Dhaka: The High Court today allowed an additional six months for a high-power task force to complete its investigation into the high-profile murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi. This decision follows an earlier order that established the task force to handle the complex case.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a High Court division bench composed of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi issued the order, which partially granted a prosecution request for a nine-month extension. The hearing saw participation from Additional Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rouf, accompanied by Deputy Attorney General Akter Hossain Md Abdul Wahab, while Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir represented the victims’ family.
On September 30, 2024, the High Court mandated the creation of the task force through the Ministry of Home Affairs, effectively relieving the RAB from leading the investigation. Subsequently, the government formed a four-member task force on October 23, 2024, following a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs, instructing the task force to deliver its findings within a six-month timeframe.
The PBI was designated as the task force convener, although the notification did not disclose the identities of the other members. The journalist couple was tragically murdered on February 11, 2012, in their West Rajabazar flat, with their four-year-old son Mahir Sarwar Megh present during the incident. Following the murders, Runi’s brother Nawser Alam lodged a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.