Dhaka: A Dhaka court today set August 11 for filing the probe report in the sensational murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, extending the deadline for the 119th 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 today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the journalist couple was murdered at their rented flat in West Rajabazar on February 11, 2012, in the presence of their then four-year-old son Mahir Sarwar Megh. Runi’s brother Nawser Alam filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Initially, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) was tasked with the investigation, which was later transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Despite numerous extensions, RAB failed to submit the investigation report 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. The government subsequently formed a four-member task force on October 23, 2024, through a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs. This task force was mandated to submit its findings within six months.
The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) was named the task force convener, although the notification did not disclose the names of the other members. The task force includes representatives not below the rank of Additional Deputy Inspector General or DIG from Police Headquarters, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and one with the rank of RAB Director.
The High Court, on October 16, 2024, released the full text of its September 30 order, directing the shift of the investigation authority from RAB to the newly formed task force by the Home Ministry.