Bangladeshi actress, 26, found dead at home, suspected of committing suicide after arguing with boyfriend

A Bangladeshi model and actress was found dead at her home in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 15, with police investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

Allegedly argued with her boyfriend

Bhatara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mazharul Islam told local news outlet The Daily Star that police recovered the body of 26-year-old Ridhika Ridhi hanging from a ceiling fan around 6am that day.

According to the case statement, Ridhika was at her flat with two of her friends on the night of Aug. 14, The Business Standard reported.

At about 11pm, she had an argument over the phone with her boyfriend, Hasibur Rahman.

She subsequently asked her friends to sleep in the drawing room.

At about 5:30am, Hasibur arrived at the flat and knocked on the door.

After her friends opened it, he allegedly told them that Ridhi had hanged herself following their argument.

Her friends then entered the room and found her hanging from the ceiling fan with a scarf around her neck.

They took her to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.

Accused of abetting suicide

According to The Business Standard, investigators found evidence on her mobile phone indicating that she had been on a video call with Hasibur shortly before her death, according to police.

Her body was sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Later on Aug. 15, Ridhi’s mother filed a case at Vatara Police Station, accusing Hasibur of abetting her daughter’s suicide.

Police subsequently arrested him from the Bashundhara Residential Area at about 9:30pm that day.

The investigating officer produced Hasibur before a court on Aug. 16 and sought an order for him to be remanded in jail.

The court granted the order.

In its petition, the police alleged that Hasibur had caused Ridhika mental distress through their mobile phone conversations and had provoked her to take her own life.

The petition further alleged that Ridhika, unable to tolerate the alleged abuse and provocation, died by hanging.

Police also said Hasibur confessed during preliminary questioning and admitted his involvement in the incident.

Ridhika's family alleged that she had been in a long-term relationship with Hasibur, and that he had subjected her to physical and mental abuse during their relationship.

Helplines

If you or someone you know are in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

• National mindline.sg Hotline: 1771 (24 hours)
• National mindline.sg WhatsApp: 66691771 (24 hours)
• SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767
• Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
• Centre for Domestic Employees: 1800 225 5233 (24 hours)
• Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training: 1800 339 4357 (24 hours)
• HOME (migrant worker): +65 6341 5535 (WhatsApp / Viber / SMS)
• HOME (domestic worker): +65 9787 3122 (WhatsApp / SMS / Call)
• SHECARES@SCWO: Call: 8001 01 4616 | WhatsApp: 8985 5528 (For targets of online harms)
• National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH): 1800-777-0000