Although a decade has passed since the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, the law enforcement agencies have yet to make significant progress in the investigation or reveal the motive behind the crime.
Meanwhile, the submission date for the investigation report of this case has been postponed for the 100th time on Monday, causing anger and frustration among the victims' families.
The relatives allege that the case proceedings are stuck due to the lack of goodwill from the authorities. They point out that even changing the investigation agency will not yield results if the government is not "sincere" in its efforts.
The investigation report was initially scheduled to be submitted to the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shafi Uddin on June 22.
However, as the report from the investigation agency, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), was not ready, the court rescheduled the date to August 7, Monday.
The journalist couple's relatives also claim that the investigation agency's failure is evident in the repeated delays.
However, RAB maintains that the case is under serious investigation. Officials involved in the investigation say that no final decision can be made thus far due to the lack of evidence at the scene, and the DNA test report from abroad is not promising.
These issues are presented in court every time, leading the court to grant additional time for further investigation.
What family says?
Naushad Alam Roman, brother of Mehrun Runi, the plaintiff in the case, said: “RAB has investigated many crimes and uncovered the mystery. However, the Sagar-Runi murder case has not been solved so far. It is also doubtful whether RAB will be able to file a charge sheet after the investigation of the case.”
He commented that if they could have given the charge sheet, they would have given it long ago.
Naushad claimed that evidence has been seized from the scene. However, RAB says the evidence is largely destroyed.
“This is an ongoing argument. If the court changes the investigation agency or makes any other decision for further investigation of the case, it will be under the direction of the court. We will not make any application for change of investigation agency. No matter how much the investigating agency changes, it will not be addressed if the government is not serious about it,” he added.
What RAB says?
Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of RAB's law and media wing, said: "The case of journalist couple Sagar-Runi's murder is very sensitive. This case is being investigated with utmost importance.”
He said when the case was handed over to RAB, there was not many evidence. No footprints were found. Apart from this, the report that came from the US for the DNA test also did not find any information as expected.
The RAB official said some more reports have been sent for testing. The investigating officer is looking into the case from all angles to reach a conclusion.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Anisur Rahman said: “I have not received any investigation report of this case so far. If the report is not submitted on Monday, the new date will be fixed.”
Six investigating officers have been changed in this case so far. The current investigating officer RAB’s Additional Superintendent of Police Khandkar Mohammad Shahidul Alam is the seventh official.
He said: “The case is important. Serious investigation of the case is going on. A report will be submitted after the investigation is completed.”
Evidence situation
Case documents say progress reports have been submitted to the court 10 times in the case.
According to the latest progress report, the seized evidence has been sent to the Independent Forensic Service in the US for DNA testing with the permission of the court to properly investigate the case.
The DNA test report indicates that a review of previously submitted evidence and buccal swabs of the arrested accused has yielded the DNA of two unidentified men.
To identify them, Parabon Snapshot, another DNA lab in the US, has been contacted, which can create a picture of the perpetrator or suspect from DNA.
Efforts are ongoing to prepare images of the individuals involved in the incident through the coordination of this lab with the previous organization, Independent Forensic Service.
This progress report also mentions that Parabon Snapshot has been paid a service charge of $1,200 for this work.
The last email was sent in September 2020 to provide feedback on progress. The lab authorities are yet to comment on the matter.
Investigation of the case continues, including efforts to gather evidence through DNA technology.
The murders and the case
Sagar Sarwar, the then news editor of Maasranga TV, and his wife Meherun Runi, senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were murdered at their rented apartment at Paschim Razabazar in the capital in the presence of their minor son Mahir Sarowar Megh on February 11, 2012.
Five-year-old Megh was in his room when his parents were being murdered.
The double murder sparked a nationwide outcry, particularly among journalists, who have been demanding justice for the slain couple since then.
Top officials of the government as well as law enforcement agencies visited the couple’s residence, and their child Megh, and assured their families of speedy justice. Then home minister Sahara Khatun had vowed to bring the killers to justice within 48 hours.
The case proceedings
The case was initially investigated by the Detective Branch (DB) of police but was transferred to RAB on April 18, 2012, when the detectives admitted to their failure to unearth the motives behind the gruesome murder. But RAB also could not make any visible headway into finding the motive or the culprits.
RAB investigators repeatedly said that they were working and would take appropriate legal steps when the investigators sought time in court. The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court has always accepted the agency's time pleas.
For the last time on January 4, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Rashidul Islam deferred the date of submitting the probe report till March 5.
RAB has so far submitted eight progress reports on the investigation, but none of the reports indicated that they had unearthed any significant clues.
The last progress report that RAB submitted before the court was on October 5, 2020.
The investigators have so far interrogated 158 people, including 27 journalists, and recorded Megh's statement. They also conducted tests on the DNA samples collected from the crime scene at a private laboratory in the US.
RAB also could not recover journalist Sagar's missing laptop, which may contain important clues.
On November 14, 2019, a High Court bench also expressed dismay over RAB's failure to make any progress in the case. During the hearing, the then RAB investigator Khandaker Shafiqul Alam submitted that there had been no progress in the investigations.
