A body has been recovered in connection with the disappearance of two Bangladeshi doctoral students in the United States, with police confirming that one of them, Jamil Ahmed Limon, aged 27, has been found dead after a ten-day search. The second student, Nahida S Birsti, remains missing as investigations continue.
Jamil Ahmed Limon was a PhD candidate at the University of South Florida, specialising in geography, environmental science and policy. Nahida S Birsti was enrolled in a doctoral programme in chemical engineering at the same institution.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, both students were last seen on 16 April. Jamil was last observed at approximately 9:00 am at his student accommodation near the university campus in Tampa, Florida. Nahida was last seen around 10:00 am the same day inside the Natural and Environmental Sciences building at the university.
A missing persons report was filed on 17 April after a family acquaintance was unable to contact either student. Following the report, law enforcement agencies initiated formal investigations and search operations, including coordination between university police and county authorities.
During the course of the investigation, a suspect identified as Hisham Abugharbeh, aged 26 and reported to be Jamil’s roommate, was arrested. Police stated that after questioning the suspect, officers recovered Jamil’s body on Friday from the Howard Frankland Bridge area, which connects Tampa and St Petersburg in Florida.
Authorities have not released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the death or the ongoing search for Nahida S Birsti. Officials confirmed that investigative efforts remain active and that all leads are being pursued.
The Bangladeshi diplomatic mission in Washington has also acknowledged the development. Golam Mortuza, Press Minister at the Bangladesh Embassy, stated in a social media post that Jamil’s body was recovered following interrogation of the suspect and confirmed that Nahida remains missing while investigations continue.
Case summary timeline
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| 16 April | Jamil Ahmed Limon and Nahida S Birsti last seen separately on campus |
| 17 April | Missing persons report filed by family acquaintance |
| Following days | Joint search and investigation initiated by university and county authorities |
| Friday (recent) | Jamil Ahmed Limon’s body recovered after suspect interrogation |
| Ongoing | Nahida S Birsti remains missing; investigation continues |
Law enforcement authorities have stated that further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.