Noman Sabit: Cambridge police authorities have explained why a student of Bangladeshi origin was shot in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to the police, when Faisal tried to attack the police, they were forced to shoot him. The name of the 20-year-old Bangladeshi is Syed Faisal. Boston’s TV channel NBC, US-based media including CBS News reported this news. His family sources said that the deceased Faisal’s full name is Syed Arif Faisal alias Prince.
According to the news, Faisal was seriously injured in the police firing on Wednesday (January 4) at noon local time. He later died after being admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. A Cambridge resident called 911 around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday to report a man jumping out of an apartment window, police said. He seems to be holding a sharp weapon like a chapati. Police found him behind a building on Sidney Street. After the police went, Faisal tried to run away with his weapon. It was later found that he had a dagger about a foot long. He was coming towards the police with that sharp knife in his hand. Police officers chased Faisal for some time before shooting him. Sponge rounds were first fired to stop him. But Faisal did not stop and started attacking the police. As a result, a police officer opened fire.
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office is investigating the incident. Attorney Marian Ryan said Faisal was stopped several times to restrain him when he threatened him with a weapon. However, it is alleged that Faisal was attacking the police officers with a dagger.
Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elo said, ‘Our officers have attempted to speak to the man several times without success. After the youth was spotted, efforts were made to reach him in an area of more than five blocks. We tried several times to calm the situation.’
An investigation into the shooting of Faisal has started. There will be regular investigations to ensure that shots were fired unnecessarily. The officer who was shot at this time has been sent on temporary leave.
Faisal’s country house is in Dantmara village of Bhojpur in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram. He studied at the University of Boston (UMass). Most of his family lives in Boston. 3 years ago, Syed Arif Faisal aka Prince came to Cambridge, Massachusetts with his parents. Faisal Arif’s grandfather was the late Syed Abul Bashar, a dentist teacher. He is the only child of Mojibur Rahman Nannu and Shaheda Begum. Arif’s father Mojibur Rahman Nannu was a MLF doctor in country.
Boston expat protest rally
Meanwhile, in the case of the death of Bangladeshi student Faisal Arif by the police, Bangladeshi expatriates in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, held a protest rally in front of Cambridge City Hall on Thursday (January 5) at noon local time. The expatriates demanded exemplary punishment for the police who shot dead Bangladeshi-origin student Syed Faisal alias Arif. At the same time, they demanded the concerned city authorities to ensure the safety of the migrants.
When the incident of Faisal being shot dead by the police spread among the expatriates of Boston and neighboring area within moments, the expatriates erupted into protests. Hundreds of expatriates gathered in front of Cambridge City Hall on Thursday afternoon to protest demanding exemplary punishment for the police involved in Faisal’s murder. Expatriates of various professions from Boston and Cambridge and neighboring areas participated in the gathering. At this time, the area was filled with slogans of ‘We Want Justice’.
Speakers in the rally said, We cannot accept the killing of the innocent Bangladeshi student Syed Faisal alias Arif by the police. Due to the tragic death of Faisal, the only son of his parents, his family has become helpless. We do not know the language to comfort them. Therefore, the expatriate speakers demanded exemplary punishment by immediately bringing the guilty policemen under the law.
Cambridge City Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and Councilman Burhan Azeem have promised to sit down and discuss with Bangladeshi community leaders, New England Bangladeshi American Foundation (NEBAF) officials said. They will be discussing with the district attorney and police commissioner very soon at the initiative of the Cambridge city mayor and councilmen, NEBAF said.
BP/SM
