Maldivian Model: 5th fresh probe into Raudha's death begins

A fresh investigation started into the death of Maldivian model and medical student Raudha Athif for the fifth time in Rajshahi yesterday.

The Police Bureau of Investigation has this time been entrusted with the probe into her death following a court order.

The PBI upon receiving the court's order yesterday appointed Inspector Alamgir Hossain as the investigation officer, said Additional Superintendent of Police Towhidul Arif.

The IO visited the spot of occurrence and talked with witnesses, he added.

Raudha Athif, 20, was featured as a Maldivian model in a Vogue magazine cover in 2016 and was a 2nd year student at Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi.

She was found dead at her college dormitory room on March 29.

Since then, Sub-Inspector Ataur Rahman of Shah Makhdum police and Inspector Rashidul Hasan of Detective Branch investigated her death and gave final reports confirming it as suicide.

On April 10 when Raudha's father Mohammad Athif filed a murder case, Inspector Anwar Ali of Shah Makhdum police investigated the case and also gave a final report.

All three reports confirmed Raudha's suicide but did not mention any reason behind it.

Raudha's father Mohamed Athif, also a doctor, rejected the police findings. He argued he saw finger marks on her neck claiming somebody had strangulated her to death.

The Criminal Investigation Department exhumed Raudha's body for a second autopsy.

On October 17, CID Inspector Asmaul Haque submitted the final report terming the murder case a “mistake of facts” and confirming her suicide.

The CID final report said Raudha took her life by hanging herself as she could not endure breakup with her Maldivian boyfriend who was studying in London.

Apart from local police, a Maldivian police team visiting Rajshahi for five days until April 7 also ruled out possibility of murder.

On November 28, when Raudha's father submitted his no confidence into the CID's final report, the court of a metropolitan magistrate asked the PBI to investigate the matter.

“We will look into the death from the beginning,” said PBI Additional SP Towhidul Arif. He added they would find out if it was a case of murder as claimed by her father.