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On Monday, a court rescheduled the submission date for the probe report in the murder case of journalist couple Sagar-Sarowar and Meherun Runi to September 11. This marks the 100th time the deadline for the probe report submission. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was expected to present the report on Monday, but they failed to do so.
Repeatedly deferring date in any cases including the Sagar-Runi family is disappointing to get justice. However,RAB is continuing the investigation of the Sagar-Runi murder case with sincerity and seriousness, according to the investigating authorities.
On the night of February 11, 2012, journalist couple Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar-Sarowar and ATN Bangla Senior Reporter Meherun Runi was brutally murdered in their rented house in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Their mutilated bodies were recovered early the next morning.
On February 12 of that year, Runi's brother Nowsher Ali Roman filed a case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. The case was initially investigated by an officer of the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station. On February 16 of that year, the investigation of the case was carried out by the North Police Inspector of the Detective Police (DB). Two months later, the High Court ordered the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to investigate the case. Even in 11 years since then, the agency has not been able to submit the investigation report.
This delay has serious implications, such as the loss of crucial evidence over time and difficulties in handling witness matters, which can lead to challenges in establishing the truth and holding the culprits accountable.
The death of Mahir Sarowar Megh’s parents and the passing of his grandmother without seeing justice served further highlight the emotional toll that prolonged cases can take on the affected families.
Efforts need to be made to expedite the judicial proceedings, frame the complaints, and ensure timely judgments in cases like this. The government, legal authorities, and investigative agencies should work together to identify the bottlenecks and streamline the judicial process to prevent the recurrence of such long delays.
Justice is not only crucial for the victims and their families but also for upholding the rule of law and maintaining public trust in the justice system. Every effort should be made to ensure that the Sagar-Runi murder case reaches a conclusion promptly and that the verdict is implemented without further delay. Only through timely and effective prosecution can the perpetrators be brought to justice and the victims’ families find closure.
TDM/SD
