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ABC News
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National

Man, 29, charged with murder over alleged killing of Darwin student Md Isfaqur Rahman

Police will allege the 23-year-old was attacked in his bed.  (ABC News: Hamish Harty)

A man has been charged with the alleged murder of a Darwin university student in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

Detectives from Northern Territory Police's Serious Crime unit have charged the 29-year-old man with murder, aggravated burglary and theft. 

Police will allege he broke into the Millner home of Md Isfaqur Rahman, a 23-year-old Bangladeshi national, about 4:30am. 

His housemates then found Mr Rahman in his bed with "apparent head trauma", according to police. 

Mr Rahman was rushed to the Royal Darwin Hospital's Intensive Care Unit, but died on Thursday

The 29-year-old has been remanded in custody and is due to face court on Monday.

Sachin Sharma says he will go and speak to Mr Rahman's fellow students.  (ABC News: Ian Redfearn)

Mr Rahman was a student at Charles Darwin Univeristy (CDU), and had arrived in Darwin from Bangladesh earlier this year to study a Masters of Engineering. 

Acting Assistant Commissioner Sachin Sharma said the man had been in police custody since Wednesday after being arrested within an hour after the alleged incident. 

"Our investigations are still ongoing," Acting Assistant Commissioner Sharma said. 

"We received information ... the cause of death is the traumatic brain injury."

He said there were "some indications" the alleged offender was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time, but that toxicology reports had not been finalised. 

Police hope to 'provide comfort' to university community

Acting Assistant Commissioner Sharma said he would be going to speak to CDU students about the alleged murder. 

"I feel quite touched to be honest with you because I was also an international student, 23 years ago when Mr Rahman was born, perhaps," he said. 

"I feel I can provide some comfort to the student council here, the international community."

CDU vice-chancellor Professor Scott Bowman told ABC Radio on Friday morning some of Mr Rahman's extended family members arrived in Darwin from Sydney to see him in hospital before he died. 

However, he said Mr Rahman's parents were unwell, and didn't make it to Darwin from Bangladesh in time to see him. 

"The more you hear about this story, the more tragic it gets," Professor Bowman said. 

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