A social media dispute that began on TikTok ultimately escalated into kidnapping, violent assault, and a federal criminal prosecution. In a case that has drawn significant attention within New York’s Bangladeshi community, 40-year-old Sultana Raziya has been convicted of kidnapping. Her co-defendant, Syed Rubel Ahmed, was also found guilty.
Following several days of testimony, a federal jury in Brooklyn returned guilty verdicts against both defendants on June 26. The case is part of a broader federal investigation involving two separate kidnapping and torture incidents in Queens, with a total of seven defendants charged.
According to court records, the conflict originated over a dispute involving approximately $30,000. The victim, identified in court documents as Mubarak Dewan, alleged that Raziya and members of her family had misappropriated his money. The disagreement soon spilled onto TikTok and other social media platforms, where both sides exchanged
accusations, videos, and inflammatory posts.
Federal prosecutors alleged that on March 27, 2023, Dewan was forcibly abducted in Jamaica, Queens, placed into a vehicle, and driven around for several hours while being assaulted. Prosecutors said one of the defendants, Abu Chowdhury, recorded much of the incident and later contacted Raziya by video call, asking her to come to the scene.
According to the government, Raziya, her husband, and another relative arrived and participated in the assault. Prosecutors also alleged that Raziya recorded video of the victim and later uploaded it to TikTok with the caption, “Mental Health Awareness Month.” Raziya’s attorney argued that her client was unaware Dewan had been kidnapped. The defense maintained that Raziya had endured years of online harassment by Dewan and went to the location believing he had merely been assaulted, not abducted. Her attorney acknowledged that posting the video may have been “poor judgment,” but argued it did not establish that Raziya knowingly participated in the kidnapping.
The jury ultimately accepted the prosecution’s evidence and returned guilty verdicts.
Following the verdict, federal prosecutors asked the court to remand both defendants into custody pending sentencing. U.S. District Judge Nina Morrison postponed that decision until a July 23 hearing. Until then, Raziya remains free on a $50,000 bond, while Ahmed remains released on a $100,000 bond.
The prosecution is part of a much larger federal case. According to the indictment, seven individuals have been charged in connection with two separate kidnapping and assault incidents.
The second alleged kidnapping occurred in May 2023. Prosecutors allege that a victim was abducted outside a restaurant in Woodside, Queens, held captive for several days, physically and sexually assaulted, and that his family was asked to pay a $20,000 ransom for his release. Authorities further allege that the victim was eventually bound,
blindfolded, and abandoned in a vacant house.
That incident led to charges against Abu Chowdhury and his wife, Iffat Lubna.
Earlier this year, a federal jury convicted Lubna of kidnapping and conspiracy in connection with that case. She has been allowed to remain free pending sentencing so she can care for her young child. Her attorneys have indicated they intend to appeal the conviction.
Abu Chowdhury, whom federal prosecutors describe as the central figure in the alleged kidnapping scheme, has not yet gone to trial. His federal trial is scheduled to begin in September.
Federal prosecutors allege that Chowdhury orchestrated the kidnappings and assaults. He has pleaded not guilty, and the allegations against him remain to be proven in court.
Federal authorities have also said the investigation remains ongoing and have encouraged any additional victims to come forward.
Under federal law, kidnapping carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Any sentence imposed, however, will depend on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the evidence presented, and each defendant’s individual role in the offenses.
The case has become one of the most closely watched criminal prosecutions involving New York’s Bangladeshi community in recent years. While Raziya, Ahmed, and Lubna have now been convicted, the prosecution’s most significant trial still lies ahead, with Abu
Chowdhury scheduled to face a federal jury later this year.
