Archive · 9 Aug 2025
Bangladeshi American Officers Legacy in NYPD After 9/11
Officer Didarul Islam, a Bangladeshi American, was the first from his community to die in the line of duty as an NYPD officer.
His funeral showed how many people of Bangladeshi heritage are now in the NYPD.
Many joined after 9/11 to show they weren't terrorists.
They often start as civilian employees to get citizenship, then become officers.
There are now many Bangladeshi officers in different roles, showing how they've moved up in the NYPD.
This growth helps them feel like they belong, like other groups before them.
NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, the first Bangladeshi American officer killed in the line of duty, was eulogized last week.
Over 1,000 of the NYPD's roughly 33,000 uniformed members are Bangladeshi Americans, and 1,500 more are civilian employees.
Many Bangladeshi immigrants joined the NYPD after 9/11 in response to anti-Muslim sentiment.
The NYPD's Bangladeshi community encourages a path to becoming officers that starts with civilian jobs.
Bangladeshi Americans in the NYPD are now represented at various ranks, including detectives, sergeants, and lieutenants.
- Who
- Officer Didarul Islam, Bangladeshi Americans in the NYPD, and the NYPD.
- What
- The rise of Bangladeshi Americans in the NYPD and the legacy of Officer Didarul Islam.
- When
- The article discusses events following the 9/11 attacks and up to the present.
- Where
- New York City, particularly at the NYPD headquarters and the Bronx mosque.
- Why
- To show the increasing presence and integration of Bangladeshi Americans within the NYPD.
Early Concerns
Improved Understanding
Perception of Muslims in NYPD
Early Concerns
Some felt singled out due to counterterrorism training.
Improved Understanding
Improved perception of Muslims over time.
- Officer's Name
- Didarul Islam
- Death Date
- July 28
- Bangladeshi American Officers
- Over 1,000
- Bangladeshi Civilian Employees
- 1,500
- NYPD Uniformed Officers
- Roughly 33,000
- Officer's Start
- School safety officer