In an order, the High Court (HC) on Monday removed the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from investigation in the journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi murder case.
At the same time, the HC bench also directed the home ministry to form a high-level task force to investigate the murder case of journalist couple that remained unsolved for 12 years.
It also ordered the task force to submit the investigation report before the court within the next six months.
The HC bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbubul Islam came up with the order a day after the Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Shishir Manir appointed to represent the murder case on behalf of the plaintiff.
During the hearing on the matter, the HC bench commented that it is unfortunate not only for his family, but also for the entire nation for not completing the investigation of the journalist couple even after 12 years of the incident. It is also a cause of trouble for the judiciary, the HC bench added.
Earlier, the government has filed an application seeking its order on authorities concerned to remove RAB from the investigation into the murder case.
Deputy attorney general Barrister Redwan Ahmed represented the state during the court proceedings.
After the HC order, Advocate Shishir Manir told media that the mystery behind the murder of journalist couple Sagar-Runi could be unearthed through an intense investigation.
Manir said, 'We will begin work to solve the mystery behind the murder. As part of this, we will soon hold a meeting with the investigation officers, and we will also fight the legal battle in both the lower and higher courts.'
The submission deadline of investigation report in the Sagar-Runi murder case has seen extended 113 times with the next hearing date scheduled for October 15.
On the night of February 11, 2012, Sagar Sarowar, news editor at Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered at their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Their only son, Mahir Sarowar Megh (then 5 years old), was present at the house at the time of the killings.
Runi's brother, Nowsher Ali Roman, filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
Initially, the case was assigned to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station for investigation. Three days later, it was handed over to the Detective Branch of police. After DB failed to make any progress, the case was transferred to RAB on April 18, 2012.
Police arrested Tanvir Rahman in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014.
The seven other suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu alias Baggira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Quamrul Hasan alias Arun, security guard Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal.
Out of the eight people arrested in connection with the case, two were granted bail, while the others are in jail.
RAB additional SP Khandaker Md Shafiqul Alam was appointed as the seventh investigation officer the case on July 7, 2019.
