Published: 12:22 AM, 24 April 2026
Two Bangladeshi PhD students missing in Florida
Anxious families and a widening police search are converging on the troubling disappearance of two Bangladeshi doctoral students in Florida.
The two Bangladeshi students of University of South Florida -- Zamil Ahamed Limon and Nahida Sultana Bristy -- have been missing for seven days, bdnews24 reports.
Local police have issued a public alert seeking assistance, while their names and photographs have been added to Florida state and federal missing persons databases.
Limon, 27, and Bristy are friends who arrived in the United States as international students two years ago and enrolled at the university. They have been untraceable since the morning of Apr 16 local time.
University police spokesperson Larry McKinnon said by phone that families reported them missing on the afternoon of Apr 17.
"Family members had been unable to reach them for the previous 24 hours. Alarmed, they contacted us from Bangladesh. Despite efforts at all possible levels, we have not found any trace," he said.
McKinnon added that investigators have found no signs of criminal involvement so far.
Detectives continue to pursue all leads, and as a last resort, authorities have appealed to the public.
Posters bearing their images are being circulated.
"Like their families, friends and classmates are deeply distressed," he said.
"We do not believe they went into hiding voluntarily. We have also contacted immigration authorities. ICE has informed us it has no record of any arrest related to deportation."
Limon's younger brother Zubayer Ahmed told a Florida media outlet that the two have been in a relationship for four and a half years and planned to marry after completing their studies, with family consent.
Limon is pursuing a PhD in geography and environmental science and was last seen at 9am at his Tampa residence near campus.
Bristy, a PhD student in chemical engineering, was last seen at 10am on the university's Tampa campus that day.
Their disappearance has sparked deep anxiety across the Bangladeshi community in the United States, with American media also reporting the case.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Florida police at 813-974-2628.
