NO DECISIVE progress in the unresolved murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi, found dead in their rented flat at Pashchim Rajabazar in Dhaka on February 11, 2012, is worrying given that the interim government promised a credible investigation. Contrary to the promise, Dhaka magistrates court on January 27 extended the deadline for the submission of the report for the 117th time. The High Court, considering the failure of the Rapid Action Battalion in investigating the case, in September 2024 directed the government to form a high-powered task force with experienced members of different agencies. In October 2024, complying with the court directive, the home ministry formed the task force to investigate the case and the task force was expected to submit the report by April 6. Sadly, except for seeking court permission to interrogate two senior law enforcement agency members and a journalist, the task force has barely made any progress and is likely to seek further time to complete the investigation. For the bereaved family and journalist community that waited for 12 years for justice, the demand for a concrete update from the investigating agencies is more than justified.
The investigation changed hands three times since the event. 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, the task force is now investigating the case. The plaintiff鈥檚 lawyer has expressed concern that important evidence and documents have gone missing over the years and a further delay will only destroy any chance for justice. The murder case, however, is not the only criminal case with a similar fate. Earlier, eminent citizens have urged the interim government for the speedy trial of the murder case of Tanwir Muhammad Taqi, found dead two days after he had allegedly been abducted on March 6, 2013. A call has also recently been put out for a speedy investigation of the rape and murder of college student Sohagi Jahan Tanu. Families of all the victims allege that law enforcement agencies under the Awami League government intentionally delayed investigation and abused the legal system to protect the suspects possibly linked with the-then ruling quarters. The authorities should recognise that a continued delay would exasperate people鈥檚 hopes for justice and frustrate the possibility of restoring public confidence in the justice system.
The interim government should, therefore, expand the scope of the investigation to identify those who allegedly interfered in and delayed the process and expeditiously establish justice in case of the journalist couple and other similar unresolved cases.