Complete investigation into Sagar-Runi murder in 6 months: HC

The High Court (HC) has passed an order directing the authorities to conclude the long-pending investigation 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 comprehensive verdict on the formation of a powerful six-member task force to probe the double murders.

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

The court also ordered the Interior Ministry to implement the decision after withdrawing the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the investigation as the elite force repeatedly failed to submit the investigation report .

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

On October 1 this year, Runi’s brother Nowsher filed a petition with a lower court seeking permission to appoint 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) Md Moinul Islam said the police had started re-investigating the case.

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

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

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

Initially, the case was handed over to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station for investigation. Three days later, he was handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) of the police. After DB made no progress, the case was transferred to the RAB on April 18, 2012.

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

The other seven 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 rest are in prison.

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