Missing student Jamil Limon and Nahida Brishti
Chhabed Sathee: Jamil Limon, the Bangladeshi doctoral student found dead in Florida, had been planning to marry fellow missing student Nahida Brishti, according to his family. They said Limon had even proposed to her and often described Brishti as a ‘good girl’ and ‘talented.’
Limon had been conducting research over the past two years on using generative AI to monitor shrinking wetlands in South Florida. His goal was to return to Bangladesh after completing his Ph.D. and pursue a career as a university professor.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Limon’s body was recovered on Friday (April 24), and his roommate has been arrested as a suspect in connection with the case.
The two Bangladeshi students Jamil Limon and Nahida Brishti of the University of South Florida had been missing since last week. Limon’s body was discovered on the Howard Frankland Bridge in the Tampa Bay area, while Brishti remains missing.
Limon’s family said they had been desperately seeking answers about what happened to the young and promising researcher.
University President Moez Limayem said the institution will continue to stay in close contact with the families and provide support during the investigation. He urged the university community to pray for Limon’s family and for Brishti’s safe return.
Roommate Under Investigation
Authorities said the suspect, identified as Limon’s roommate, had been questioned at least twice before his arrest. While he initially cooperated, he later stopped responding to investigators during further questioning on Thursday.
By Friday, investigators said they were able to link the suspect to both the case and Limon’s body. During the arrest, he barricaded himself inside a residence, prompting the deployment of a SWAT team and crisis negotiators. He later surrendered.
Family Grief and Growing Concern
Before the body was recovered, Limon’s younger brother said the family was in ‘deep pain’ waiting for answers.
‘It’s devastating for us. We are becoming numb. We just want to know the truth how can two people disappear like this?’ he said.
Police said Limon was last seen on April 16 around 9 a.m. at his off-campus residence, where he had been pursuing a Ph.D. in geography, environmental science and policy.
Brishti was last seen about an hour later at the university’s Natural and Environmental Sciences Building. She is a doctoral student in chemical engineering.
A family friend reported them missing the following day after failing to contact them. Authorities later classified the case as involving ‘endangered’ individuals and launched an extensive investigation.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities continue their efforts to locate Nahida Brishti.
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