24-year old Bangladeshi man killed by SUV driver in Manhattan

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Friends, acquaintances, and total strangers are donating money for the funeral and transport of the body of Borkot Ullah, a young man in Manhattan, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident by a driver the night of July 8, 2021.

The advocacy organization, Desis Rising Up and Moving, set up a GoFundMe account with a goal of collecting at least $25,000, a goal almost met within three days. The site showed $24,109 had been raised by July 12 evening. (https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-family-of-killed-delivery-worker)

According to CBSlocal, investigators say Borkot Ullah was hit shortly after 11 p.m. while trying to cross East Houston Street.

A food delivery worker and member of DRUM, Borkot Ullah was cycling to some destination, when he was killed by a speeding car being chased by the NYPD, said the GoFundMe account set up by DRUM.

“We are working with the community to arrange Borkot’s janaza, to have his body sent home to Bangladesh, and to have his body transported to his village,” DRUM said. It is also working with Borkot’s friends and family to arrange a vigil along with the janaza, the date for which has not been announced yet.

“100% of donations will go directly to supporting Borkots family both here and in Bangladesh whom he supported financially through his food delivery work,” DRUM said.

Borkot Ullah, who was seeking asylum after fleeing Bangladesh due to political repression and targeting there, the GoFundMe site said.

Over the last year, Borkot Ullah was highly active in the fight to Fund Excluded Workers, according to DRUM, and he would ride his bike over to actions and rallies in Manhattan during his breaks.

“After a year of extreme financial hardship because of the pandemic, he was eagerly looking forward to the excluded worker fund check,” DRUM said.

The news outlet thelodownny.com noted that the SUV that hit Borkot Ullah, barreled through a red light on Houston Street, near Attorney Street and fled the scene.

He was pronounced dead after being rushed to Bellevue Hospital.

The news outlet nyc.streetsblog.org said the driver of the Subaru Outback SUV “was apparently being chased by police.

“A video from the scene showed clearly that the cyclist had the light and that the driver swerved around stopped traffic to run the red light and strike Ullah,” Streetsblog reported, noting that Borkot Ullah lived on West 17th Street, close to where he was struck. Streetsblog says it obtained a video which showed the police car was chasing the black Subaru Outback.

Police have yet to apprehend the driver of the SUV. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477).