Sagar-Runi murder probe report deferred for 126th time

A court in Dhaka on Thursday deferred the submission of the investigation report in the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi for the 126th time and set June 18 for the next hearing.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman fixed the new date after the investigating officer failed to submit the report on the scheduled day.

Eight people, including Runi’s friend Tanvir Rahman, are accused in the case. Although the accused were remanded several times, none gave confessional statements.

Sagar, news editor of Maasranga Television, and Runi, senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were murdered at their rented flat in West Rajabazar on February 11, 2012. Runi’s brother Nawsher Alam Roman later filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

The investigation was initially handled by police and later transferred to DB before being handed over to RAB following a High Court order in April 2012.

Last year, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-powered taskforce led by the chief of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to complete the probe within six months and removed RAB from the investigation.