The elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) yesterday said it has yet to identify the two culprits involved in the 2012 killing of the journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.
“The DNA test reports received from a US lab revealed information about two people. We are working to identify them,” RAB’s Law and Media Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin said at a press briefing.
He said that evidence from 25 people was collected and sent to the US for DNA tests.
“We have got information about two people, but we could not identify them. The test results do not contain any concrete information. Hence the investigation officer is still not sure about those involved in the double murder,” the RAB official said.
He added that RAB does not want to victimize anyone, nor does it want to create any controversy.
The briefing was held after the probe report submission date was postponed for the 100th time earlier in the day. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Rashidul Alam fixed September 9 for the submission after the RAB investigating officer failed to submit the report.
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.
The case was initially investigated by the Detective Branch (DB) of police but was transferred to RAB on April 18, 2012, when detectives admitted 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. They also could not recover journalist Sagar's missing laptop, which may contain important clues.
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 was sent to the Independent Forensic Service in the US for DNA testing with the permission of the court to properly investigate the case. 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.
Sagar, a news editor at the private TV channel Maasranga, and his wife, Runi, a senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were killed on February 11, 2012, in their rented flat in the capital's West Rajabazar area. Their only son, Mahir Sarowar Megh, then 5, was home at that time.
Naushad Alam Roman, brother of Runi, filed a case at Sher-e-Bangla police station the following day in connection with the murders.
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 the family of speedy justice. Then home minister Sahara Khatun vowed to bring the killers to justice within 48 hours.
Relatives of the slain couple now allege that the case proceedings are stuck due to a 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.
However, RAB maintains that the case is under serious investigation. Officials involved in the investigation say that no final decision could 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.
Runi’s brother Roman, who filed the case, doubts whether RAB will be able to file a charge sheet after the investigation of the case. He claimed that evidence has been seized from the scene. However, RAB says that evidence has largely been 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 a 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.
Six investigating officers have been changed in this case so far. The current investigating officer is RAB’s Additional Superintendent of Police Khandkar Mohammad Shahidul Alam.
“The case is important. A serious investigation of the case is going on. A report will be submitted after the investigation is completed,” he told Bangla Tribune.
