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student. After completing her studies, she could have returned to the country and contributed to national development,” he said.

He added that the Bangladesh government would maintain regular communication with US authorities to ensure maximum punishment for those responsible. “We are also standing by Bristy’s family in this time of crisis.”

When this correspondent visited Bristy’s home in the afternoon, relatives and neighbours were waiting to see her one last time and bid farewell.

An emotional scene unfolded as the ambulance carrying her body arrived around 1:30pm. Her father, Jahir Uddin Akon, was helped out of the vehicle while her mother, Ivy Begum, repeatedly fainted. At one point, she broke down, crying: “I have lost a piece of my heart, and I’ll never be whole again. Who will I live with now? Please bring my Bristy back.”

Speaking to this correspondent, Jahir said the family would spend Eid at their village home to be with relatives. Recently, they built a house to Bristy’s liking, designed by her brother Jahid Akon. She was meant to return in July and cut the ribbon, but that day never came.

“My daughter will now sleep forever beside the house we built for her. How can I bear staying in this house without her?” he lamented.

He added: “My daughter wanted to complete her PhD in chemical engineering and return to Bangladesh to serve the nation. That dream was cut short. Now I have only one demand -- the Bangladesh government must ensure the maximum punishment for her killer.”

Speaking to this newspaper, Bristy’s cousin Tuli Akter said, “I wanted to go abroad for higher education like Bristy. But now my family no longer wants me to go because they do not want to lose another daughter.”