Sagar-Runi murder case sees 128th deadline extension
Collected Photo
A Dhaka court has again extended the deadline for the investigation report in the Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi murder case, setting 27 August as the new date - marking the 128th extension.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order on Wednesday.
The report was due for submission on the scheduled day but the Additional Superintendent of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) and Investigating Officer Md Azizul Haque was unable to present it to the court.
The accused in this high-profile case include Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Masum Mintu, Kamrul Islam alias Arun, Abu Sayeed, the couple’s home security guards Palash Rudra Pal and Enayet Ahmed, and their “friend” Tanveer Rahman Khan.
Of the suspects, Tanveer is out on bail, while Palash has become a fugitive after getting bail. The other accused individuals remain in custody.
The murders occurred on 11 February 2012, when Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar Sarowar and ATN Bangla Senior Reporter Meherun Runi were killed in their home.
Following the incident, the victim’s brother, Nowsher Alam Roman, filed a murder case at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
The investigation has seen several handovers over the last 12 years:
- Initial Phase: A Sub-Inspector (SI) of the local police station handled the case first.
- Detective Branch (DB): After four days, the case was moved to the DB, which failed to solve the mystery after more than two months of investigation.
- RAB: On 18 April 2012, the High Court ordered the investigation to be transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
On 30 September 2024, the High Court directed the formation of a high-powered task force comprised of experienced investigators from various forces. The court ordered the task force to complete the investigation and submit a report within six months.
Then Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on 17 October 2024 officially forming the task force. The four-member high-level committee is headed by the PBI Chief as the convener.
