Sagar-Runi murder: Probe report submission deferred for 129th time, new date 30 Sep
The investigation report was scheduled to be submitted today.
A Dhaka court today (27 August) set 30 September for the submission of the probe report in the sensational case filed over the murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, extending the deadline for the 129th time.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order following a hearing in the case.
Although the investigation report was scheduled to be submitted today, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) failed to place it before the court. Consequently, the magistrate fixed a new date.
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Rafiqul Islam, sub-inspector of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police prosecution division, confirmed the matter.
Sagar Sarowar, news editor of private television channel Maasranga TV, and Meherun Runi, a senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered 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.
The case was initially investigated by Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police before being handed over to the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) later took charge of the investigation.
On 30 September 2024, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-powered task force through the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the case, removing RAB from the investigation.
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 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.
