After a series of meetings in December and January, Korean American representatives offered to recognize a much smaller section along Koreatown's eastern boundary as "Little Bangladesh." But Muhammad Hussain, a spokesman for the "Little Bangladesh" campaign, complained that there were very few Bangladeshis living in the proposed area.
City Councilman Ed Reyes, whose district includes Koreatown, said his priority was to find a solution that recognizes the full range of ethnic and cultural communities that make up the area.
"The issue here is how do we achieve the acknowledgment [Bangladeshi Americans] are seeking without having to shut anyone out," he said.
Many in the neighborhood would agree.
"Koreatown or Bangladeshtown -- it doesn't matter," said Kevin Lee, 34, owner of L.A. Korean Express, a mail service and supply shop that has many faithful Bangladeshi customers.
Nazmul Chowdhury, 43, serves a steady stream of Koreans at his Bangladeshi grocery, Deshi Food.
"That's the beauty of America," he said. "It's multicultural."
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alexandra.zavis@latimes.com
corina.knoll@latimes.com
Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report.
