High Court wants Sagar-Runi murder probe report by 29 April, task force chief to appear with documents
Photo: Collected
The high-level task force must complete its investigation into the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi and submit its report by 29 April next year. A High Court bench of Justice Sikder Md Mahmudur Razi and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order on Tuesday. The bench also directed the task force chief, International Crimes Tribunal prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Joha, to appear before the court that day with all relevant documents.
Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal represented the state at the hearing, while senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir appeared for Sagar and Runi’s family.
Speaking to reporters after the order, the attorney general said the state had placed a 27-page progress report prepared by the task force before the court on Tuesday. The problem, he said, is that the police officers who were in charge of the investigation in 2012 can no longer be traced, making it difficult to verify what evidence was seized at the time.
According to the attorney general, the present government has no intention of shielding anyone or suppressing any information. The aim is to establish through an impartial investigation what really happened and who was responsible.
Sagar and Runi were killed at their rented flat in West Rajabazar in the capital on 11 February 2012. Sagar was then working for private television channel Maasranga TV, while Runi was with ATN Bangla. Runi’s brother Nowsher Alam filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station after the killings.
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police initially investigated the case. Within four days, the investigation was handed to the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). On 18 April 2012, 62 days after taking over, the DB told the High Court it had failed. The court then handed the investigation to Rab. After 12 years, 6 months and 15 days with Rab, the probe was transferred to a high-powered task force.
Background
According to a bdnews24.com report of 30 September, the High Court on 30 September 2024 took the investigation away from Rab and ordered the formation of a high-level task force comprising experienced investigators from different agencies.
Following that order, the Public Security Division of the home ministry formed a four-member task force on 17 October 2024, Desh Rupantor reported on 27 August.
According to the same report, the task force was initially given six months; the High Court later extended the deadline several times, including a further six-month extension on 26 April this year.
By the numbers
The deadline for submitting the investigation report to the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court had been deferred 126 times as of 7 May, Desh Rupantor reported on 7 May.
By Desh Rupantor’s 27 August report, the figure had reached 129.
According to bdnews24.com’s 30 September report, the report submission date has been deferred nearly 130 times; the trial court has set 5 November as the next date.
Sources
Original report: Bangladesh Pratidin
Background sources: bdnews24.com, 30 September 2026; Desh Rupantor, 27 August 2026; Desh Rupantor, 7 May 2026
