Bangladeshi Tarek Ambia Arrested in Connection With Child’s Fatal Traffic Crash in Connecticut

Staff Reporter: Manchester police have arrested Bangladeshi-American Tarequl Ambia, also known as Tarek Ambia, in connection with a traffic crash that killed a four-year-old girl in Manchester, Connecticut. Ambia is the president of the Bangladeshi American Association of Connecticut (BAAC) and an advisor to the Connecticut State Awami League.

Four-year-old Akari Cortes died after being struck by a vehicle driven by Ambia in Manchester on June 10 of this year. The child’s parents have also been arrested in connection with the incident. Police brought several charges following an investigation into the girl’s death.

According to Manchester police, Ambia, 49, of Manchester, was driving the vehicle that struck Akari on East Center Street at approximately 4:30 a.m. on June 10.

Police said Ambia was arrested and charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, operation of a motor vehicle while using a handheld phone or mobile electronic device, failure to obey traffic control signals, and failure to drive right.

Akari’s parents, Taylor Biron, 28, and Nathael Cortes, 26, both of Manchester, were also arrested. Police said they were charged with risk of injury to a child.

Officers responded to East Center Street shortly after 4:30 a.m. on June 10 following a report that a child had been struck by a vehicle. Akari was transported with serious injuries to Connecticut Children’s, where she later died.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Akari died from blunt-force injuries.

The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) had previously disclosed that it received two reports alleging inadequate supervision of Akari before her death. According to a DCF official, the reports were received from law enforcement on June 1 and June 5.

Following the arrests, DCF said in a statement that the department had completed its investigation into the tragic death of Akari Cortes.

Previous Controversy

Tarek Ambia has previously been the subject of controversy within segments of Connecticut’s Bangladeshi community. According to reports and accounts surrounding an October 12, 2019 incident, while serving as treasurer of the Baitul Mamur Mosque committee, Ambia was accused of verbally humiliating the mosque’s then-imam, Maulana Zobayer Ahmed. The incident reportedly generated discussion and criticism within Muslim and religious communities in Connecticut and elsewhere in North America.

According to accounts of the incident, at around 10 a.m. on October 12, 2019, Imam Zobayer Ahmed was teaching his regular madrasa class when Ambia arrived with his son approximately 15 to 20 minutes late. Ambia reportedly knocked on the door, but the imam, who was conducting the class inside, did not immediately hear him.

It was alleged that Ambia became angry over the delay in opening the door and used insulting language toward the imam. When the imam asked him to speak respectfully, Ambia allegedly became more upset and compared him to an animal. The imam reportedly felt deeply humiliated and returned home. He did not return to the mosque afterward, and another imam was subsequently appointed.

Ambia’s brother, Toufiqul Ambia Tipu, who currently serves as treasurer of the mosque committee, was also accused of referring to Bangladeshi Muslim worshippers in Manchester as ‘devils’ in a Facebook post.

Dispute Over BAAC Election

Ambia was elected president of BAAC in an election held on June 28, 2025. His opponents, however, have disputed the conduct and legitimacy of that election.

It has been alleged that the election commission was improperly influenced and that a polling station was established at Ambia’s own business premises as part of an effort to favor his candidacy. These remain allegations rather than established findings.

His rival presidential candidate, Anamul Ambia, subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the election and alleging irregularities, corruption and favoritism. The lawsuit is reportedly still pending.

Editor’s note: An arrest or criminal charge is an allegation and does not constitute a finding of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The allegations concerning the 2019 mosque incident and the BAAC election dispute should likewise be attributed to their respective sources unless independently established by court records or other authoritative evidence.

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BP/SM