THE unresolved murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi, found dead in their flat at Pashchim Rajabazar in Dhaka on February 11, 2012, is one of the many cases that have created a public perception that the legal system was working to protect partisan interests of the deposed Awami League regime. As the investigation agency failed to submit the report, a Dhaka magistrate court on January 27 extended the submission deadline for the 116th time. The investigation changed hands three times since the murder. The Detective Branch stepped in after the police had worked for a couple of days, the Rapid Action Battalion took over in April 2012 and, then, after the fall of the Awami League regime, a high-powered task force was formed on a High Court directive on October 23, 2024. On the 13th anniversary of the murder, the journalist community and the family of the victims iterated their demand for justice, saying the interim government should ensure justice for the journalist couple.
In August 2024, the information adviser to the interim government said that they would order a fresh investigation of the murder. In September 2024, the High Court, considering the failure of the Rapid Action Battalion in investigation, directed the government to form a high-powered task force composed experienced members of various agencies. Except for seeking court permission to interrogate two senior law enforcers, the task force has barely made any progress. The murder case, however, is not the only criminal case that has remained unresolved for decades. In September 2024, eminent citizens urged the interim government to carry out the speedy trial of the murder of Tanwir Muhammad Taqi, found dead two days after he had allegedly been abducted on March 8, 2013. Despite statements made before the court by two suspects that a son of the late Jatiya Party lawmaker and nephew of the former Awami League lawmaker planned and executed the murder, the investigation was stalled. It was alleged that the deposed prime minister deliberately supported the killers of Taqi. The court has set a date for the submission of the charge sheet for at least 60 times and the investigation agency has recently said that they have no conclusive evidence, lending credence to the victim family鈥檚 claim that the law enforcement agencies are covering up crimes instead of bringing criminals to justice. The delay in the legal process has added to public perception that the law enforcement agencies intentionally delayed the investigation and abused the legal system to protect the suspects possibly linked with the then ruling quarters.
The interim government should, therefore, remain true to its words and expand the scope of the investigation to identify the people who allegedly interfered and delayed the legal process and expeditiously establish justice for journalist couple murder and other similar unresolved cases.