Md Ishaqur Rahman Sifat dies hours after Charles Darwin University rally
Tributes are flowing for the 23-year-old student from Bangladesh who was allegedly murdered during a home invasion and died in hospital on Thursday.
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A Charles Darwin University student died just hours after a campus rally on Thursday calling for increased safety for international students.
Bangladeshi national Md Ishaqur Rahman Sifat, 23, was allegedly hit over the head during a home invasion in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
CDU’s Bangladeshi Student Association said in statement Mr Rahman died at 4.35pm on Thursday.
“He fought bravely in the ICU but sadly succumbed to his injuries,” the students wrote.
“Our whole community is shaken by this tragic loss. May his soul find eternal peace in the presence of Allah.
“Let us come together in love and support for his family and friends during this time of grief.”
A fundraiser – The Sifat Appeal – has been established to support Mr Rahman’s family.
Police arrested a 29-year-old man in a vehicle near Mr Rahman’s home a short time after the alleged attack.
The 29-year-old man has since been charged with murder, aggravated burglary and theft.
Meanwhile, the Australian National University’s Bangladesh Student Association extended its support to Mr Rahman’s Top End community and family.
“We are greatly shocked with such an incident and great loss of our young Bangladeshi student,” the group wrote on Facebook.
“Our deep condolences to his parents, and friends. We wish to ensure more security of our international students in all states of Australia.
“May Allah grant him Jannatul Ferdous. May Allah keep everyone safe around.”
The NT’s Irish, Zimbabwe, and Nepalese associations also shared their condolences online.
CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman said word of Mr Rahman’s death was “deeply distressing” and “difficult news to process”.
“We open our city and university to international students with the promise of a safe and supportive environment characterised by enduring friendships, meaningful education and training, and prosperous careers.
“To know that these opportunities have been senselessly ripped away from one of our students is deeply distressing.”
Mr Bowman previously said telling potential students from overseas that Darwin was a safe place was something he always felt proud to do, but after this incident felt he could no longer use provide that assurance.
He said Mr Rahman was an active member of the university’s international student community while he was completing his Master of Engineering.
“On behalf of the entire university, we extend our deepest sympathies to Sifat’s family and friends,” he said.
“Also to our Bangladeshi Student Association, who is one of our most active and passionate student groups.”
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said this incident was not the “Northern Territory we know and love”.
“As the Northern Territory’s Chief Minister I extend my deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Md Ishaqur Rahman Sifat,” she said.
“Our thoughts are with his family, the Bangladeshi community, and all our international students.
“We are here for you. And we stand with you. Unequivocally.
“This is not the Northern Territory we know and love.”
Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison also expressed her condolences for Mr Rahman’s loved ones.
“My heart breaks for the family, friends and international student community on the loss of the young man who passed today,” Ms Manison posted on her Facebook page.
“Sending my deepest condolences to his loved ones during this sad time.”
Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said Mr Rahman left Bangladesh three months ago to pursue an education in the Top End, but would “never go on to finish his studies or follow his dreams”.
“The Territory is in a state of emergency,” she said.
“Territorians do not feel safe in their homes, in their business or in their community. The distress, despair and anger right across the Territory is palpable.
“Territorians and visitors cannot be expected to live in constant fear. In constant grieving.
“Words will never be enough to express the heartbreak and sorrow we all feel at another senseless, and avoidable loss of life.”
‘Struggled to sleep’: Students rally after shocking home invasion
Emotional students shared their fears and struggles sleeping at a rally that called for an end to violence, following the shocking attack on a Bangladeshi national.
Carrying banners labelled #WeStandTogether and #EnsureSafety, hundreds of students and staff rallied in support of Mr Rahman.
Sakib Faran has been studying his masters at CDU since early 2022 but said, like many of his fellow students, struggled to sleep following the incident.
“We are deeply saddened first and foremost for him, I can’t imagine what his family is going through at the moment,” Mr Faran said.
“And we are also feeling concerned for ourselves, not just Bangladeshi students, but all international students.
“This is crazy, we never expected this to happen to such a sweet boy, and there are some students afraid because if it can happen to him it can happen to any of us.
“We just want safer homes, I’m here with my family, my wife and children, so out of concern I struggled to sleep and plenty of other students did too.
“It was so heartwarming to see so many people come down, we’re very grateful for the response we have received.”
Quazi Zobair Hossain has lived in Darwin for the past seven years after studying at the Darwin university and despite loving the place said he would now struggle to tell people it was safe.
“I’m speechless, because this is a very unexpected occurrence,” Mr Hossain said.
“When we leave our country we leave our family and everything to come to Australia, a first-world country, for a better education and better lives.
“When we choose a place, the first thing that comes to mind is safety.
“I’ve lived in Darwin for seven years, I love it, but now if any students wants to study here and asks if Darwin is safe, where’s my answer?
“I used to tell people that Darwin is amazing, the people are great, but now when people ask my answer is going to be shaky.”
CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman addressed the students, politicians and sympathisers who had gathered
Professor Bowmen also praised the Bangladeshi community for the way they had rallied behind one of their own.
CDU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Fiona Coulson read a statement on behalf of the Bangladesh Student Association, which thanked the community support but also called for change from the NT government.
The association called for more secure student accommodation as well as safer and reliable public transport, particularly between campuses.
“We are deeply concerned and saddened about the situation,” Professor Coulson read.
“We are united in our belief that every student, community member and individual deserves to feel safe and secure, both on and off the campus.
“Our main motive is to draw the NT government’s attention to ensuring safety for everyone as soon as possible.
“We demand the authorities provide secure housing options for all international students, with an emphasis on well-lit, monitored and accessible areas as well as safe and reliable transport.”
On Wednesday, Professor Bowman labelled the attack “sickening” saying the whole university had been left reeling after the incident.
“The university is absolutely devastated about this,” he said.
“This is a young man who travelled from the other side of the planet to come to Darwin for his education, and this sickening attack has left us all speechless, devastated and angry.”
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