Dhaka: Zamil Ahamed Limon, one of the two Bangladeshi doctoral students at the University of South Florida who were murdered in the United States, has started his final journey for home in a coffin. An Emirates flight carrying Limon’s mortal remains departed from Orlando International Airport at 8:50pm local time on Saturday and is expected to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 8:40am on Monday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Seheli Sabrin, Consul General of the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Miami, and Consul Tuing Aye were present at the airport to personally oversee the repatriation process. Following the recovery of Limon’s body on April 25, coordination among the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, the Bangladesh Consulate in Miami, the victim’s family, University of South Florida authorities, the Bangladeshi community in Tampa, and the local police department enabled the completion of necessary legal formalities for the repatriation.
Limon’s first namaz-e-janaza was conducted after Johr prayers on Thursday at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area in Florida. Meanwhile, a janaza for the other Bangladeshi victim, Nahida Sultana Bristy, is scheduled after the Islamic Society at 2:00pm on May 6. On May 1, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Bristy’s identification. The Bangladesh Consulate in Miami has requested the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office to release her body for repatriation.
Both Limon and Bristy, aged 27, disappeared on April 16. Limon was last seen at the off-campus complex where he lived with suspect Hisham Abugharbieh and another roommate. Investigators used cellphone and licence plate data to track Abugharbieh’s car and Limon’s phone to the bridge where Limon’s body was discovered on April 24. The body showed numerous stab wounds and signs of being bound.
The suspect, Abugharbieh, was arrested days later by a SWAT team at his parents’ home. A court has ordered him held without bond, and he is prohibited from contacting witnesses or the victims’ families. According to court records, Abugharbieh faces charges of first-degree murder with a weapon and other offenses. If convicted, he could face the death penalty, although prosecutors have not decided on pursuing capital punishment.
During a pretrial detention hearing, Abugharbieh denied involvement in the disappearances despite being noted with a bandaged pinky finger. With assistance from the building manager, investigators gained access to the apartment, where a third roommate reported seeing Abugharbieh move cardboard boxes from his room to a trash compactor on the night of April 16.