FOBANA EC Chairperson Rabiul Karim Belal and Executive Secretary Khaled Ahmed Rouf
Staff Reporter: The Federation of Bangladesh Associations in North America has expressed deep sorrow and concern over the disappearance and killing of two Bangladeshi PhD students in the U.S. state of Florida.
In a joint statement, FOBANA Executive Committee Chairperson Rabiul Karim Belal and Executive Secretary Khaled Ahmed Rouf strongly condemned the incident and extended heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families.
“This tragic murder in Florida is not only a devastating loss for the families involved but also a matter of deep grief and concern for the entire Bangladeshi diaspora community in North America,” the statement said. “We demand the swift arrest of those responsible and exemplary punishment for the Criminals.”
They further emphasized that ensuring the safety of Bangladeshi expatriates living in the United States is of utmost importance. “Effective measures must be taken by law enforcement and relevant authorities to prevent such brutal and heartbreaking incidents in the future,” they added.
FOBANA leaders expressed hope that U.S. law enforcement agencies would conduct a swift and impartial investigation, uncover the full truth, and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The murder of the two Bangladeshi students in the Tampa area of Florida has already sparked widespread concern both domestically and internationally, particularly among the Bangladeshi diaspora.
Authorities confirmed that human remains recovered last Sunday (April 26) near a bridge in the Tampa Bay area belonged to 27-year-old Nahida Bristy. She and her friend, fellow student Zamil Limon, also 27, were last seen on April 16 in Tampa.
Earlier, on April 24, Limon’s body was recovered from the Howard Frankland Bridge. On the same day, their roommate Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, 26, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder with a weapon.
Two days later, another black plastic bag tied in a knot—similar to the one containing Limon’s body—was spotted nearby. Two kayakers fishing in the area discovered the bag after a fishing line got tangled with it. Upon closer inspection, they noticed it was partially open and appeared to contain human remains, emitting what they described as an “indescribable” odor.
According to the university’s Muslim Student Association, both Bristy and Limon were Muslim. Bristy was a doctoral student in chemical engineering and lived on campus.
Investigators said Bristy’s remains were in an “advanced stage of decomposition,” and the clothing matched what she was last seen wearing in surveillance footage.
Last Friday, investigators informed Bristy’s family in Bangladesh that she was presumed dead. Her brother, Zahid Hasan Pranto, said authorities reached this conclusion based on the “volume of blood” found in their shared apartment.
The investigation revealed that Abugharbieh had driven Bristy and Limon from Tampa to Clearwater on the day they were last seen. Although he initially denied it, he later admitted after being confronted with cellphone location data.
Police said he purchased trash bags, Lysol wipes, and air fresheners that same night. The following day, location data showed he stopped along the Howard Frankland Bridge.
His roommate told investigators he saw Abugharbieh disposing of cardboard boxes in a dumpster at their apartment complex. DNA found on a kitchen mat matched Bristy, while Limon’s student ID and credit cards were recovered from the dumpster.
Investigators also revealed that on April 13, Abugharbieh had asked ChatGPT: “What happens if a human is put in a black garbage bag and thrown in a dumpster?”
He was arrested on April 24 at a residence in Tampa after barricading himself inside, prompting the deployment of a SWAT team. He was later seen exiting the house with his hands raised, wearing only a blue towel.
He faces multiple charges, including unlawful disposal or movement of a body, failure to report a death, tampering with evidence, false imprisonment, and battery. A court denied him bond on Tuesday, and he is currently being held at the Falkenburg Road Jail in Tampa, according to sheriff’s records.
