An investigation into the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi has found a link to an individual from the cultural sphere, said Md Aminul Islam, chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal. However, he did not disclose the person’s name or identity.
The chief prosecutor shared the information while speaking with reporters at his office Sunday, marking International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
He said: “While the International Crimes Tribunal’s investigation agency was investigating a separate crimes-against-humanity case, a review of call detail records (CDR) from a different case suddenly turned up this important clue in the Sagar-Runi journalist murder case.”
He further said: “Just as we found some clue regarding former Major Mozaffar Hossain in connection with the assassination of martyred president Ziaur Rahman, we’ve similarly found a clue in the Sagar-Runi case. But I cannot disclose the name or identity right now.”
“What I can say is this much — a connection has been found between a cultural figure and this Sagar-Runi case. We are verifying that. We have him under surveillance. If further investigation turns up more authentic findings, the information will be shared with the relevant PBI officer to assist them.”
He said this is an individual murder case, and that it will be tried in the relevant sessions court.
Sagar Sarwar, news editor at Maasranga Television, and his wife, Meherun Runi, a senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were murdered at their rented home in the capital’s West Rajabazar on the night of February 11, 2012, during the rule of the now-ousted Awami League government. Runi’s brother, Nowsher Alam Roman, filed a murder case against eight people over the killing at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station.
The case passed through the hands of the Detective Branch (DB) and RAB before a high-level task force committee was formed to investigate it. Most recently, on August 27, after the case’s investigating officer failed to submit an investigation report, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam set a new date of September 30. The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) is currently investigating the case.