Two Bangladeshis, including an imam, were gunned down in a brazen daylight attack in New York City when they left a mosque following afternoon prayers on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Imam Maulana Akonjee, 55, and Thara Uddin, 64. Police said miscreants attacked them and opened fire as they left the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque in the Ozone Park section of Queens shortly before 2pm of New York time, leaving them critically injured, reports AP. Later they were rushed to Jamaica Hospital where doctors declared them dead. “After contacting the local authorities and other sources, I could confirm that both the victims were Bangladeshis,” Shameem Ahsan, consul general at Bangladesh Consulate New York told UNB on Sunday. The diplomat said he visited both the crime spot and Jamaica Hospital (where the injured were sent) right after the incident. Quoting police, AP reported from New York that no motive has been established and there is no reason to believe the men were shot because they were Muslims. No suspects are in custody. “There’s nothing in the preliminary investigation to indicate that they were targeted because of their faith,” said Deputy Inspector Henry Sautner of the New York Police Department. Sautner said video surveillance shows the victims were approached from behind by a man in a dark polo shirt and shorts who shot them and then fled with the gun still in his hand. Members of the Bangladeshi community served by the mosque said they want the shootings to be treated as a hate crime. More than 100 people attending a rally at the shooting site Saturday night chanted “We want justice!” Sarah Sayeed, a member of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s staff, serves as a liaison to Muslim communities. She attended the rally and said, “I understand the fear because I feel it myself. I understand the anger. But it’s very important to mount a thorough investigation.” Khaled Rahman, who also was there, said he believes the shootings were an attack “against our religion” and he hopes police increase security around mosques. Shahin Chowdhury, a worshipper at the mosque, said members of the community had felt animosity lately, with people cursing while passing the mosque. He said he had advised fellow community members to be careful walking around, especially when in traditional clothing. He called the imam a “wonderful person” with a voice that made his Koran readings especially compelling. Worshipper Millat Uddin said Akonjee had led the mosque for about two years and was a very pious man. “The community’s heart is totally broken,” said Uddin, who is not related to Thara Uddin. “It’s a great misery. It’s a great loss to the community and it’s a great loss to the society.” Neighbors also described Thara Uddin as a pious and thoughtful man who prayed five times a day and went to the mosque. While at home, they said he would water his garden and one next door. “A very honest, wise man … (And) a very helpful guy,” said neighbor Mohammed Uddin, who is not a relation of Thara Uddin’s.–Dhaka, Aug 14 (AP/UNB)
