13 Years of Sagar-Runi Murder: Family Still in the Dark About the Investigation

Chittagong Bureau    |    ০২:৫৪ পিএম, ২০২৫-০২-১১

Thirteen years have passed since the brutal murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi, but the mystery of their killing remains unsolved. Even after all this time, their family is not optimistic about the investigation’s outcome. They still feel in the dark about the case and are clear that they will not accept any claims of theft or robbery as an explanation for the murders. Sagar Sarwar's mother, Saleha Monir, has firmly stated that such an explanation will not be accepted.

The most recent deadline for the submission of the investigation report was set for January 27. However, on that day, Dhaka’s Metropolitan Magistrate GM Farhan Ishtiaq postponed the deadline to March 2. In total, the investigation report submission has been delayed 115 times in the case.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) will hold a human chain, as it does every year, to demand justice for the two slain colleagues. In a statement issued on Monday, February 10, by the organization’s Office Secretary Rafiq Rafi, it was announced that on this day in 2012, the beloved journalist couple, Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi, were brutally murdered. Despite 13 years having passed, the real killers have not been identified or arrested, and the trial process is still stagnant. The entire journalist community, including DRU, continues to raise its voice for justice in this cruel killing.

For over a decade, the responsibility of investigating the case lay with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), but the agency failed to complete the investigation or submit a report. After the political change on August 5 of last year, there was hope that the investigation would move forward. By the order of the High Court, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) was assigned the responsibility of re-investigating the case.

However, the PBI’s Additional Superintendent of Police, Mohammad Azizul Haque, who is handling the case, did not provide any hopeful updates on the progress of the investigation. He said, "As per the High Court's instructions, the investigation is ongoing. But right now, nothing can be said about the progress. We will submit the report in due time."

Meherun Runi's mother, Nurun Nahar Mirza, passed away three years ago, mourning the death of her daughter. Before her death, she wanted to know the reason behind Sagar Sarwar’s murder. Saleha Monir, Sagar’s mother, said, "I just want to know why and for what reason they were killed. After that, I don't need to know whether justice was served or not. I haven’t even visited my son's grave yet. Runi’s mother is gone, and now I’m left alone. I trust in Allah."

Saleha Monir is not very hopeful about the investigation. She said, "I feel like I'm in the dark. There is no hope or expectation. I had said before that RAB would not be able to investigate this case. They kept taking extensions. If they couldn’t do it, they should have handed it over. Now, PBI is investigating. They came; let’s see how far they can go. After that, I will understand how much progress they can make. But if they blame it on theft or robbery, I will not accept it. I’ve already told them, ‘Don’t use theft or robbery as an excuse. I won’t accept that.’ When thieves come to rob, they do it and leave without being caught. And when robbers come with weapons, they don't kill people. I’ve made it clear."

The plaintiff in the case and Runi’s brother, Nawshair Alam Roman, said, "We demand justice. What else is there to demand? The government has given six months. Let’s wait and see what happens. But there’s nothing new to ask for. We want justice. I don’t know if it will ever happen."

So far, eight people have been arrested in the case, including Runi’s friend Tanveer Rahman, security guard Enam Ahmed, Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Mintu (also known as Bargeer Mintu), Kamrul Hasan Arun, Polash Rudra Pal, and Abu Saeed. Among them, Tanveer and Polash Rudra have been granted bail, while the others remain in custody.

The accused parties have also expressed frustration over the prolonged investigation. The lawyer for the accused, Mohammad Abu Said Siddique (Tipu), said, "We are exhausted with this case. Different agencies have been investigating, but so far, there has been no visible progress. We are tired. We seek relief."

On the night of February 11, 2012, journalist couple Sagar Sarwar, news editor at Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered at their rented home in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Their mutilated bodies were found the following morning. On February 12 of the same year, Runi’s brother, Nawshair Alam Roman, filed a case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Initially, an officer from the same police station was assigned to investigate the case, but by February 16, the investigation was transferred to Detective Police (DB). Two months later, under a High Court order, the case was handed over to RAB. Although then-Home Minister Sahara Khatun promised to solve the mystery within 48 hours, the RAB failed to submit an investigation report even after 12 years under the previous government.