Nazma Khanam
Nazma Khanam
Nazma Khanam is a souvenir shop owner and retired teacher living in Queens, New York City. She is married to Sumsul Alam. [undefined]
One of Nazma's nephews, Humayun Kabi worked as a transit officer in the New York City Police Department (NYPD). He is part of the the NYPD Muslim Officers Society. [undefined]
She worked as a schoolteacher in Bangladesh, before moving to Queens about seven years ago. [undefined]
Death
On August 31, 2016 at around 9:15 p.m Nazma Khanam was fatally stabbed by an unknown assailant.
The attack happened as Nazma and her husband were walking home after closing their souvenir shop on Jamaica Avenue.
Nazma walked past her husband and was stabbed multiple times.
Her husband, Sumsul was behind her and didn't see the attacker but heard her yell “He attacked me and I’m dying, as she was stabbed.
According to her nephew, Alam only realized it was his wife after he rushed up the street, Rahman said.
When the family later told Alam that his wife was dead, he crumpled to the ground in anguish.“He fell down and cried,” the nephew said.
“I cannot even explain."
None of Nazma's possessions were stolen during the murder according to police.
Nazma was wearing traditional Muslim clothing including a hijab when she was ambushed, which made her relatives believe the killing was a hate crime. [undefined] [undefined]
Despite the Nazma's possessions not being stolen, police believe the killing was a robbery.
“Very sad to announce the death of the aunt of our member PO Kabir,"NYPD Muslim Officers Society tweeted. "Let's catch the perp." [undefined]
Surveillance video reviewed by the police shows Khanam walking ahead of her husband.
The attack itself wasn’t captured on camera but a man was recorded sprinting away from the scene.
In the wake of Wednesday night’s attack, the New York chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations called on the NYPD to investigate whether bias could be a motive in the attack. [1]
"Because of the recent killings of Muslims in Queens, and because of the growing number of anti-Muslim incidents nationwide resulting from the increasing Islamophobia in American society, we urge the NYPD to investigate a possible bias motive for this murder," CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said. [undefined]