Sagar-Runi probe report deferred again for 126th time

A Dhaka court on Thursday deferred the submission of the investigation report in the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi for the 126th time, setting 18 June as the new deadline.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order after the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) failed to submit the probe report on the scheduled date.

The long-delayed investigation has remained unresolved for more than 14 years since the journalist couple was murdered in February 2012.

Earlier on 26 April, the High Court granted the government-formed task force an additional six months to complete the investigation. Before that, on 23 October 2025, the court had also extended the deadline by another six months.

The High Court had initially directed the government on 30 September 2024 to form a high-powered task force to investigate the case and submit its findings within six months.

Following the order, the then interim government formed the task force on 23 October 2024 under the leadership of the PBI chief.

Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi were found murdered at their rented apartment in West Rajabazar in Dhaka on 11 February 2012. Their bodies were discovered in the presence of their four-year-old son, Mahir Sarwar Megh.

The brutal killings triggered nationwide outrage among journalists and rights activists, who have repeatedly demanded justice and a speedy investigation.

After the incident, Runi’s brother Nawser Alam filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

The investigation was first assigned to the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police before being transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Later on, the probe responsibility was handed over to the PBI-led task force.

Despite multiple deadline extensions over the years, investigators have yet to submit a final report in one of Bangladesh’s most widely discussed murder cases.