BANGLADESH

Sagar-Runi murder: Probe report delayed for the 82nd time

The submission date for the probe report of the Sagar-Runi murder case has been deferred for the 82nd time.

A Dhaka court on Monday(October 25) directed Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) again to submit probe report by November 24 in the sensational murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shahidul Islam set the new date for the submission of the report.

On February 12, 2012, Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar Sarowar and ATN Bangla Senior Reporter Meherun Runi were stabbed to death in their rented flat in Dhaka’s West Razabazar neighbourhood.

Following the murder, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police started an investigation into the case filed in this connection.

Later, the case was shifted to Detective Branch of Police. However, on April 18, 2012, the High Court, in an order, shifted the case to RAB for investigation as the former had expressed its inability to resolve the case.

At least eight people including their “family friend” Tanveer Rahman were arrested in connection with the killings.

Tanveer was released on bail later but the others are still in jail.

The others convicted are two security guards of the couple’s house Enamul alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal, along with  Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Miah, Mintu alias Bargira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Kamrul Hasan Arun, and Abu Sayeed. Though the convicts have been remanded several times, none of them have confessed to their involvement in the crime.

The case was sent to the Independent Forensic Service (IFS), USA with the permission of the court for DNA testing of the seized evidence for proper investigation.

The DNA test report states that the DNA of two unidentified men was found in a review of the previously sent evidence and the buccal swab of the arrested accused. Besides, contact was made with another US DNA lab, Parabon Snapshot, during the investigation as part of an effort to identify the unidentified men. The organization has the ability to produce images of criminals or involved people from DNA.

Efforts are underway to produce pictures of the people involved in the incident in coordination with the organization IFS.

Investigations into the case are still underway including efforts to gather evidence through DNA technology.

Different courts have expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation on several occasions. The murder triggered widespread outrage in the journalist community.

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