Sagar-Runi case: ICT finds new clues

Officials from the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) confirmed the developments on Sunday (August 30).

While investigating a crime against humanity, the ICT investigation agency uncovered crucial leads regarding the Sagar-Runi murders by analyzing Call Detail Records (CDR) from an unrelated case.

The prosecution brought this new information forward after three previous investigating agencies failed to solve the case over the past 14 years.

Investigators suspect the couple possessed sensitive documentation related to the BDR massacre or government affairs stored on a disk, tape, or memory drive.

Following these revelations, Sagar-Runi's son Mahir Sarowar Megh and case plaintiff Nowsher Ali Roman met Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam and Prosecutor Tanveer Zoha on Sunday afternoon.

Sagar and Runi were brutally murdered at their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka, on the night of February 11, 2012.

Their bodies were recovered the following morning, and Runi's brother filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

The case was initially handled by local police before being transferred to the Detective Branch (DB) and later to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

On September 30, 2024, the High Court ordered the formation of a task force, and the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) currently leads the probe.

"Our agency is not directly investigating the Sagar-Runi case; the PBI handles it," Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam stated. "However, while probing another case, we stumbled upon key clues."

"We found a connection between a cultural figure and the Sagar-Runi incident," Islam added. "We are verifying the information and keeping the individual under surveillance. If authenticated, we will share the details with the PBI. This remains an individual murder case to be tried in the relevant Sessions Court."

Specialized Prosecutor Barrister Tanveer Zoha disclosed that electronic items were seized during a re-examination of a former Director General's residence in Barishal, who also faces ACC charges.

"We recovered documentation, servers, and deleted files dating back to 2007," Zoha said. "After analyzing data and identifying suspects, we interrogated one individual."

During interrogation, the suspect revealed that the former Director General - who served in RAB at the time�"told him, "Something is going to happen tomorrow."

"The suspect provided details regarding sensitive documents concerning the BDR massacre or government affairs, likely stored on a disk, tape, or memory device," Zoha said, adding that several electronic devices remain missing.

Over 14 years after the double murder, investigating agencies have yet to submit a final probe report. On August 27, the court extended the submission deadline for the 129th time.