An international student has died after sustaining critical head injuries during a violent home invasion in Darwin's northern suburbs earlier this week.
Md Isfaqur Rahman, 23, who commonly went by Sifat, had been in intensive care at the Royal Darwin Hospital since the alleged attack in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
He had only arrived in Australia in the last few months to begin studying a Masters in Information Sciences at Charles Darwin University (CDU).
In a statement released on Thursday evening, Northern Territory Police confirmed he had died and said detectives from the Major Crimes unit were now investigating the incident as a homicide.
The statement said a 29-year-old man arrested in relation to the incident remained in custody.
No charges have yet been laid and NT Police will hold a press conference on Friday afternoon.
On Thursday afternoon, NT Police Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey said the victim was found by housemates in his bed with "apparent head trauma".
Only moments earlier, they had chased an alleged intruder out of the property's backyard.
Police arrested the 29-year-old man a short time later, who Senior Sergeant Morrissey said was believed to be unknown to all residents of the house.
On Wednesday afternoon, CDU vice chancellor Scott Bowman said assistance was being provided to help bring Mr Rahman's family to Darwin from interstate and overseas.
Tributes call for unity and action
In the hours after the international student's death, CDU's Bangladeshi Student Association posted a statement to social media saying he "fought bravely" in intensive care.
"Our whole community is shaken by this tragic loss. May his soul find eternal peace in the presence of Allah," the statement said.
"Let us come together in love and support for his family and friends during this time of grief."
The Northern Territory's political leaders also made statements expressing shock and offering their support to the territory's Bangladeshi community.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles took to Facebook to say the attack 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 [Isfaqur] 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."
NT Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the community "cannot become numb to this level of atrocity".
"Words will never be enough to express the heartbreak and sorrow we all feel at another senseless, and avoidable loss of life," she said.
"Our sincerest condolences go to Sifat's family, his flat mates who tried to save him, his friends and the whole Bangladesh, University and multicultural communities of the Northern Territory."
Outpouring of grief following attack
The student's death comes amid growing anxiety in the Northern Territory over violent crime.
In March, 20-year-old Declan Laverty was allegedly murdered while working at a bottle shop in Darwin's northern suburbs, triggering outcry in the community and an overhaul of the NT's bail laws.
A rise in alcohol-related violence in Alice Springs also became a national issue in January, prompting the NT and federal governments to announce an increase in support for the region and stricter alcohol controls.
Earlier on Thursday, students from CDU and members of the public held a demonstration in response to the attack on Mr Rahman.
They called for measures to keep students safe on public transport and in their homes.
CDU student Sakib Farhan, who met the victim previously, said the alleged attack was "horrendous" and had sent shockwaves through the international student community.
"It has gravely impacted [us], we are deeply saddened, and more importantly we are concerned," Mr Farhan said.
"I think it should be a concern, a safety concern, for all residents and inhabitants of not just Darwin but the NT as well."
