Two Bangladeshi students who lost their lives while pursuing doctoral studies in the United States—Jamil and Brishti—will be awarded posthumous degrees.
The University of South Florida informed the Bangladesh Consulate in Miami on Tuesday, May 5, that the two deceased Bangladeshi researchers will be awarded posthumous PhD degrees at the Spring Commencement on May 9. On the same day, Brishti’s body will arrive in Dhaka. A representative of the Bangladesh Consulate in Miami will receive the
honor on behalf of both families.
Brishti’s body will arrive in Dhaka at 8:40 a.m. via Dubai. Before that, her first funeral prayer will be held in Tampa at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, after which her body will be sent to Bangladesh on May 7. It will depart from Orlando International Airport at 8:50 p.m. on an Emirates Airlines flight and travel to Dhaka via Dubai. The process is being supervised by the Bangladesh Consulate in Miami and coordinated by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, D.C.
With deep sorrow, it is noted that two Bangladeshi students—Jamil Ahmed Limon and Nahida Sultana Brishti—who came to study at the University of South Florida in Tampa, went missing on April 16. After losing contact with their families, a family friend filed a missing person report with USF Police on April 17. Investigators quickly focused on Limon’s
roommate, Hisham Abugharbiyah, after traces of blood, duct tape, and trash bags were found in the apartment.
After eight days of search and concern, Limon’s body was found on April 24 in a black trash bag near the Howard Frankland Bridge. Two days later, a kayaker discovered another body in a mangrove area near the same bridge, which was officially identified as Brishti on May 1.
Both victims were killed by multiple stab wounds. In Limon’s case, particularly severe brutality was evident—his hands and ankles were bound, and his legs were almost completely severed to fit the body into a trash bag. The autopsy revealed multiple injuries, including a deep stab wound that pierced his liver. Investigators confirmed that both
Limon and Brishti were killed at the same time and location—inside the Avalon Heights apartment. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said, “This was a planned and fully premeditated act. The suspect’s actions were inhumane.”
Jamil Ahmed Limon was pursuing a PhD in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Policy at USF. Nahida Sultana Brishti was a PhD researcher in Chemical Engineering. She completed her master’s degree at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and her undergraduate studies at Noakhali Science and Technology University.
Both arrived in the United States on student visas and were only 27 years old.
According to family sources, they initially knew each other as friends but later developed a romantic relationship and were even planning to marry. Brishti’s brother, Jahid Hasan Pranto, told CNN that her dream was to return to Bangladesh and make meaningful contributions to society. USF Vice President Moez Limayem described them as “exemplary
students” who were building their lives and contributing meaningfully to the university.
The accused, Hisham Abugharbiyah (26), a former USF student and Limon’s roommate, is said to have made extensive preparations before the killings. Court documents show that between April 7 and April 11, he purchased duct tape, trash bags, lighter fluid, fire starters, and charcoal from Amazon. On April 15, a fake beard was delivered to him.
On the night of the incident, from April 16 to early April 17, he ordered trash bags, Lysol wipes, and Febreze. At around 1:30 a.m., his phone location was recorded near the Howard Frankland Bridge—the same location where Limon’s body was later discovered. A third roommate stated that on that night, Abugharbiyah disposed of large cardboard
boxes in the apartment’s compacting trash bin.
When first questioned by police, he claimed that Limon and Brishti had never entered his car. However, when GPS data showed Limon’s phone in Clearwater Beach, he changed his statement, saying he had dropped them off there. He had a cut on his left pinky finger, which he claimed occurred while cutting onions. However, forensic examination revealed
multiple injuries on his legs and arms.
The case has sparked a broader debate about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence. According to a 23-page document filed by prosecutors, Abugharbiyah asked ChatGPT at least ten questions between April 13 and April 23. On the night of April 13, he wrote, “What would happen if a human body is placed in a black trash bag and thrown into a dumpster?” ChatGPT responded that it sounded dangerous. He then asked, “How would they know?”
On April 19—after the disappearance became public—he asked, “Would neighbors hear gunshots?” and “Can someone survive a sniper shot to the head?” Even on April 23, after the disappearance received widespread attention, he asked, “What does missing endangered adult mean?”
Following the incident, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced an expansion of a criminal investigation into OpenAI. “If ChatGPT were a human, it would be charged with murder,” the Attorney General said. OpenAI stated that it is reviewing the matter and will cooperate with law enforcement.
The suspect’s family had long been concerned about his behavior. In 2023, he was placed under mental health observation under Florida’s Baker Act following a domestic violence incident involving his brother and mother, although the charges were later dropped. A family member stated in court documents that his behavior changed significantly after
he began using medical marijuana, leading to increased aggression and instability.
However, the exact motive behind the killings has not yet been confirmed. Sheriff Chronister acknowledged that investigators are still seeking answers.
On April 25, Abugharbiyah’s first court hearing was held via video conference. He faces charges of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, as well as transporting bodies, concealing death, tampering with evidence, making false statements, and unlawful detention. On April 28, Judge J. Logan Murphy ordered him to be held without bail. The
Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office is handling the case. A formal arraignment date has not yet been announced.
This heartbreaking incident has cast a deep shadow of grief in Bangladesh. The Vice-Chancellor of Noakhali Science and Technology University, Professor Mohammad Ismail, described Brishti’s death as an “irreparable loss” for the country and the university.
On May 1, students, faculty, and officials paid tribute with flowers at a memorial event held at Crescent Hill in front of the Marshall Student Center on the USF campus. The university announced that their names will be added to the campus memorial list and that efforts are underway to return belongings and provide financial assistance to the families.
Limon’s family told the media, “We only want justice. This is not just about Jamil or Nahida—it is about the safety of all international students.”
