Although four years have elapsed, the investigation agency could not yet make any headway in debunking the mystery behind the murder of journalist couple Sagar-Runi, reports UNB news agency.
The delay does not correspond to the assurances of progress in the investigation that emerged from time to time from the authorities concerned.
Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar Sarowar and his wife ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi were found dead at their rented apartment in the city’s West Rajabazar area on 11 February 2012.
Sagar had suffered 28 stab wounds while Runi five before they breathed their last, according to the investigators.
After visiting the slain journalist couple’s residence following the killing on 11 February 2012, then home minister Shahara Khatun had said that the killers would be hunted down within 48 hours, but nothing happened.
A few days later, then inspector general of police (IGP) Hasam Mahmud Khandker in a crowded press briefing at the Police Headquarters claimed that there was a marked progress in the investigation into the case, which was filed with Sher-e-Banglanagar police station.
In 2014, a DNA test at a US laboratory which was based on the evidences 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 is yet to be able to detect the two suspects.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)—the investigating agency in the Sagar-Runi murder case—claimed that they have given the highest priority to the case, but in vein.
Voicing frustration over the delay in detecting the killers of the journalist couple, former president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul told UNB that it seems no one is bothering about the matter. “It’s a big question why the killers are yet to be identified.”
General secretary of the National Press Club Quamrul Islam Chowdhury said 48 months have already passed by since the brutal killing though then home minister Shahara Khatun had assured that the perpetrators would be arrested within 48 hours.
General secretary of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Razu Ahmed said the DRU has continued its movement demanding the punishment of the killers of the journalist couple and it will be continued until the real culprits are brought to justice.
As contacted, RAB director (legal and media wing) Commander Mufti Mahmood Khan told UNB that the investigation has been carried out in this regard giving the highest priority.
Assisting director (investigation) of the RAB headquarters ASP Mohiuddin Ahmed, also the investigation officer of the case, said investigation is going on and they have been sending the progress report to the High Court from time to time. “We’ll submit the next progress report to the High Court on 22 February,” he added.
RAB launched the investigation into the murder following a High Court order on 14 April in 2013. Earlier, the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police investigated the case.
Replying to a question, ASP Mohiuddin, who is the fifth investigation officer of the case, said five suspected people are now in custody in connection with the brutal killing.
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