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Vigil held for slain university student as Darwin student community calls for greater safety

Attendees light candles at a vigil for Md Isfaqur Rahman at Charles Darwin University. (ABC News: Mitchell Abram)

Members of Darwin's Bangladeshi community say they are feeling "lost and shattered" after the death of university student Md Isfaqur Rahman.

Mr Rahman, 23, died after sustaining critical head injuries during an alleged violent home invasion in Darwin's northern suburbs during the week.

Northern Territory Police has charged a 29-year-old man with murder, aggravated burglary and theft in relation to the incident.

Mr Rahman "could always put a smile on the face of people he met", CDU's vice chancellor said. (Supplied: Bangladeshi Student Association)

Police have alleged the man broke into Md Isfaqur Rahman's home in the suburb of Millner at about 4:30am on Wednesday morning.

He was found with apparent head trauma, according to police, and rushed to Royal Darwin Hospital's intensive care unit but died on Thursday.

Mr Rahman was a student at Charles Darwin University (CDU) and had arrived in Darwin earlier this year.

'We have no words'

On Friday night, a vigil organised by the university's Bangladeshi Student Association was held on campus.

It followed a student-led anti-violence demonstration on Thursday, held in response to the attack on Mr Rahman.

The Bangladesh Assoication of the Northern Territory has launched an online petition calling for a range of safety measures, including safer housing for students.

Students have called for safer housing and travel for students after Mr Rahman's death. (ABC News: Mitchell Abram)

In local cricket competition on Saturday — during a match that Bangladeshi members of the university cricket team were competing in — a minute's silence was held for Mr Rahman.

Mostofa Mahin, the team's president, said players and the Bangladeshi community were deeply hurting.

"What happened is not supposed to happen. We have no words to share the pain," he said.

Mostofa Mahin says the student community is still grappling with what happened to Mr Rahman. (ABC News: Michael Donnelly)

"[He] was one of us and he is not with us now. Nothing is going to bring him back among us.

"This is a very good time to be asked to be united and strong. To make our Northern Territory safer, and better for us, and for our future generations."

On Friday Charles Darwin University vice-chancellor Scott Bowman wrote a message on Facebook that paid tribute to Mr Rahman.

In the message, Professor Bowman said he hoped Mr Rahman's "greatest legacy will be that other students will be safer".

"He had been a very successful student back in his home country of Bangladesh," he wrote.

"He worked hard and mastered the English language. More than this, he was a popular guy. Well-loved by his fellow students, Sifat could always put a smile on the face of people he met.

"We must live up to our promise of [Darwin] being a safe place. The university will look for practical ways that we can help students stay safe."

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