Sagar-Runi murder: Probe report submission deferred for 123rd time, new date 9 Feb
Sagar Sarwar, news editor of private television channel Maasranga TV, and Meherun Runi, a senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were brutally at their rented flat in the city's West Rajabazar on 11 February 2012.
A court today set 9 February for filing a probe report in the sensational case lodged over the murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, extending the deadline for the submission of the report for the 123rd time.
The order was issued today (5 January) by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbub Alam following a hearing in the case.
Although the investigation report was scheduled to be submitted on the day, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) failed to place the report before the court. Consequently, the magistrate set a new date.
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The information was confirmed by Rafiqul Islam, sub-inspector of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police prosecution division.
Sagar Sarwar, news editor of private television channel Maasranga TV, and Meherun Runi, a senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were brutally at their rented flat in the city's West Rajabazar on 11 February 2012, in the presence of their (then) four-year-old son Mahir Sarwar Megh.
Runi's brother Nawser Alam filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
The accused in the case are Rafiqul Islam, Bokul Mia, Masum Mintoo, Kamrul Islam alias Arun, Abu Sayeed, two security guards of the couple's residence, Palash Rudra Pal and Enayet Ahmed and their acquaintance Tanvir Rahman Khan. Among them, Tanvir and Palash are currently on bail, while the others remain in jail.
At that time, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) was entrusted with the charge of the investigation into the murder case which was later transferred to the RAB. The elite crime-busting agency has failed to submit the investigation report in court after taking time 111 times in the last 12 years.
On 30 September 2024, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-power task force through the Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the case, removing RAB from the charge.
During the hearing, the High Court observed, "We hope justice will be ensured this time, and the six months given for investigation will mean six months." The court has set 6 April for passing further orders in this regard.
In line with the High Court directive, the government formed a four-member task force on 23 October, appointing the chief of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) as its convener.
