Sagar-Runi Case Delayed for 129th Time: Criticism During Hasina Era, Silence Now

❐ Staff Reporter

A judge has rescheduled the deadline for submitting the investigation report in the murder case of the much-discussed journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi to September 30, after it was postponed for the 129th time.

On the scheduled date, Thursday, August 27, the investigating officer in charge of the case—Additional Superintendent of Police of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Md. Azizul Haque—was unable to submit the report.

As the report was not submitted, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam set the next date for submitting the investigation report.

Mazharul Islam, Sub-Inspector (SI) of the relevant prosecution department, officially confirmed the court’s decision.

The accused and suspects in the murder case are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Masum Mintu, Kamrul Islam alias Arun, Abu Sayeed, two security guards of the deceased couple’s residence, Palash Rudra Pal and Enayet Ahmed, and their close associate, Tanvir Rahman Khan.

Among those listed, Tanvir is currently out on bail, Palash Rudra Pal has gone into hiding after being granted bail, and the remaining accused are being held in prison.

It is worth remembering that on the night of February 11, 2012, Sagar Sarwar, news editor of Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior correspondent of ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered in their residences.

After the murder, the deceased Runi’s brother, Nowsher Alam Roman, filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

Initially, a sub-inspector (SI) of the police station concerned started investigating the case. However, when the incident created a huge sensation across the country, the investigation was entrusted to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB) after just four days. Despite trying for more than two months, the DB failed to unravel the mystery of the murder.

Later, on the orders of the High Court, the case file was handed over to RAB on April 18 of that year.

But after a long time, due to no concrete progress, the High Court relieved RAB of its duties on September 30 last year. At the same time, the court gave a clear order to form a high-powered task force including experienced officers from various law enforcement agencies and submit a final report within the next six months.

In light of the High Court’s directive, the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs formed a task force committee through a notification on October 17 last year. The four-member high-level task force, with the PBI chief as the chief coordinator, is currently handling the case, but has not yet been able to submit a final report before the court.

The investigation into the case has not been completed and the date for submitting the report has been repeatedly postponed, raising questions about the resolution of the murder case. The families and colleagues of the victims have demanded a speedy conclusion to the investigation.

Both family members expressed their dissatisfaction over the repeated postponement of the date. The Sheikh Hasina government was ‘slow-moving’ but why is it repeatedly postponing it now? Where is the obstacle now? The family members expressed their anger, demanding justice.