The High Court has expressed its frustration over the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi as the probe is yet to complete years after.
“The investigation into the murder has already taken seven years. When will it be completed? Will the probe continue forever?” the court said after the investigating officer (IO) of the case appeared before it on Monday (Nov 11).
The bench of justices M Enayetur Rahim and Md Mostafizur Rahman expressed disappointment after IO of the case DIG Khadakar Shafiqul Alam of the Rapid Action Battalion appeared before.
The IO informed the court that they didn’t find any clue in the murder. Four DNA samples have been sent to the US for test. Two of the test reports have been received, none of those matched with the suspects’ DNA.
Rest of the two samples are with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and no development yet, said Alam, who is a deputy inspector general (DIG) of Rapid Action Battalion.
The HC asked the IO about the pieces of evidence recovered from the crime scenes.
Several sharp objects including knives were recovered but no match with the suspects is yet to found as the test reports delay, Alam said.
The defense lawyer then informed the court that as many as seven IOs have been appointed to look into the case so far. “But no result yet.”
The HC bench then showed frustration over the IO and set Nov 14 to hear a plea by an accused, Tanvir Rahman, who is now on bail and moved the court to scrap the trial proceedings against him in the case.
On Nov 6, the top court summoned IO Alam to appear in it and also issued a rule asking the government to explain in two weeks as to why the proceedings of the case against Tanvir could not be quashed.
On Oct 1, a Dhaka court directed RAB to submit the probe report on Nov 14. The investigation authority has delayed submitting the progress report of their investigation over 65 times but failed to make any headway.
During the probe, investigators interrogated a total of 158 people, including 27 journalists, and recorded statements of Mahir Sarwar Megh, the only son of the couple.
Megh, is 12 years now. He was five when his parents were brutally murdered at their home at Rajabazar, Dhaka on Feb 11, 2012.
Sagar Sarwar was the news editor of Maasranga TV channel, while Meherun Runi was a senior reporter with ATN Bangla.
The double murder incident had triggered public outcry. Police and political bigwigs turned up at the couple’s residence and assured their families of justice through a speedy trial.