Sagar-Runi Murder: No more delay, we want justice

Journalists yesterday expressed dismay and anger over Rab's failure to complete the investigation into the murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

The government is not willing to solve the case, they told a rally on Dhaka Reporters Unity premises in the morning.

DRU President Mursalin Nomani said journalists met the home minister on Wednesday and told him that they wanted justice without further delay as the deadline for submitting the probe report had been extended 95 times.

"We saw many sensational murder cases get solved, but the mysteries remain unsolved when the victim is a journalist. We hope Rab will finally submit the investigation report in March. If they fail again, we will continue our demonstration for justice," he said.

DRU Joint Secretary Moinul Ahasan said, "If Rab can't do it, the Police Bureau of Investigation should take charge of the probe."

Former DRU president Rafiqul Islam Azad urged journalists to unite and fight for justice.

Attending the rally, Sohel Haider Chowdhury, president of a faction of Dhaka Union of Journalists, said, "We will not accept any cooked-up stories in the probe report. If the investigation officers do that, we will protest. We want to know the motive behind the killings. We also want to know why the probe is being delayed."

DUJ members will observe a token hunger strike on February 15 in front of the Jatiya Press Club and submit a memorandum to the home ministry, he added.

After Sagar and Runi were killed at their flat in the capital's West Rajabazar on February 11, 2012, then home minister Sahara Khatun said the suspects would be arrested in 48 hours.

DRU Vice-President Dipu Sarwar, Organising Secretary Saiful Islam, Office Secretary Kawsar Azam, and Women Affairs Secretary Moriom Mony Sejuti spoke among others.

Meanwhile, family members of the slain couple held an exhibition titled "Crime Scene, Do not Cross" at the flat of Runi's brother Nawsher Alam on Indira Road.