Two Bangladeshi PhD Students Found Dead in Florida

A tragic sequence of events in Florida has resulted in the deaths of two Bangladeshi doctoral students, Jamil Ahmed Limon and Nahida Sultana Brishti. The couple, both students at the University of South Florida (USF), had been planning to marry before their lives were cut short.

Case Background and Timeline

Jamil Ahmed Limon, 27, was a PhD student specialising in Geography, Environmental Science, and Policy. Nahida Sultana Brishti was pursuing her doctorate in Chemical Engineering. The pair were last seen on 16 April in Tampa. Limon was spotted at approximately 09:00 near his student residence, while Brishti was last seen at 10:00 at the Natural and Environmental Sciences building on campus.

After a family friend reported them missing on 17 April, local authorities launched an investigation. On Friday, following the interrogation of a suspect, police recovered Limon’s body from the Howard Frankland Bridge area. Shortly thereafter, Brishti’s brother, Zahid Hasan Pranto, confirmed via social media and later through local police communication that his sister had also passed away.

Suspect and Criminal Charges

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested 26-year-old Hisham Abuqhurbah in connection with the incident. Abuqhurbah, a former USF student who studied management between 2021 and 2023, was Limon’s roommate. He was apprehended at his family home following a stand-off involving a SWAT team.

Victim Profiles and Future Aspirations

Limon’s brother, Zubayer Ahmed, described Jamil as a humble and dedicated scholar who had spent two years working rigorously on his thesis. Limon intended to return to Bangladesh upon completing his PhD to pursue a career in academia as a university lecturer.

Zubayer further revealed that Limon and Brishti were in a serious relationship. Limon had expressed his admiration for Brishti’s talents, noting her skills in singing and cooking, and had formally proposed to her. The families were aware of their intentions to marry in the near future.

Investigative Details

Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer stated that authorities were called to the residence due to a domestic violence incident involving the suspect. Court records indicate a history of volatility; Abuqhurbah’s brother had previously sought an injunction against him following an assault on their mother. Although the injunction expired in May last year, a request for an extension was denied by the court.

Sheriff Chad Chronister described the case as a “terribly unsettling event” that has profoundly impacted the local community. While the suspect initially cooperated with investigators, he reportedly ceased communications during follow-up questioning on Thursday. Evidence eventually linked Abuqhurbah to the recovery of the bodies, leading to the current charges.