, with one-third having no valid documents or registration.^[22]

Far East

Malaysia

Bangladeshis in Malaysia form a large proportion of Malaysia's foreign labour force. When both legal and illegal residents are included, their population was estimated to total 500,000 persons, roughly one-sixth of all the foreign workers in Malaysia as of 2009.^[23]

South Korea

In South Korea, there are more than 13,000 Bangladeshi foreign workers in the country. A few of them include illegal immigrants. This has led to some prejudice towards Bangladeshi immigrants, an issue recently tackled by the 2009 Korean film Bandhobi, directed by Sin Dong-il.^[24][25]

Japan

Bangladeshis in Japan (在日バングラデシュ人, Zainichi Banguradeshujin) form one of the smaller populations of foreigners in Japan. As of 2005, Japan's Ministry of Justice recorded 11,055 Bangladeshi nationals among the total population of registered foreigners in Japan.^[19]

Western world

United Kingdom

The British Bangladeshi community is one of the largest immigrant communities in the UK, which is also a well established throughout the communities. Bangladeshis primarily live in the city of London, mainly in the East London boroughs, of which the borough of Tower Hamlets has the highest percentage of Bangladeshis with about 33% of the borough's total population. The national census of ethnicity and identity found over 500,000 people had Bangladeshi heritage in Britain. There is also a significant community in and around Westminster.

People from current Bangladesh or entire Bengal or a broader region comprising Bangladesh were first present in the United Kingdom when Sylhetis arrived as lascars on ships during the 18th century to 19th century, and throughout the years this has created connections with Sylhet. Large numbers arrived during the 1970s mainly from Sylhet region, for the need to find work and earn a better living. The influence of Bangladeshi culture and diversity can be seen across London in boroughs such as Tower Hamlets, Newham, Camden and Southwark. The street of Brick Lane has a large history of Bangladeshis and has officially been dubbed as "Banglatown", which has hundreds of "Indian" restaurants nearly all owned by Sylheti Bangladeshis.

Outside London, Westwood, Greater Manchester has the second largest concentration of Bangladeshi diaspora in UK.

United States

The census in 2000, found up to 95,300 were born in Bangladesh, therefore it is estimated there are around at least 150,000 Bangladeshis in United States. It was until the 1990s when Bangladeshis started to move to the United States, and settled in urban areas such as New York and Washington D.C.. Although recent findings claim that Bangladeshis started arriving during the late 19th centuries from the southern part of current Bangladesh. They became integrated with the local African-American population. In some parts of New York there are Bangladeshi restaurant owners. The celebration of the Bengali New Year is also held for the Bangladeshi American community annually.

Italy

Bangladeshis are one of the largest immigrant populations in Italy. As of 2013, there were more than 113,811 Bangladeshis living in Italy. Most of the Bangladeshis in Italy are based in Lazio, Lombardy and Veneto with large concentrations in Rome, Milan and Venice.

Canada

Bangladeshi Canadian refers to a person of Bangladeshi background born in Canada or a Bangladeshi that has migrated to Canada. According to the Canada 2011 Census 34,205 Canadians claimed full or partial Bangladeshi ancestry.^[26] Bangladeshi Canadians can be found primarily in provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta. They live in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa.

Bangladeshi Canadians are distinct from other Bangladeshi diaspora groups because they are split amongst French-speaking and English-speaking Bangladeshi Canadians. This distinction is most obvious in eastern Canada.

Australia

Bangladeshis in Australia are one of the smallest immigrant communities living in Australia. There are around 20,000 Bangladeshis in Australia. The largest Bangladeshi communities are mainly present in the states of New South Wales and Victoria, with large concentrations in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

See also

• Bangladesh
• Bengali people
• Muhajir people
• British Bangladeshi
• Chakma people

References

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