Megh visits tribunal after new info emerges in Sagar-Runi murder case

Mahir Sarowar Megh, the only son of slain journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, visited the International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday afternoon, August 30, following the chief prosecutor's statement that "a connection with one person" has been found in the murder case.

Megh arrived at the chief prosecutor's office at the tribunal with his maternal uncle Nowsher Ali Roman, the plaintiff in the case. They were received by Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam and Prosecutor Tanvir Joha.

Roman proposed to the chief prosecutor that restrictions be placed on suspects' travel abroad and that an application be filed with the tribunal regarding the Sagar-Runi murder. The chief prosecutor responded that a complaint could be filed, though its admissibility under the law would need to be examined.

Earlier on Sunday, in response to questions from journalists, Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said: "The investigation into the Sagar-Runi case is not being conducted by our investigation agency. It is being done by the PBI. However, while investigating another case, we may have come across a clue. Just as we found some clues regarding former Major Mozaffar Hossain in the murder of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, similarly we have found clues in the Sagar-Runi case. I cannot reveal the name or identity. But I can say that a connection has been found between a cultural figure and the Sagar-Runi incident. We are verifying and examining those links. We are keeping watch on that person."

He said that if further investigation yields more authentic information, it will be shared with the PBI officials concerned. He noted that this is an individual murder case and will be tried in the relevant Sessions Court.

Earlier, on August 27, the deadline for submitting the investigation report in the murder case was postponed once again. The report was due before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam's court, but the investigating agency, the PBI, failed to submit it. The court set a new date of September 30 for the report submission.

This marks the 129th time the deadline for submitting the investigation report has been extended.

Sagar Sarowar, news editor of Maasranga Television, and his wife Meherun Runi, senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered in their rented flat in West Rajabazar on the night of February 11, 2012. Runi's brother filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. The investigation was initially handled by the Detective Branch, transferred to RAB, and is currently being carried out by the PBI.