'Very suspicious': Two Bangladeshi students missing for days in Florida, phones switched off, not in ICE custody

Two Bangladeshi students, both pursuing doctorates at the University of South Florida, have been missing for days with no information to either their families in Bangladesh or friends in the US. Zamil Limon and Nahida S Bristy, both 27, were last seen April 16, according to the University of South Florida Police Department. They were believed to be in a relationship.Both of their phones are now switched off. The families raised concern over whether they were detained by the ICE but police confirmed that their immigration status was clear and they were not being held by ICE.They disappeared within an hour as Limon was last seen around 9 am on April 16 at his student apartment on Avalon Heights Boulevard near the college. Bristy was last seen around 10 am at the Natural and Environmental Sciences Building on campus.Their mysterious disappearance remained unnoticed for a day and a family friend reported both of them missing the following day at 5 pm after trying to reach them separately. “Everybody internally is obviously very concerned, as we are concerned,” USF Public Safety Public Information Officer Larry McKinnon told FOX13. “It’s not typical of their behavior, they’re graduate students. We don’t have information that there is foul play or suspicious nature at this point.”Missing several days of classes for both of them was unusual, their families said as they are known to be dedicated and responsible students, working on their doctorates. Limon is doing his PhD in geography, environmental science and policy, Bristy is studying chemical engineering.“When we get to this point where we aren’t having success in locating them, then our next best source is the public,” McKinnon said. “That’s where we are at.”Limon’s brother from Bangladesh told Fox13 that his disappearance is very suspicious. “He is a very responsible and punctual person, and that’s why the situation is so unpredictable and unusual to us… like, and very suspicious,” Zubaer Ahmed said. Last time he spoke with his brother, Limon was busy with his thesis.“Another important point that is they talked about having a future together, but they are not that serious about it,” Ahmed said. “Both of them are thinking about, whether we can marry together, and they are discussing that.”