Weeks after an electricity bill from Thane's Nallasopara slum colony brought a 'Chota Pakistan' to light, a birth certificate issued to a resident from Gandhinagar locality in Mira-Bhayander, has revealed a settlement called 'Bangladesh Zopadpatti'.
This slum pocket in Bhayander West, housing around 700 people from rural Maharashtra, is just a stone throw away from Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) and finds a place in the government records too.
Asked to comment on the birth certificate issued by the civic body's health department, MBMC Deputy Commissioner Sambaji Panpatte said, "We will look into it and if need be act on it. But there is no demand from anyone to change the address."
Surprisingly, not a single Bangladeshi lives in these slums. Instead 2,000-odd Maharashtrians from Amravati, Yavatmal, Nanded and other interiors occupy the place, and have photo passes and certificates carrying the address, civic sources said.
But unlike Nallasopara, residents of this area have no objection with the place being referred to as 'Bangladesh'. They, however, have no idea how the name originated, sources said.
Milan Mhatre, a former corporator, says these names were in existence since last four decades but have never stirred any controversy. "They were probably named rejoicing the victory during the Bangla war and have continued since then," he said.
Leo Colaco, President of Mira-Bhayander Congress Committee, Thane, said there is nothing wrong in christening a locality by any name. "There is no need to make a hue and cry over the issue as it has never posed any problem," he said.
However, civic sources said the issue will be raised in the next general body meeting of the MBMC.