Raudha Athif was a beautiful cover model who grew up in the Maldives before moving to Bangladesh to study medicine, but was found dead in her college dorm room 18 months later.
Bangladeshi authorities said the 21-year-old model committed suicide, but her father Mohammed Athif maintains she was murdered.
Professional opinion also suggests he might be correct ,a 60 Minutes report found.
Raudha Athif was a beautiful cover model who grew up in the Maldives before moving to Bangladesh to study medicine
Raudha Athif was studying to become a doctor at the Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi, in the country’s west, when she was found dead seven months ago.
She planned to transfer to Perth, Australia, to join her family the following year.
While studying full-time, Ms Athif was also modelling on the side.
The young Maldivian woman shot to international fame when a photo of her standing in water, with piercing blue eyes, went viral online.
The photo was the beginning of her journey to becoming Vogue cover girl, a dream that became reality in October 2016.
While the Vogue front cover (pictured) was the peak of her modelling career, some believe it was the reason Ms Athif died
‘Some people were saying she belonged to Muslim country and she should not do that,’ her father said
While it was the peak of her modelling career, some believe it was the reason she died.
‘Some people were saying she belonged to Muslim country and she should not do that,’ her father said.
Her modelling clashed with strict Islamic values, a human rights lawyer said.
‘I know that comments had been made to Raudha in the months leading up to her death about her decision to model, about some of the clothes she decided to wear,’ she said.
The Islami Bank Medical College, where Ms Athif was a student, has previously been linked to extremist-related groups.
When police raided the college before her death, 29 men were arrested for involvement in extremist activities, 60 Minutes reported.
‘I know that comments had been made to Raudha in the months leading up to her death about her decision to model, about some of the clothes she decided to wear,’ a lawyer said
Raudha Athif was studying to become a doctor at the Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi, in the country’s west, when she was found dead seven months ago
When she moved to Bangladesh to study, Ms Athif’s father said she was forced to change her life-style to fit in with the culture.
He said she started to wear clothes that fitted in with a strict Muslim dress code, including a head dress, despite the fact she was a more moderate Muslim.
Ms Athif’s father said he strongly believes a raft of evidence shows his daughter was killed, and that her death was covered-up as a suicide.
Ms Athif’s college dorm, where she was found dead, remains a crime scene seven months after she died.
According to reports, Ms Athif was cooking a curry and part-way through a cup of tea when she is supposed to have committed suicide.
When she moved to Bangladesh to study, Ms Athif’s father said she was forced to change her life-style to fit in with the culture
Photos of Ms Athif, taken post-mortem, showed significant bruising around her neck – bruising some professionals believe was caused by fingers around her neck
According to reports, Ms Athif was cooking a curry and part-way through a cup of tea when she allegedly committed suicide
Ms Athif’s scarf is seen on the ceiling fan – the scarf she reportedly used to hang herself with
There were also signs of a struggle, with glass mirror and glass table broken.
Ms Athif reportedly hanged herself from the ceiling fan with a scarf – but the validity of the police report has been questioned.
Photos of Ms Athif, taken after her death, showed significant bruising around her neck – bruising some professionals believe was caused by fingers around her throat.
With police reports stating she was found with a scarf around her neck, forensic professionals claimed the injury suggested something much harder, like a belt, was used.
With questions unanswered, and little consideration from Bangladeshi authorities, the Athif family hired a human rights lawyer.
‘I don’t think it looks like suicide, in my opinion, it looks like she was killed,’ the lawyer said.
The lawyer said there was also suspicion surrounding Ms Athif’s best friend.
The lawyer said there was also suspicion surrounding Ms Athif’s best friend Seerat Parveen (pictured together)
Ms Athif’s father (pictured) said his daughter suspected a friend tried to poison her in the days before she died.
Seerat Parveen studied medicine at college with Ms Athif. She was the last to see her, and the first to report seeing her dead.
Ms Athif’s father said his daughter suspected a friend tried to poison her in the days before she died.
There were also reports Ms Athif’s social media account was hacked, and her best friend Seerat Parveen was ‘unfollowed’ after the death.
Ms Athif’s father vowed he would not give up until the truth came out and there was justice for his daughter.
‘I know my daughter’s been killed already, I know I won’t get her back, but as a father I will get rest only when I get justice to her. That is what I’m doing, and to my last breath I will fight for justice for my daughter. Until my last breath if need be,’ he said.
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