Sagar-Runi murder/HC summon taskforce chief to appear before court on April 29

The High Court on Tuesday (27 October) summoned the taskforce chief and International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Zohha to appear before it on April 29 next year to report on progress in journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi murder case.

The HC bench of Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order asked them to report the progress in examining seized CDs and other documents related to the case.

It also gave the high-level taskforce six more months more to complete its investigation into the murder case as the mystery surrounding the killings remains unresolved after more than 14 years.

Earlier, the taskforce submitted an interim progress report instead of the full investigation report, which was due on Tuesday (27 October).

However, the taskforce sought an additional year to complete the investigation.

After hearing both sides, the court allowed six months.

During the hearing, Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kajol said ICT Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam and Prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Zohha had informed the taskforce about new developments in the investigation.

Sagar Sarowar, news editor of Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, a senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were murdered at their rented apartment in West Rajabazar in the capital on February 11, 2012.

The following day, Runi's brother, Nausher Alam Roman, filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

The police initially investigated the case before the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) took over. After failing to identify the perpetrators during more than two months of investigation, the High Court transferred the responsibility to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on April 18, 2012.

Several suspects were detained at different stages of the investigation.

DNA tests were also conducted on evidence at laboratories at home and abroad, but available investigative findings indicated that the DNA profiles of those detained did not match those of Sagar and Runi.

Amid prolonged delays and questions over the investigation's progress, a four-member high-level taskforce was formed on October 28, 2024.

Investigative responsibilities were subsequently changed, and fresh efforts were undertaken to question witnesses and review evidence.

The taskforce reported that 90 witnesses had been re-examined and statements from 24 people recorded between 2024 and 2026.

Source: UNB