DHAKA, October 28, 2026: The High Court has granted a high-level task force an additional six months to complete the investigation into the 2012 murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.
The court directed the task force to submit an update on the investigation’s progress by April 29, 2027. A High Court bench comprising Justice Shikder Mahmudur Razi and Justice Fatema Anwar issued the order on Tuesday. Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kajal represented the state, while lawyer Shishir Monir appeared on behalf of the complainant.
According to an investigation progress report submitted to the court, preliminary information indicating the possible involvement of two individuals in the murders was obtained through discussions with International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam and Prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Zoha. However, independent verification of the information and determining whether others were involved in the killings remain pending.
The High Court has directed Barrister Tanvir Zoha, an ICT prosecutor and information technology expert, to appear before it to provide information about new findings and leads uncovered during the investigation.
The state informed the court that approximately 300 CDs recovered from former army officer Ziaul Ahsan, who was arrested in a crimes against humanity case, may contain various records, conversations, videos, audio recordings and evidence related to criminal activities. Investigators have assessed 90 of the CDs, while the remaining 210 are yet to be reviewed.
Following the court order, Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kajal told journalists that investigators would be able to examine the evidence and documents related to the Sagar-Runi murders held by the ICT and proceed with further investigative steps once those materials were handed over to the investigating agency.
He said preliminary information alone was insufficient. Under criminal investigation procedures, investigators must independently verify the evidence and satisfy themselves of its reliability. He added that the relevant ICT prosecutors had been contacted and formally asked to provide the evidence in writing.
Journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi were murdered at their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka, on February 11, 2012. Their only son, Mahir Sarowar Megh, who was five years old at the time, was at home.
Sagar worked for private television channel Maasranga TV, while Runi was employed by ATN Bangla. Runi’s brother, Nowsher Ali Roman, filed a murder case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
The police station initially investigated the case before it was transferred to the Detective Branch three days later. On April 18, 2012, the investigation was handed over to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Following the murders, the then home minister had promised to identify the killers and disclose the findings within 48 hours. However, more than a decade later, the case remained unresolved.
After the fall of the Awami League government, RAB was removed from the investigation on September 30, 2024. The High Court subsequently formed a high-level task force and initially gave it six months to complete the investigation.