Two Bangladeshi doctoral students at the University of South Florida have been reported missing, according to a statement issued by the university’s police department on Tuesday.
The missing students have been identified as Zamil Limon and Nahida S Bristy, both aged 27. Authorities said they were last seen on 16 April, reports NBC News.
Police said Limon, who is pursuing a doctorate in geography, environmental science and policy, was last seen around 9am on 16 April, at his residence in Tampa.
He has not been in contact since then. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has processed a missing person report in his case.
Bristy, a doctoral student in chemical engineering, was last seen later the same day at approximately 10am inside the Natural and Environmental Sciences Building on the university’s Tampa campus, police said. The University of South Florida Police Department has also filed a missing person report for her.
Limon’s residence is located less than a 10-minute drive from the Natural and Environmental Sciences Building, where Bristy was last seen.
On Friday, shortly before 5pm, a family friend reported being unable to reach them, prompting police to list both in missing persons databases. Authorities said the two are friends and may be together.
Limon’s younger brother, Zubaer Ahmed, said they were “close friends” and appeared romantically linked.
He added, they were not at a stage to “take some serious steps, kind of like disappearance or something like that.”
Bristy’s brother, Zahaid Hasan Pranto, said they had a past relationship but were not currently dating.
Police found Bristy’s laptop, iPad and lunch box in a university lab, while her purse and phone were missing. Limon’s passport remained at home.
The Bangladeshi Embassy has sought help from the FBI, while authorities confirmed neither is in ICE custody.
