Cypriot Murder of Bangladeshi Student

The body of a 22-year-old Bangladeshi student, Shahriar Ahmed—also known as Imon—has been recovered by Cypriot police ten days after he was reported missing in the coastal city of Larnaca. His decomposed remains were discovered on Sunday, buried in a secluded area near the village of Kofinou, triggering widespread grief and concern within the Bangladeshi expatriate community in Cyprus and beyond.

Shahriar Ahmed hailed from Lochonpur village in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi district in Bangladesh. He was the eldest of three brothers and the son of expatriate Nasir Mia, who resides in Greece. Having travelled to Cyprus only three months earlier on a student visa, he had been living in the Oroklini area of Larnaca while pursuing online university studies. To support himself, he was also actively seeking part-time employment.

Disappearance and ransom demands

According to family accounts, Shahriar last made contact on 11 June at around 9 pm. Earlier that day, he had informed his mother that he had secured a night shift job and was preparing to begin work. He subsequently notified his roommate, Rayhan Mia, upon reaching the work location.

Shortly after 10 pm, his mobile phone became unreachable. Almost immediately, his family began receiving messages from unknown individuals via his phone, demanding a ransom of €35,000 (approximately BDT 50 lakh). The perpetrators warned of severe consequences if the demand was not met. Initially, the family suspected a hacking incident, but it soon became evident that Shahriar had been abducted.

As the situation escalated, negotiations reportedly continued for several days via messaging platforms. The family even agreed to arrange a reduced ransom payment of around BDT 5 lakh in hopes of securing his safe release. However, they were denied any direct communication with Shahriar before payment, heightening their suspicions shortly before police confirmed the tragic outcome.

Arrest and recovery

Cypriot police launched an investigation and arrested a 22-year-old Bangladeshi man, identified as Shahin Babu. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to involvement in the killing and led officers to the burial site in Kofinou. Authorities also recovered a knife believed to have been used in the crime.

Preliminary findings suggest that Shahriar was fatally stabbed on the night he disappeared, after which his body was concealed underground in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Key timeline of events

Family response and official remarks

Shahriar’s mother, Papia Begum, expressed profound grief, demanding the strictest punishment for those responsible and the repatriation of her son’s remains to Bangladesh. Local officials in Raipura stated that no formal diplomatic request had yet been initiated, but assured that government assistance would be provided if the family sought it.

The incident has intensified concerns over the safety of international students and migrant workers in Cyprus, particularly within vulnerable expatriate communities navigating employment and financial pressures abroad.