No significant progress is made in last three years in identifying the suspects involved in murdering journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

A United States laboratory has recently confirmed the presence of two persons through DNA [Deoxyribonucleic Acid] tests after examining  evidences collected from the spot and the investigation team has the full report in hand, claimed the Rapid Action Battalion team, now investigating the case.

RAB officials claimed that the clue, might be not significant as of now, but is expecting that it would be helpful to unearth the real mystery behind the killing.

Law enforcement agencies, who conducted investigation in last three years into the killing of Maasranga Television news editor Sagar Sarowar and his wife ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi, did not find anything significant during the period.

However, RAB legal and media wing director commander Mufti Mahmud Khan said that they were still optimistic about their investigation.

The journalist couple was stabbed to death in the bedroom of their rented flat at West Rajabazar in Dhaka on 11 February 2012.

RAB senior assistant superintendent Wares Ali, also investigation officer of the case, submitted the latest progress report, which is fifth of its kind, before a metropolitan magistrate court in Dhaka on 2 February.

The elite force found the evidence following the DNA report, prepared by two renowned USA DNA laboratories namely Pioneer Forensic, and Independent Forensic Service.

The latest progress report also mentioned that the RAB investigators have recorded statements of 158 witnesses, including 27 journalists, during the investigation period.

The statements of journalists, both from electronic and print media, were required as the slain couple were involved in media services, according to the report.

Investigators also recorded statements from slain couple’s son Mahin Sarowar Megh.

During their investigation, law enforcers have picked up a number of suspects. Among them, Abu Sayeed, Bakul Mia, Rafiqul Islam, Mintu Islam, security guards of the couple’s house Rudra Palash Pal and Enamul Haque alias Humayun Kabir, driver Kamrul Hasan Arun are now in police custody.

Slain journalists’ friend Tanvir Rahman, who was earlier arrested by law enforcers, is now in ad-interim bail, granted by the High Court on 2 December 2014.

Wares Ali, with the latest report mentioned that a letter was sent to several mobile companies, through the RAB intelligence wing director, seeking information about the call records of two security guards: Palash and Enamul for further investigation.

Following a court order on 30 December  2014, the RAB on 8 January this year also sent a letter to assistant director (engineering and operation) of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) seeking assistance.

Responding to the letter, the BTRC official on 29 January sent a letter to several mobile companies asking them to provide information about the couple’s personal laptop, which went missing from the slain couple’s house on the day of murder, the progress report reads.

The RAB intelligence wing has already received some information regarding the query and is now analysing deeply for further investigation.

While asked, the investigation officer Wares Ali confirmed NTV Online that DNA reports of 21 people and case evidences have found that two unidentified males were part of the killing.

‘We are considering the case as a sensational one and investigating it very seriously, but nothing is ready for disclosure as of now,’ he added.

Meanwhile, a metropolitan magistrate court in Dhaka on February 2 gave two more months to RAB for submission of another progress report on the murder case. Metropolitan Magistrate Md Yunus Khan asked the case investigation officer to submit the report by April 1.

Family loses hope for justice

Family members of the slain couple have become frustrated and lost their hopes on justice due to the delay in unearthing the mystery.

‘We are frustrated and do not have any hope that one would really be able to unearth the motive behind the killings,’ said Runi’s brother Nawsher Alam Roman, who filed the murder case with the Sher-e-Banglanagar police on the day of the killing.

‘How long we have to wait for justice? No one knows how painful days I have been passing in wait of justice,’ said Sagar Sarowar’s mother Saleha Munir.

Assurances

The concerned government high-ups and law enforcers, just after the killing made a number of contradicting statements.

After visiting the crime scene, then home minister Sahara Khatun told reporters that the law enforcers were ordered to hunt and arrest killers by next 48 hours.

As soon as 48-hour ended, then inspector general of police Hassan Mahmood Khandkar had claimed that ‘substantial progress’ had been made in the investigation and declared an assurance that positive news would be given by any time, however, nothing like that happened as of now in reality.

Later on April 2012, RAB gets the responsibility of investigating the gruesome killing following a High Court order.