Raudha Athif was a promising young Maldivian model and medical student whose striking aqua-blue eyes brought her international fame. Born in 1996, Raudha balanced her burgeoning modeling career with her lifelong ambition to become a doctor, a profession held by her father. Her initial photos went viral in 2014, capturing global attention, but she remained dedicated to her studies at Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Despite the conservative environment of Bangladesh, she respected local customs by often wearing traditional clothes for college while pursuing modeling as a passion project during her free time.
Raudha achieved a significant career milestone in October 2016 when she was featured on the cover of Vogue India, a rare honor for a model from the Maldives. Her sudden fame brought a complicated mixture of admiration for her beauty and intelligence, and criticism from those who felt her modeling work clashed with cultural norms. Throughout this scrutiny, Raudha maintained her focus on her academic goals, viewing modeling as a secondary pursuit to her primary ambition of completing her medical education.
Tragically, Raudha’s life was cut short on March 29, 2017, when she was found lifeless in her hostel room in Rajshahi, having been discovered hanging from a ceiling fan. Initial investigation and the first autopsy concluded that she had died by suicide, with authorities citing messages to her ex-boyfriend that indicated heartbreak and despair. Her untimely death at just 21 years old shocked her fans and the global modeling industry.
However, Raudha’s family immediately raised serious and persistent doubts about the self-harm theory. Her father, Dr. Mohamed Athif, publicly asserted his belief that his daughter had been murdered, pointing to what he claimed were inconsistencies, including bruising on her neck and the suspicious state of her room and door. Her brother also dismissed the suicide claims, stating that Raudha was a cheerful and lively person who showed no signs of depression or mental distress that would suggest she would take her own life.
The subsequent years saw multiple investigations, including a second autopsy and a Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) report in 2019 that ultimately concluded her death was due to emotional distress and self-harm. Despite these official findings, Raudha’s family continued to question the results, refusing to accept the conclusions and requesting further judicial inquiry. The complexity of her case and the unresolved doubts led a Bangladeshi court in 2022 to order a fresh probe into her demise, ensuring the tragic story of the ambitious model and student remains a widely debated topic that highlights the struggles of balancing personal dreams with public and cultural scrutiny.