Sagar-Runi murder case: Probe report submission deferred for 120th time

A Dhaka court has set September 14 for filing the probe report in the sensational murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, extending the deadline for the 120th time. 

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Minhazul Islam passed the order, allowing a time plea of the prosecution as the investigation agency failed to submit the report on Monday.

The journalist couple was brutally murdered at their rented flat in the city's West Rajabazar on February 11, 2012, in the presence of their four-year-old son, Mahir Sarwar Megh. Runi's brother, Nawser Alam, filed the case with the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

At that time, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) was entrusted with the charge of the investigation into the murder case, which was later transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion RAB. The elite force failed to submit the investigation report even after delaying 111 times over the past 12 years.

On September 30, 2024, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-power task force through the Ministry of Home Affairs to probe the case, removing RAB from the charge. 

On October 23, 2024, the government formed a four-member task force through a Home Ministry notification to investigate the double murder and submit its findings within six months.

The PBI was named the task force convener, though the notice did not reveal the names of the other members. 

The task force also includes one representative not below the rank of Additional Deputy Inspector General or DIG of Police Headquarters, one representative of the same rank as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and one of the rank of RAB Director.