The High Court in Dhaka on Sunday granted another six months for the investigation into the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi after the state sought more time.
A High Court bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice AFM Saiful Karim passed the order.
Senior lawyers Manzill Murshid and Mohammad Shishir Monir argued for the writ petition, while Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal represented the state.
During the hearing, the attorney general sought more time from the court and said the investigation into the case was in its final stage.
He said it was painful that a charge sheet could not be submitted in 13 years and that another six months were needed to complete the investigation.
The writ petitioners’ lawyers, however, requested three months instead of six.
Later, the court granted six more months to complete the investigation.
In response, lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir said: "The investigation time for this case has been extended by another six months. Many of those who need to be questioned cannot be found. When will they be found? Only Allah knows. The investigation never ends. When will the trial begin?"
On October 23, 2025, the High Court had granted the last six months for the investigation into the case. After hearing a time-extension prayer from the state, the then bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Fatema Anwar issued that order.
Although that day was described as the last extension, the state again applied on Sunday for another six months.
On that day, Additional Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rouf appeared for the state. He was assisted by Deputy Attorney General Mahmud Sojib Bhuiyan, Assistant Attorney General Mushfiqur Rahim and others. Advocate Manzill Murshid and Shishir Monir appeared for the writ petition.
On October 17, 2024, following a High Court order, a four-member high-level taskforce committee was formed to investigate the murder case, with the head of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) as convener.
The committee includes a police representative not below the rank of Additional DIG, a representative from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and a representative from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The Ministry of Home Affairs’ Public Security Division issued a gazette notification forming the taskforce.
On September 30, 2024, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-powered taskforce to investigate the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi. The court directed that the investigation be completed within six months and also ordered the removal of RAB from the investigation.
The Ministry of Home Affairs was instructed to implement the order, and the taskforce was to be formed with experienced investigators from different agencies. A High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam passed the order after hearing a state petition.
Later, on April 22, 2025, the High Court again granted six more months for the investigation into the case. After hearing a time-extension prayer from the state, the then bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikdar Mahmudur Razi issued the order.
On the night of February 11, 2012, journalist couple Sagar Sarwar, news editor of Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were killed at their rented home in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Their only son, Mahir Sarowar Megh, was at home at the time.
Runi’s brother, Nowsher Roman, filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station over the killings. After the case was filed, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station was given responsibility for the investigation.
Three days later, the case was handed over to the Detective Branch. After their failure, the case was transferred to RAB on April 18, 2012.
Of the eight people arrested in the case, two have secured bail and the rest are in jail.
