Ramna police have forwarded the application to court for further instruction.

In the application, Nowshin's father Sultan Faruque rejected Nowshin's autopsy report saying that the "doctors were influenced while preparing the report".

He made several observations in the application suggesting that Nowshin could not have committed suicide since the entrance of the flat was found locked from outside after the incident. Also, besides the main knot closest to her neck, there were three to four extra knots on the scarf that was found tied around her neck. It would be quite impossible for a person to commit suicide and tie those extra knots.

Meanwhile, Law Adviser barrister Mainul Hosein during a council of advisers' meeting on law and order at home ministry yesterday directed the investigators to carefully investigate the death of Nowshin although the viscera report mentioned that Nowshin had committed suicide.

Law enforcers are yet to trace prime accused Zahidul Haque Rintu, Nowshin's uncle. Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and police yesterday collected a photograph of Rintu from the victim's family.

"Now investigation is being conducted with its focus on two different points. Firstly, if suicide, why would Nowshin commit suicide and secondly, if homicide, how was she killed and why," said Kazi Didarul Alam, sub inspector of Ramna Police Station and investigation officer of the case.

Shamsunnahar, mother of Nowshin, told The Daily Star that even though Nowshin was found lying on the floor face down and the law enforcers did not find any sign of hanging in the room, doctors in the autopsy report mentioned that she had died "as a result of hanging" and it was "suicidal in nature".

"If she had hanged herself and later fell down on the floor, then the scarf must have signs of tearing or Nowshin would have injuries to her body. But we did not find any such sign," Shamsunnahar said sobbing.

Besides, there were signs of foul play in the room where Nowshin was found. A Dao (chopper), supposed to be in the kitchen, was found near her body, the bed sheet was crumpled as if tussles took place on it and clothes were piled up on the floor near a clothes rack -- all suggesting that someone else rummaged through the room, added the mother.

Nowshin's family also suspect that a few of their relatives might be sheltering Rintu -- the prime accused.

Her father complained, "The pace of investigation has slowed down following the autopsy report suggesting that Nowshin had committed suicide."

Police, however, said different teams have been assigned with the task to capture Rintu.

"We are investigating [the case] carefully and trying to capture the person/s accused in the case. The application for redoing Nowshin's autopsy has been sent to court," said AKM Daulat Akbar, officer-in-charge of Ramna Police Station.

Nowshin, a brilliant student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, was found strangled to death on July 18. Her father filed a murder case accusing his brother-in-law Rintu and security guard of the building.