By Abu Taher | Bangla Patrika USA
NEW YORK — The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind Rohingya refugee in Buffalo, NY, has sparked outrage among members of the city’s large Bangladeshi community who called it “a shameful act by federal authorities.”
Shah Alam’s body was discovered several days after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents left him alone in a coffee shop following his release from jail. Shah Alam’s family is calling for local, state and federal investigations.
“All my father wanted was to eat a home-cooked meal with our family. But now we are mourning his tragic death,” said Shah Alam’s son, Mohammad Faisal, in a video posted to the Facebook page of Buffalo Bangla, a Bangladeshi newspaper.
‘Very tragic’
Shah Alam, 56, went missing on February 19, 2026. Officials reported that U.S. CBP agents dropped him off at a coffee shop in downtown Buffalo after being released from Erie County Holding Center that same day. Five days later, around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, the Buffalo Police Department found his body about four miles from the coffee shop.
“This is very tragic for his family and our community. I express my deepest disgust,” said Jobaidur Khan, a Bengali resident in Buffalo.
Police stated that homicide detectives are investigating the timeline and circumstances surrounding his death. However, the Erie County Medical Examiner’s autopsy found no evidence of hypothermia or homicide.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan called the incident “deeply concerning” and “preventable.” He said it was “unprofessional and inhumane” to leave a nearly blind man who could not speak English alone on a cold winter night without any safety measures in place. He demanded accountability from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
New York Congressman Tim Kennedy described Shah Alam’s death as “horrific” and “heartbreaking,” calling for a full and transparent investigation. “The public and Alam’s family deserve immediate answers,” he said.
Language, culture barriers
District Attorney Michael Jay noted that Shah Alam had been in custody for much of the previous year. Shah Alam’s family contends he was arrested due to a misunderstanding. In February 2025, Shah Alam was walking in his Buffalo neighborhood using a curtain rod as a walking stick due to his impaired vision. He became disoriented and wandered onto private property, prompting a resident to call the police.
When police arrived, Shah Alam, who does not speak English, did not understand their commands to drop the curtain rod. The police reported that because he did not comply with orders, they used a Taser and arrested him, according to his attorney.
His son, Faisal, explained that Shah Alam was using the curtain rod as a cane while walking. When he failed to understand officers’ commands to drop it, Shah Alam was arrested for trespassing on private property and for failing to follow police directions.
He eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.
His release process began after he posted bail on February 19, 2026. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office notified U.S. Border Patrol due to a pre-existing immigration detainer.
Not deportable
A Border Patrol spokesman stated that Shah Alam entered the United States on December 24, 2024, as a refugee and was determined not to be deportable. The spokesman reiterated that upon his release from jail agents attempted to communicate with him using translation software and, at his request, took him to a warm and safe location—a coffee shop near his last known address.
He was given the opportunity to make a phone call but reportedly declined. However, the family claimed that neither they nor their attorney were informed of where he was being dropped off. They added that Shah Alam could not read or write and did not use electronic devices.
Shah Alam and his family hail from the Arakan Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since late 2016 following a military crackdown, which the United States later declared a genocide.
Meanwhile, Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane stated that his office learned of Shah Alam’s release on Tuesday and would seek to drop any charges against him once a death certificate is obtained.
“I am saddened to learn of the tragic death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam,” said Keane in a statement on Thursday. “I understand the desire of his family, friends, and our community to know answers, as this incident is still under investigation.”
Shah Alam was buried Thursday afternoon at a mosque in Buffalo, NY.
This story was originally published by Bangla Patrika USA. It is reprinted here in English with permission from the publisher.