An 18-year-old girl was found dead in her house yesterday morning in Ashulia's Berun area, hours after she filed a case against one of her co-workers and three others for raping her.

The victim lived with her parents in a rented house in Ashulia's Jamgara area, and worked at a local garment factory.

The victim's father alleged that his daughter was returning from her workplace in Berun area around 9pm on January 5, when her co-worker Rahim and three others abducted her. They forcibly took her to an unknown place where they raped her that night.

“After my daughter was picked up, over phone they had demanded Tk 50,000 as ransom from us, saying my daughter was kidnapped,” said the victim's father, adding that on that night around 2am, the girl was found unconscious by the side of the road beside their house.

“As my daughter disclosed the matter to us after gaining consciousness the next morning, we rushed to Ashulia Police Station and informed the matter to police. My daughter filed a rape case against Rahim, Ripon and Shipon and one other unnamed man on Sunday evening,” said the victim's father.

“On Sunday night, my daughter was feeling unwell, and went to sleep in her room. In the morning, we found her in bed unconscious, and we took her to a local hospital, where the doctor declared her dead,” he said.

Hospital sources also said the girl was brought dead.

Police later sent the body to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

The victim's cousin, also an RMG worker, said Rahim -- a married man – had been stalking his sister for a long time. He disturbed her regularly on her way to and back from work. She rejected Rahim, and that is why Rahim and his group raped her, he said.

Javed Mashud, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Ashulia Police Station, said they arrested Rahim, 24, but the other accused are in hiding.

When asked about cause of the girl's death, he said “We are yet to ascertain the cause of death, but in primary investigation, we are suspecting that the victim might have committed suicide. For getting detail, we will have to wait for the autopsy report,” he said.

The victim's father, however, alleged that the girl

died due to injuries and trauma received during

the rape.

OC Javed Mashud also informed that the victim's father has filed another case against the four over his daughter's death.