Court Sets June 18 for Sagar-Runi Murder Report after 126th Extension

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

The report was due to be submitted today, but the investigation officer failed to file it, prompting Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam to set the new date. 

Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam Russell, the court’s General Registration officer for Mirpur Model Police Station, confirmed the extension.

The brutal double murder occurred on February 11, 2012, in the couple's rented apartment in West Rajabazar. 

The journalists were killed in the presence of their four-year-old son, Mahir Sarwar Megh. Following the incident, Runi’s brother, Nawser Alam, filed a case with the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

The investigation has seen multiple shifts in jurisdiction over the last 14 years.

Initially handled by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the case was later transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). However, RAB failed to submit a report despite receiving 111 time extensions over 12 years.

On September 30, 2024, the High Court intervened, ordering the Ministry of Home Affairs to remove RAB from the investigation and form a high-powered task force. 

This four-member task force was officially formed on October 23, 2024, with an initial six-month window to complete the probe. 

Most recently, on April 26, 2026, the High Court granted the task force an additional six months to finalize the investigation and submit its findings on the killing of the journalist couple.