sagar-runi murder

5 years on, families still wait for justice

The investigating officer (IO) of the Sagar-Runi murder case has failed to submit the progress report of the probe, even after seeking dates from the court 46 times. The Maasranga Television news editor, Sagar Sarowar, and his wife, ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi were found dead in their flat in the city’s Razabazar area on February 11, 2012. Investigation agencies is yet to unearth the mystery behind the murder of the couple. Family members of the murdered couple feel that chances of solving the case are fading with each passing day. Talking to The Independent, Saleha Munir, mother of Sagar, said: ‘‘After the verdict in the Narayanganj seven murder case, in which the prime accused, expelled Awami League leader Nur Hossain, sacked Army officer Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad and 24 others were handed down death sentences, we became hopeful that one day we shall also get justice. I expected something positive about the progress of the investigation before the fifth death anniversary, but was frustrated.’’
“The assistant superintendent of police (RAB), Mohiuddin Ahmed, who is now investigating the case, recently visited me and assured me that we will get justice,” she said, unable to hold back her tears.
 About her grandson Mahir Sarowar Megh, the only child of the journalist couple, Saleha Munir said: ‘‘Owing to my illness, I cannot visit him, but my daughter regularly visits Megh.”
Protesting against some “baseless media reports”, Saleha Munir said: ‘‘Such reports might have been carried only to save the real killers.”  Nurunnahar Mirza, mother of Runi, said: ‘‘All have forgotten Sagar-Runi and we shall not get justice. Now we are depending only on the Almighty Allah. We have not seen any progress in the investigation in the past five years. So far, the result of the investigation is zero.’’
About the role of journalist leaders, she said: ‘‘Their activities are now centred around the death anniversary of Sagar-Runi only.’’
 Nurunnahar Mirza said she has given up all hope and does not expect justice. ‘‘Sagar-Runi were ordinary people. Who would want to kill them? They did not have crores of Taka that the killers would have wanted,’’ she added.
On February 9, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said he was unaware of the progress report of the investigation not being submitted.
Runi’s younger brother, Nowsher Alam Roman, said: ‘‘We are utterly frustrated by his remark. We are very upset with the progress of the probe.”
 Mahir Sarowar Megh, who was only five when his parents were brutally killed in the bedroom of their apartment in the capital’s West Rajabazar, has turned 10.
Roman said Megh prays every night to the Almighty so that the killers are punished.  
 Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of RAB’s legal and media wing, said: “We are sincere in carrying out the probe to unearth the mystery behind the sensational murders.”
 A Dhaka court recently  summoned the IO of the case as he failed to submit the progress report to the court despite having sought dates 46 times.
Different journalist organisations, including Dhaka Reporter’s Unity (DRU), have organised various programme today (Saturday), marking the fifth death anniversary.
After visiting the slain couple’s residence following the killing on February 11, 2012, then home minister, advocate Shahara Khatun, had said that the killers would be hunted down within 48 hours.
A few days later, then inspector general of police, Hasam Mahmud Khandker, at a press briefing at the police headquarters, claimed that there was progress in the investigation into the case, which was filed with Sher-e-Banglanagar police station.
The case was first handed over to the Detective Branch (DB). After the DB admitted its failure before a court to resolve the case 62 days after the incident, RAB was asked to take over the investigation.
In 2014, a DNA test at a US laboratory, which was based on the evidence collected from the place of occurrence as supplied by the designated investigation agency, confirmed the presence of two suspects at the apartment of Sagar-Runi during the gruesome murder, but the elite force has not yet been able to detect the two. However, RAB claimed that they have given the highest priority to the case.

sagar-runi murder

5 years on, families still wait for justice

The investigating officer (IO) of the Sagar-Runi murder case has failed to submit the progress report of the probe, even after seeking dates from the court 46 times. The Maasranga Television news editor, Sagar Sarowar, and his wife, ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi were found dead in their flat in the citys Razabazar area on February 11, 2012. Investigation agencies is yet to unearth the mystery behind the murder of the couple. Family members of the murdered couple feel that chances of solving the case are fading with each passing day. Talking to The Independent, Saleha Munir, mother of Sagar, said: After the verdict in the Narayanganj seven murder case, in which the prime accused, expelled Awami League leader Nur Hossain, sacked Army officer Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad and 24 others were handed down death sentences, we became hopeful that one day we shall also get justice. I expected something positive about the progress of the investigation before the fifth death anniversary, but was frustrated. The assistant superintendent of police (RAB), Mohiuddin Ahmed, who is now investigating the case, recently visited me and assured me that we will get justice, she said, unable to hold back her tears. About her grandson Mahir Sarowar Megh, the only child of the journalist couple, Saleha Munir said: Owing to my illness, I cannot visit him, but my daughter regularly visits Megh. Protesting against some baseless media reports, Saleha Munir said: Such reports might have been carried only to save the real killers. Nurunnahar Mirza, mother of Runi, said: All have forgotten Sagar-Runi and we shall not get justice. Now we are depending only on the Almighty Allah. We have not seen any progress in the investigation in the past five years. So far, the result of the investigation is zero. About the role of journalist leaders, she said: Their activities are now centred around the death anniversary of Sagar-Runi only. Nurunnahar Mirza said she has given up all hope and does not expect justice. Sagar-Runi were ordinary people. Who would want to kill them? They did not have crores of Taka that the killers would have wanted, she added. On February 9, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said he was unaware of the progress report of the investigation not being submitted. Runis younger brother, Nowsher Alam Roman, said: We are utterly frustrated by his remark. We are very upset with the progress of the probe. Mahir Sarowar Megh, who was only five when his parents were brutally killed in the bedroom of their apartment in the capitals West Rajabazar, has turned 10. Roman said Megh prays every night to the Almighty so that the killers are punished. Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of RABs legal and media wing, said: We are sincere in carrying out the probe to unearth the mystery behind the sensational murders. A Dhaka court recently summoned the IO of the case as he failed to submit the progress report to the court despite having sought dates 46 times. Different journalist organisations, including Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), have organised various programme today (Saturday), marking the fifth death anniversary. After visiting the slain couples residence following the killing on February 11, 2012, then home minister, advocate Shahara Khatun, had said that the killers would be hunted down within 48 hours. A few days later, then inspector general of police, Hasam Mahmud Khandker, at a press briefing at the police headquarters, claimed that there was progress in the investigation into the case, which was filed with Sher-e-Banglanagar police station. The case was first handed over to the Detective Branch (DB). After the DB admitted its failure before a court to resolve the case 62 days after the incident, RAB was asked to take over the investigation. In 2014, a DNA test at a US laboratory, which was based on the evidence collected from the place of occurrence as supplied by the designated investigation agency, confirmed the presence of two suspects at the apartment of Sagar-Runi during the gruesome murder, but the elite force has not yet been able to detect the two. However, RAB claimed that they have given the highest priority to the case.