NSTU Vice-Chancellor Mourns the Murder of Its Alumni

A former student of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), Nahida Brishti, who was pursuing PhD studies at the University of South Florida in the United States, has died (Inna lillahi… raji’un). NSTU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Ismail has expressed deep shock and sorrow over her death.

In a condolence message issued on Saturday, 25 April, he said, “Nahida Brishti was a talented and promising student of the 13th batch of the Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at NSTU. After completing her graduation, she went to the United States for higher studies. Her death is an irreparable loss for us.”

He further said that her passing has deeply saddened everyone and that the university family expresses profound respect for her memory. At the same time, he demanded strict punishment under applicable US laws for those involved in her death and compensation for the bereaved family.

In his message, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Ismail prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased and expressed deep condolences to the grieving family. He also prayed to Almighty Allah so that the bereaved family may gain the strength to endure this irreparable loss.

Notably, from 16 April 2026, two Bangladeshi PhD students at the University of South Florida—Jamil Limon and Nahida Brishti—went missing. Latest reports indicate that both have died. Nahida Brishti’s ancestral home is in Faridpur district. The news of her death was confirmed by her brother Jahid Hasan Pranto and Professor Dr. Fateh Nur Robel, Chairman of the Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at NSTU.

Earlier, on 24 April local time, US police recovered the body of another missing student, Jamil Limon, from the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa, Florida.

Meanwhile, the brother of Nahida Sultana Brishti—one of the two missing Bangladeshi students in the United States—stated that his sister is no longer alive. US police have confirmed this information. Previously, law enforcement officials said that the body of another missing student, Jamil Limon, was recovered from a bridge in Tampa Bay near Florida, and his roommate was detained.

When contacted in Dhaka, Brishti’s brother Jahid Hasan Pranto told BBC that although police have not yet recovered the body, they are certain based on the amount of blood found in the suspect’s apartment. The family was informed by phone early Saturday morning.

On Friday, police recovered the body of Jamil Limon from near the Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa. As the post-mortem examination has not been completed, police have not yet confirmed the cause of death.

However, no official announcement has yet been made by local police regarding whether Nahida Brishti’s body has been recovered.

The two deceased students were pursuing PhD studies in the United States. According to police information, Jamil and Nahida were last seen on 16 April. Since then, they could not be contacted by friends or relatives, prompting a police investigation.

In connection with the incident, Jamil Limon’s roommate, 26-year-old Hisham Saleh Abu Gharbaieh, was detained at an apartment near the campus.

Initial charges against him include domestic violence, illegal disposal of a body, failure to report a death, destruction of evidence, unlawful confinement, and assault. Following his detention, police searched near the Howard Frankland Bridge based on his information, after which Jamil Limon’s body was recovered. Jamil Limon was studying Geography, Environmental Science and Policy, while the missing Brishti was a student of Chemical Engineering. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office stated that Abu Gharbaieh has a prior arrest record.

Police said they first evacuated a family safely after receiving a domestic violence complaint at a house about one mile from the campus, which was believed to be the suspect’s residence.

However, Hisham Saleh barricaded himself inside the house and refused to come out. Several videos of his detention have been released by the county sheriff’s office. Subsequently, a SWAT team was deployed, police drones were used, and trained negotiators were called. Eventually, the suspect surrendered peacefully.

Earlier during preliminary questioning, he spoke with authorities but later stopped cooperating. The suspect is currently speaking with detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division, said Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer.

Describing the arrest, Maurer said: “Today morning (24 April) at around 9 am, we received a domestic violence call. Our unit responded to the scene. We knew it was the suspect’s residence.”

“We managed to safely evacuate the family members. Then we instructed the suspect to surrender. He did not comply. For about 20 minutes, he was repeatedly asked to come out, but he did not respond.”

“After that, SWAT was deployed. At around 10:36 am, SWAT arrived at the scene. They again instructed the suspect to come out. He then peacefully surrendered and was taken into custody.”

A video released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office shows ongoing search operations for Brishti, with diving teams searching in the water around the bridge. According to CBS citing the sheriff’s office, Abu Gharbaieh was previously a student at the University of South Florida but is no longer enrolled.

University records show he studied there from Spring 2021 to Spring 2023 and was pursuing a BS degree in Management. The sheriff’s office said the 26-year-old Abu Gharbaieh has multiple prior arrest records.

In September 2023, he was charged with assault and burglary of an unoccupied house. In May of the same year, he faced another assault charge, both of which were classified in court documents as misdemeanors.

US media reports said that according to court records, he participated in a diversion program for first-time offenders. After completing it in 2024, the charges against him were dropped. Attempts to contact his lawyer did not receive an immediate response.

Court documents in Hillsborough County also show that in 2023, a family member filed two domestic violence petitions against him. In one case, a judge issued a restraining order, while the other was dismissed. He also has traffic violation records.

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