Completion of Sagar Runi murder investigation in 6 months: HC

The High Court (HC) has issued an order directing the authorities to complete the long-pending probe into the murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi within six months.

An HC bench headed by Justice Farah Mahbub passed the order after delivering a sweeping verdict on the formation of a six-member high-powered task force to probe the double murders.

On September 30, the HC ordered formation of a task force to investigate the case, which remained unsolved for 12 years.

The court also directed the Interior Ministry to implement the decision after removing the Rapid Response Battalion (RAB) from the investigation as the elite force had repeatedly failed to submit the investigation report.

Previously, the deadline for the investigation report into the double murders was postponed for the 114th time to October 15th.

On October 1 of this year, Runi’s brother Nowsher filed a motion with a trial court to authorize the appointment of nine lawyers to assist the state in the case.

Later, the court appointed nine lawyers, including Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Monir.

On October 10, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Moinul Islam said police had begun reinvestigating the case.

On the night of February 11, 2012, Sagar Sarowar, news editor at Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered in their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka.

Her only son, Mahir Sarowar Megh (then 5 years old), was present in the house at the time of the murders.

Runi’s brother Nowsher lodged a murder complaint at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station.

Initially, the case was handed over to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station for investigation. Three days later it was handed over to the criminal police (DB). After the DB was unable to make any progress, the case was forwarded to the RAB on April 18, 2012.

Police arrested Tanvir Rahman in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. He was later released on bail in 2014.

The seven other suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu alias Baggira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Quamrul Hasan alias Arun, security guard Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal.

Of the eight people arrested in connection with the case, two have been released on bail while the others are in jail.

RAB Additional SP Khandaker Md Shafiqul Alam was appointed as the seventh investigating officer in the case on July 7, 2019.