Dhaka, May 6 -- The University of South Florida (USF) on Tuesday announced that will award posthumous doctoral degrees to Nahida Bristy and Zamil Limon, two Bangladeshi students who were murdered last month during its spring commencement ceremonies this week, according to media reports.

USF said more than 8,000 degrees will be conferred between May 7 and May 10, including 353 doctoral degrees, with Bristy and Limon honoured among the graduates.

A moment of silence will be observed at the beginning of each ceremony, while two empty chairs with regalia will be placed on the arena floor during the doctoral ceremony at 9:00 am on May 8 in tribute to the slain students.

Bristy, 27, was pursuing a doctorate in chemical engineering, while Lim...