The death of a 21-year-old Bangladeshi student in Ozone Park on August 4 sent shocks throughout the community. Kutub Shibli, a student at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, was killed on the first day he rented a limousine to make money to meet school expenses and for the family. His father, Mohammed Liakat Ali, an engineer who came from the Sitakundu of Chittagong [the commercial capital of Bangladesh], was stunned by the death of his son, whom he brought to the United States to pursue a higher education. That dream will never be fulfilled.

The shooting occurred around 10 p.m. at the cross section of Gleenmore and Pitkin Avenues, just a few yards from Shibli’s home.

Rinku, who was a friend of Shibli’s and an eyewitness in the tragic incident, said that Shibli played football that day, just like any other day. At around 6 p.m., he left the game to pick up the limousine. He came back with the car at around 9:45 p.m. and stood gossiping with his friends in front of his house. It was then that the killer, along with two or three accomplices, fired three shots directly at Shibli, from a few feet away. Shibli fell down instantly.

When people on the street started to scream, Shibli’s parents came out of the house to find their son lying on the pavement. Although the police arrived quickly, the ambulance did not show up for 45 minutes. The wounded young man was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where he was declared dead at 11 p.m. On the following day, a Namaj-e-Janaza [burial ceremony] was held at the Masjid-Al Aman Mosque at Forbell Street, with Imam Aby Sayeed. He was buried in Long Island at the Beani Bazar Society cemetery.

The police arrested a 21-year-old black youth in connection with this incident.

It was learned that a Bangladeshi youth and the arrested suspect used to threaten Shibli’s younger brother, Sadli, demanding money from him everyday. When Shibli sought a protection order from Precinct 75 to protect his younger brother, the aggressors got angry and warned Shibli that their gang would deal with him.

On the day of the shooting, several black youth pelted the Shibli house with stones. When the Shibli family came out and shouted at the unruly youth, they fled. Later that evening, the suspect and his accomplices returned and killed Shibli.

With news of the shooting, members of the Bangladeshi community crowded into the Brookdale Hospital premises. When the victim’s parents were told of Shibli’s death, the father and Shibli’s sister both lost consciousness. The mother’s painful screams filled the air.

The Namaj e Janaza turned into a protest. Shibli’s father urged everyone to take measures to prevent that other people’s sons become victims of violent crime. A large number of community members attended a rally at Ozone Park, where they demanded that the alleged gang be apprehended and brought to justice in order to send a message to other youth.