Four-member taskforce established to investigate Sagar-Runi murder case

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the formation of a four-member taskforce to investigate the murder of journalist couple Sagar and Runi, following a recent verdict from the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The ministry issued a circular outlining the taskforce‍‍`s responsibilities, which include submitting an investigation report within six months to the apex court.

The taskforce is permitted to include additional members as needed. The Chief of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) will serve as the convener, while three representatives—one each from the Department of Police, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)—will serve as members.

According to the circular, the representatives from the Department of Police and CID must hold a rank of at least additional deputy inspector general (DIG), and the RAB officer must hold the rank of director.

Sagar, a news editor at the private TV channel Maasranga, and his wife, Runi, a senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were murdered in their rented flat in West Razabazar, Dhaka, on February 11, 2012. At the time of the incident, their only son, Mahir Sarowar Megh, was just five years old and present in the home.

Runi’s brother, Nousher Ali Roman, filed a case the following day at the Sher-e-Bangla police station. Eight individuals, including Runi‍‍`s friend Tanvir Rahman, have been named as suspects in the case. The other seven suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu (also known as Baggira Mintu and Masum Mintu), Quamrul Hasan (alias Arun), security guard Enam Ahmed (alias Humayun Kabir), and Palash Rudra Pal.