Mother still waits, cries for justice
Sagar Sarowar's mother yesterday expressed frustration that the government has failed to make headway in the investigation even though two years have passed since her son and daughter-in-law Meherun Runi were brutally murdered.
"I want justice ... I will cry for justice until my death," a sobbing Saleha Munir said at a programme organised by Dhaka Reporters Unity to mark the second death anniversary of the journalist couple.
Sagar, news editor of the private TV station Maasranga, and his wife Runi, senior reporter of another channel, ATN Bangla, were killed at their rented flat in the capital's West Rajabazar in the early hours of February 11, 2012. Their only son Mahir Sarowar Megh, then 5, was home at that time.
Sagar's mother Saleha accused the investigators of concealing facts concerning the murders.
"Now, I am sick. Will I be able to see the killers of my son and daughter-in-law get punished before my death?
"I have promised that I will offer prayers at their graves only after the killers are brought to book. But two years have gone and the government hasn't yet given me the chance to do that."
She urged all journalists to intensify their movement and press the government to punish the killers.
After Sagar and Runi had been found dead in their apartment, the then home minister Sahara Khatun announced the killers would be arrested within 48 hours.
DRU members will observe a hunger strike on March 31 to press for the immediate arrest of the killers, DRU President Shahed Chowdhury said.
The responsibility of the investigation went from one law enforcement agency to another, but that did not bring any development, said Runi's brother Nawsher Alam Roman.
"None of the investigators, who were supposed to inform us about developments in the probe, has contacted us. Whenever we got in touch with them, they said they were trying heart and soul [to find the killers]," he added.
Also yesterday, the Jatiya Press Club, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists jointly arranged a rally in front of the Press Club, demanding justice.
Speaking on the occasion, leaders of the organisations pledged to unite for the cause and step up their movement.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu at a press briefing at the ministry expressed deep regret over the government's failure in finding out the culprits.
The Detective Branch of police was first tasked with probing the twin murder. It detained four suspects and interrogated some 40 people.
Frustrated with the DB's performance, the High Court in April 2012 handed over the case to the Rapid Action Battalion. The Rab interrogated as many as 100 people.
In October 2012, the then home minister announced a bounty of Tk 10 lakh for helping law enforcers arrest Humayun Kabir, the guard at Sagar-Runi's residence who was on the run.
Humayun was arrested on February 9 last year, but there has been no progress in the case since then.
To date, eight people have been detained in connection with the killing.
Contacted, Rab Director General Muklesur Rahman said they were investigating the case sincerely.
"It may take more time, but we are hopeful of a good outcome," he added.
DNA samples collected from the scene and of the suspected killers have been sent to a US laboratory for cross-matching, Rab sources said.
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