Sagar-Runi murder: Final hearing on 10-year old HC rule on Tuesday

The High Court on Monday fixed Thursday to hear a rule issued in 2012 on identifying the accused in the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Ahmed Sohel have decided to hear the writ petition demanding proper investigation and bringing the accused under law in the murder case.

Advocate Manzil Murshid appeared for the petitioner before the court on Monday.

“The court will hear the petition after it comes up on the cause list of the court tomorrow. We want the investigation to conclude soon so that real culprits are punished,” said Advocate Manzil Murshid.

After the murder of Sagar and Runi, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed a writ petition in public interest on probe and arrest in the murder case. On February 28, the High Court issued a rule in this regard questioning why a direction will not be given to bring the accused in Sagar-Runi murder case under law through proper investigation.

After two months of issuing the rule the High Court transferred the responsibility of investigating the case to Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) from the Detective Branch (DB) of police.

Lastly, on March 27, this year, the deadline for submission of the probe report in the case was deferred for the 87th time and Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Debdash Chandra Adhikary fixed April 27 as the new date.

Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar Sarowar and his wife ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi were found dead in their rented apartment in the city’s West Rajabazar area on 11 February 2012.

Nousher Ali Roman, brother of Runi, filed a case with Sher-e-Banglanagar Police Station on the following day.

Police arrested Tanvir in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014.

Law enforcers have so far arrested eight people, including Tanvir, in connection with the murder case.

The seven other suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu alias Baggira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Quamrul Hasan alias Arun, security guard Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal.