The body of Bangladeshi student Nahida Sultana Bristy, who was killed in Florida, United States, has been recovered, while arrangements are underway to bring back the remains of another victim, Jamil Ahmed Limon, to Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington confirmed on Friday that Florida police had informed Bristy’s family that a second body recovered in connection with the case was hers. Her relatives have requested that the remains be repatriated, and the embassy, through the Bangladesh Consulate in Miami, has already initiated the necessary procedures.
Earlier, the body of Limon, also a Bangladeshi national, was recovered on 24 April after he had been missing for around 10 days. His remains are scheduled to be flown from Orlando International Airport on 2 May and are expected to arrive in Dhaka via Dubai on 4 May.
Limon, 27, was a PhD student in Geography, Environmental Science and Policy at the University of South Florida. Bristy, also 27, was pursuing her doctoral studies at the same institution. Both had been missing since 16 April.
Authorities said Limon’s body was found on the Howard Frankland Bridge. In a related development, a body discovered on 26 April near the same area was later identified as Bristy’s. Earlier reports had indicated that parts of her remains were recovered from a waterbody near I-275 and North Fourth Street in Florida.
Meanwhile, Limon’s first namaz-e-janaza was held in Tampa on Thursday. The funeral prayer took place at a mosque on East Sligh Avenue, organised by the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area. Community members attended the service, while preparations continue for his burial in Bangladesh.
According to Golam Mortoza, press minister at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, Limon’s body is expected to reach Dhaka at around 8:40am on 4 May.
The case has drawn significant attention, with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office upgrading the investigation to an endangered status on 23 April. Limon’s roommate, 26-year-old Hisham Abugharbieh, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a weapon in connection with the deaths.
A criminal affidavit noted that the body found on 26 April matched the clothing Bristy was last seen wearing, as captured on surveillance footage.
The university community is also mourning the loss. The University of South Florida has scheduled a vigil on 1 May to honour both students.
The tragic deaths of the two young scholars have deeply affected both the Bangladeshi community in the United States and their families back home, as efforts continue to bring their remains to Bangladesh.
