Bangladeshi Students in Florida Rally for Justice After Double Homicide

“We Bangladeshis live here like a family. We eat together, travel together, and spend time with one another,” said Abir Al Hasib Sourav, a friend of victims Jamil Ahmed Limon and Nahida Sultana Brishti, describing the close-knit Bangladeshi student community in Florida during a court hearing.

Two Bangladeshi PhD students, Jamil Ahmed Limon and Nahida Sultana Brishti, were reported missing on April 16 from the Tampa Bay area, where they were studying at the University of South Florida. A friend notified university authorities the following day after they could not be reached.

Last Friday, local Florida police recovered Limon’s severely injured body. An autopsy confirmed that he was murdered. As of now, no clear information has been released regarding Brishti’s body.

Police have arrested 24-year-old Hisham Saleh Abugharbeh, a U.S. national and Limon’s roommate, as the primary suspect. The two had been sharing an off-campus apartment near the university. Abugharbeh faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder.

On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County court denied bail for Abugharbeh and ordered him to remain in custody. The judge also instructed that he must not attempt to contact any witnesses or relatives of the victims.

A large group of Bangladeshi students attended the hearing, many of whom were close friends and classmates of the victims. Salman Sadik Shuvo, one of the attendees, said, “We want to know what exactly happened to our friends.”

He added that the community feels a strong responsibility to stay united and informed about the case. “There are many people who loved Limon and Brishti and are deeply concerned. We want to share what we observe here with them.”

Another student, Rifatul Islam, expressed shock and grief. “We come here from 8,000 miles away, and this community becomes our family. We meet at every event. We cannot accept that something like this happened in a place we consider our safest—our home, our room, our kitchen.”

State Attorney Suzy Lopez acknowledged the strong presence of the students in court. “I did not expect so many friends to attend. We thought perhaps a family member might be present,” she said.

Lopez praised the solidarity shown by the students, noting their determination to seek justice. “It’s encouraging to see how their friends are coming together to honor them and be part of the justice process.”

The hearing on Tuesday was brief, and Abugharbeh did not appear in court. Prosecutors expect to present the case before a grand jury by May 7. If convicted, Abugharbeh could face the death penalty.

“We will make that decision in the coming weeks,” Lopez said. “First, we need to complete the grand jury process, and then we will determine whether to pursue capital punishment.”

Sourav emphasized that the community’s top priority remains justice. “Our main focus right now is to ensure that the person responsible is held accountable. That is the most important thing for us at this moment.”