Sagar-Runi murder: Probe report submission deferred for 123rd time

Bangla Press Desk:  A Dhaka court on Monday set 9 February for filing the probe report in the case filed over the sensational murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, extending the deadline for the 123rd time.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbub Alam passed the order, allowing the prosecution's time petition as the investigation agency again failed to submit the report today.

The journalist couple was 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 the case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

Initially, the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police was tasked with the investigation. The charge was later transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which failed to submit the probe report despite taking time for 111 times over the long 12 years.

On 30 September, 2024, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-powered task force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, removing RAB from the assignment.

The government subsequently formed a four-member task force on 23 October, 2024, through a Home Ministry’s notification. The committee was directed to submit its findings within six months.

According to the notification, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) was named the task force convener.

BP/SP