In Rain-Soaked Bronx, NYPD Officer Didarul Islam Laid to Rest Amid Sea of Salutes

Amid steady rain and heavy hearts, thousands gathered Thursday in the Bronx to honor NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, one of four victims in this week’s mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan. A somber procession unfolded outside Parkchester Jame Masjid, the mosque in Islam’s own neighborhood, where his funeral was held. As six officers carried his flag-draped casket through the street, a sea of uniformed personnel stood at silent attention under the pouring rain. The mournful sound of “Taps” echoed as Islam was given a final salute.

The 36-year-old officer, father of two with a third child on the way, was off-duty and working a security job when he was fatally shot Monday inside a skyscraper at 345 Park Avenue. His death has sent shockwaves through New York’s tight-knit Bangladeshi American community.

“His watch may be over, but his impact will never be,” said NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who posthumously promoted Islam to detective first grade during the service. “The light he carried did not go out. It moved forward, and it shines within the family he worked so hard to build.”

Islam's widow, visibly emotional, was embraced by Commissioner Tisch during the announcement. Behind the casket walked Islam’s grieving family, including his brother-in-law Kamrul Hasan, also an NYPD officer, who described him as “a protector, a dependable leader, and best friend.”

Islam's family members walked behind his casket. Mayor Eric Adams called on New Yorkers to "stand in unison with this family and this city as we heal together." 

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Islam joined the NYPD as a school safety agent in 2019 and became an officer in 2021. Deputy Inspector Muhammad Ashraf, commander of the 47th Precinct, remembered Islam as a “proud immigrant from Bangladesh who served his city with honor.”

"Islam was not just a cop," Ashraf said. "He was a son of this city and of another land — a bridge between two worlds."

Among those in attendance were Mayor Eric Adams, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and prominent community leaders. “We stand in unison with this family and this city as we heal together,” Mayor Adams said.

Local Bangladeshi American community leader Foysol Ahmed noted Islam’s death brought both sorrow and pride. “When one of our own serves in NYPD or FDNY, it uplifts our entire community,” he said.

Helicopters flew overhead as the white hearse departed the mosque, flanked by officers lining White Plains Road. Inside, law enforcement, community members, and political leaders continued to pay tribute through prayer and remembrance.

“In the Muslim faith, we firmly believe: ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him we return,’” Inspector Ashraf reminded the mourners. “May Officer Islam rest in eternal peace.”

Sources:
CNN, BBC, Newyork Times