State Informs HC: Sagar-Runi Murder Case Documents Destroyed in DB Office Fire

The prosecution has informed the High Court (HC) that crucial documents related to the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, stored at the Detective Branch (DB) office, were destroyed in a fire that broke out on August 5 last year during the student-led mass uprising. Responding to this development, the High Court on Tuesday directed that the investigation into the case be completed within six months.

However, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) denied the prosecution's claim, stating that the documents remained unharmed. In a post on its official Facebook page, the DMP clarified that reports in various electronic and print media alleging the destruction of the Sagar-Runi case documents in the DB office fire were inaccurate.

Previously, on April 15, a Dhaka court set a new deadline of May 21 for the submission of the investigation report, marking the 117th extension in the timeline for the probe.

The journalist couple was brutally murdered in their rented flat in West Rajabazar, Dhaka, on February 11, 2012, in the presence of their then four-year-old son, Mahir Sarwar Megh. Following the incident, Runi’s brother, Nawser Alam, filed a murder case with the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station.

Initially, the investigation was assigned to the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, but it was later transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Despite taking over the case, RAB failed to submit an investigation report after 111 extensions over 12 years.

In a significant development on September 30, 2024, the High Court ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs to form a high-powered task force to lead the investigation, thereby removing RAB from the charge. Subsequently, on October 23, 2024, the government formed a four-member task force through a formal notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs, instructing it to complete the probe within six months.

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) was appointed as the convener of the task force. The other members, whose names were not disclosed, include a representative not below the rank of Additional DIG from Police Headquarters, one from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and a director-ranked representative from RAB.

The full text of the High Court’s September 30 order, which directed the transfer of investigative authority from RAB to the newly formed task force, was officially released on October 16, 2024.