Limon, Bristy to receive posthumous PhDs in Florida

The University of South Florida is set to confer posthumous doctoral degrees on two Bangladeshi students, Zamil Ahmed Limon and Nahida Sultana Bristy, who were recently killed in the United States.
Golam Mortoza, Minister (Press) at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington, confirmed the matter on Wednesday.

According to embassy sources, the university authorities informed the Bangladesh Consulate General in Miami in an official letter sent on Tuesday that the honours will be conferred during the university’s spring commencement ceremony scheduled for May 9.

The university has also requested the consulate to send a representative to attend the ceremony and receive the degrees on behalf of the bereaved families. A representative from the consulate is expected to be present at the event.

Limon and Bristy, both aged 27, were pursuing doctoral studies at the University of South Florida.
University officials said Limon was a PhD student in geography and environmental science and policy, while Bristy was enrolled in the doctoral programme in chemical engineering.

The two students had been reported missing since April 16.
Police recovered Limon’s body on April 24, while Bristy’s remains were later found in a waterway in the Tampa Bay area.

According to US media reports, American authorities have charged Hisham Saleh Abugharbieh, a former roommate of Limon, with first-degree murder over the killings.

Following the tragic deaths, the University of South Florida organised a campus vigil in memory of the two Bangladeshi students, where university administrators, teachers and fellow students paid tribute to them.

The university also announced that their names would be added to its campus memorial dedicated to students who die during their period of enrolment.