Neighbours found Bristy, daughter of Gada Miah in Kafrul, dead inside their house with a Gamchha tied around her neck at around noon.

Hearing scream of Abu Bakar Siddique, the stepbrother of Bristy, neighbours thronged the house and found Bristy bleeding severely from her nose.

They also found Abu Bakar trembling in horror standing beside the body of Bristy.

Police recovered the body in the afternoon and picked up Abu Bakar for questioning.

Gada Miah said he brought Abu Bakar, his youngest son from his first wife, from Bogra four months ago to look after Bristy, only daughter of his second wife Konika Begum.

Both Gada Miah, an employee of Power Development Board, and Konika, a garment worker, have to stay outside their house during the day.

Police said the girl was hit in the head with a brick and strangled. They seized the Gamchha and the brick from the scene.

Morgue sources said there was no sign of attack on the body and she was strangled.