Sagar-Runi probe report deferred for 130th time

The submission of the investigation report in the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi has been deferred for the 130th time, with the court fixing November 5 for the next date.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam set the new date on Wednesday as the investigation agency failed to submit the report.

The case was scheduled for report submission on September 30. However, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) sought more time, said Rafiqul Islam, a sub-inspector of the prosecution department.

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

The case was initially investigated by police before being transferred to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch and later to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

On September 30 last year, the High Court ordered the investigation to be handed over to a high-powered task force formed through the Home Ministry. The government subsequently formed a four-member task force, headed by the PBI chief.