‘We were supposed to welcome her home, not receive her body,’ Bristy's father says

The father of slain Bangladeshi PhD student Nahida Sultana Bristy broke down in grief as he received his daughter’s body at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) this morning, saying the family had been preparing to welcome her home alive in July.

“Her flight was supposed to arrive on July 17. We were preparing to receive her at the airport,” Bristy’s father, Zahir Uddin Akon said while speaking to reporters outside HSIA today.

“But before that day came, we came here to receive her instead -- not alive, but dead,” he said quietly.

Bristy’s body reached Dhaka around 9:15am on an Emirates flight.

Describing her as exceptionally bright and deeply compassionate, her father said she had dreamt since childhood of achieving something meaningful in life.

“She always wanted to become someone important. She studied very hard and was extremely talented,” he said, adding that she also had strong religious values.

According to her family, Bristy hoped to return to Bangladesh after completing her studies and work for ordinary people in her village.

“She wanted to do something for the poor and stand beside those who were suffering,” her father said.

He added that the family had recently built a house in their village based on a design prepared by Bristy herself. “We were waiting for her to come home and inaugurate the house,” he said.

Her father also recalled one of her personal dreams: to one day place a nameplate outside their family home reading, “Dr Nahida Sultana Bristy.”

“She earned the certificate she wanted, but it came after her death,” he said.

Holding back tears, he demanded justice for his daughter and called for the highest punishment for those responsible.

“I want the killer to receive the maximum punishment. I hope our authorities and ministries raise this matter properly so justice is ensured,” he said.

Bristy and fellow Bangladeshi PhD student Zamil Ahmed Limon from University of South Florida went missing on April 16 in Florida.

Limon’s body was recovered on April 24, while Brishty’s body was found two days later on April 26. Limon’s body was brought back to Bangladesh on May 4.