Habibur Rahman, brother of Shefali, 29, said his sister drank poison out of utter frustration and shame after village leaders sat on their hand despite her pleas for justice.

Shefali, widow of Tafel Uddin, was raped on August 28 allegedly by Selim, son of Yunus, in his room at knifepoint in the absence of his family members.

As Shefali broke her harrowing tale to Selim's mother Nur Banu the next day, she drove her out of the house.

Habib said he and Shefali went to Asadur Rahman and Rais Uddin for justice, but the village elders began to buy time for arranging a sitting.

The broken-heart girl complained to the local union parishad chairman who fixed arbitration on October 2.

But Habib alleged that the chairman had proposed her to settle the 'problem' with money after days of 'hobnobbing with the wealthy father of her tormentor'.

With her hopes of justice dying out, Shefali ended her life to bring an end to her ordeal.

Habib filed a case with Mohonpur Police Station against Selim, his mother Nur Banu, Asad and Rais under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

Sub-Inspector Khatebor Ali, investigation officer, said primary investigation established the allegation and he was trying to gather evidence to prove the charge.