A Dhaka court has ordered the investigation officer of the high-profile murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi to appear in person and submit a progress report on the investigation. The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Minhajur Rahman on Tuesday (August 12). The court has set September 14 as the next date for submitting the investigation report.The submission of the investigation report has been delayed 120 times due to the failure to produce it.
On the night of February 11, 2012, Sagar Sarowar, news editor of Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered in their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Their mutilated bodies were recovered the following morning. Runi’s brother, Nowsher Alam Roman, filed a murder case at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
The case names eight accused individuals: Runi’s friend Tanvir Rahman, security guards Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir, Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Miah, Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Kamrul Hasan Arun, Palash Rudra Pal, and Abu Sayeed. Among them, Tanvir and Palash are out on bail, while the others remain in custody.
Initially, the investigation was handled by a sub-inspector (SI) from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Four days later, the case was transferred to the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB). After more than two months of investigation, the DB failed to uncover the mystery. Subsequently, on April 18, 2012, following a High Court order, the investigation was handed over to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
On September 30, 2024, the High Court directed the formation of a high-powered task force comprising experienced investigators from various agencies to probe the case. On October 18, 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification forming a four-member task force led by the PBI chief. The task force was instructed to complete the investigation within six months, but no report has been submitted yet.
