Shibbir Ahmed, JAMAICA, QUEENS: A solemn sea of candlelight illuminated the streets of Jamaica on Friday evening, August 1, 2025, as hundreds of residents, civic leaders, and elected officials gathered to honor the life and sacrifice of late NYPD Detective First Grade Didarul Islam. The prayer vigil, organized by the Queens-based nonprofit BHALO (Bangladeshi Humanitarian Aid & Leadership Outreach), served as a poignant focal point of mourning for the city's Bangladeshi-American community, which remains in shock following the horrific mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan earlier this week.

Detective Islam, 36, a five-year veteran of the NYPD assigned to the 47th Precinct, was fatally shot on Monday, July 28, 2025, inside the 345 Park Avenue office tower. While working an extra security detail to support his family, Islam immediately confronted a heavily armed gunman to protect civilians. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch posthumously promoted him to Detective First Grade in recognition of his extraordinary heroism. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.

"Our community gathered tonight in grief, unity, and prayer to honor a devoted father, NYPD officer, and Bangladeshi-American who served this city with humility and heart," a spokesperson for BHALO stated during the proceedings. Attendees held portraits of the fallen officer and offered traditional Islamic prayers (Du’a) for his family.

The tragedy has resonated deeply across the close-knit immigrant enclave, where Detective Islam was widely regarded as a pillar of the community and an inspiration to aspiring young officers.

The event also drew prominent figures from New York City's political sphere. Among the attendees was New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, a prominent contender in the city's upcoming mayoral election.

Assemblymember Mamdani, who spent the days following the tragedy meeting privately with the Islam family, addressed the gathering to express his deep solidarity. He emphasized that the city owes an unpayable debt to the fallen officer and pledged his continued advocacy for working-class immigrant families and the municipal workers who protect them.

The vigil concluded with a community-wide appeal to support the memorial fundraiser established by the Bangladeshi American Police Association (BAPA) to secure the financial and educational future of Detective Islam’s children.