Danforth, lovingly called Little Bangladesh by many, is a blessing for Bangladeshi immigrants living in Toronto. The area has become the centre of all social activities for them.
“It feels so much like home in Danforth. We can’t help but come here,” said Syed Farhan, a networking consultant working for an IT solutions firm in Downtown Toronto. “We can watch Bangla TV channels, talk about our people, community and country here.”
When I arrived in Toronto in the winter of 2010, I was sure I would never be able to live here in this faraway ice world.
That first morning, when I peeped through the window of my friend’s sister’s house where I was staying, the whole world outside looked empty. I felt an intense pain in my heart.
I started missing everyone and everything in Bangladesh: my family, my friends, my home, the tea-stall in front of my apartment.
My friend’s brother-in-law, who could sense my state of mind, said he would take me someplace where I would feel better.
That afternoon, I went to Danforth Avenue for the first time.
I was surprised to find many shops, stores and offices that had signboards written in Bangla. While walking along the street, I felt a kind of comfort that cannot be explained.
On both sides of Danforth Avenue, there are several community newspapers, bookshops and audio-video stores, as well as cultural and social organisation offices. You can hear loud Bangla music while walking along the street, and see Bangla posters taped to the glass doors.
We went to a Bangladeshi grocery store, where most of the products were directly imported from Bangladesh. It was a weekend, so there were many Bangladeshis coming from all parts of Toronto and nearby towns. They were there to buy halal meat and deshi fish and vegetables. On their way out, almost all of them were taking a copy of a free Bangla newspaper from the stand kept at the exit of the store.
We went to a restaurant named Ghoroa and had some chola muri and tea. Many people there were talking about what was happening in Bangladesh. It felt so good.
Restaurants are extremely busy in the evenings, serving traditional Bangladeshi snacks and meals. In summertime, the parking lot of Ghoroa restaurant looks just like a typical Dhaka tea-stall, with people gathered for a cup of tea, and raising a storm over political issues.
Syed Alam, the owner of Ghoroa, lets the parking lot be used as a venue for different Bangladeshi national and cultural events. Every year, historically important days like February 21, March 26 and December 16, are celebrated with solemnity at this small premises.
Members of various social and cultural organizations gather here and pay tribute to their national heroes at the makeshift memorial. The Bangla New Year rally has been organized from there for the past three years.
The newspaper offices are another favourite destination for the senior members and cultural activists of the community. This is where they talk about poetry, music, movie, sports and politics.
Mak Azad, a realtor and poet, has been living in Toronto for nine years. It’s a must for him to come to the Weekly Aajkal office after work everyday. “We gather here almost every evening. We read newspapers, watch news and cultural programmes and live cricket on Bangla TV channels and chat about what is happening back home.”
The community is growing fast. Over the last five years, the number of Bangladeshis has increased dramatically, and most live on Danforth Avenue between Main and Victoria Park intersections.
With it, the number Bangladeshi community businesses and other organizations have also increased.
Now there are as many as nine grocery stores, five restaurants, eight money exchange offices, eleven tax and mortgage consultation offices, seven real estate business offices, five afterschool tutorial homes, three salons, two furniture stores and many other businesses owned by Bangladeshis.
The Bangladesh Centre and Community Services near the Main intersection is home to most cultural events. Almost every weekend, some event or another takes place at the centre, drawing a sizeable audience.
Ahmed Hossain, a popular recitation artist and founder of a theatre group called Onno Theatre, said: “We are very busy during the summer. Our group has been holding shows on a regular basis. The most important thing is that our kids are learning Bangla music and theatre now.”
When asked why Danforth is so special to Bangladeshis, Hossain replied: “Danforth is not just commercially important to the community, but it bears something more for us. Look around. You see Bangla signboards. You smell Bangali cuisine. That’s what we want deep down in our hearts. We all find our home here.”