An international student has died after sustaining critical head injuries during a violent home invasion in Darwin’s northern suburbs earlier this week.

The 23-year-old man from Bangladesh had been in intensive care at the Royal Darwin Hospital since the alleged attack in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

In a statement released on Thursday evening, Northern Territory Police confirmed the man 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 morning.

Earlier on Thursday, students from Charles Darwin University and members of the public held a demonstration in support of the student. 

They called for measures to keep students safe on public transport and in their homes.

At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Northern Territory 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 a short time later.