Journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi. File Photo

DHAKA, April 26, 2026 (BSS) - The High Court (HC) today granted six more months to a high-powered taskforce to complete its investigation and submit a report on the brutal killing of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

A High Court division bench, comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice AFM Saiful Karim, passed the order, allowing a time plea moved by Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal.

The chief state counsel placed the plea during the hearing of a petition filed by rights body Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). Senior advocate Manzil Murshid appeared for HRPB, while Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir argued for the complainant.

Earlier on April 1, the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam fixed May 7 for submission of the investigation report in the sensational murder case. 

This marks the 125th time the submission of the investigation report has been delayed since the case was filed.

The journalist couple was murdered at their rented apartment in West Rajabazar in the capital on February 11, 2012, in the presence of their four-year-old son Mahir Sarwar Megh. Following the incident, Runi's brother Nawser Alam filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

At the initial stage, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police was assigned to investigate the case, which was later transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). However, the elite force failed to submit the investigation report despite seeking repeated extensions over the years.

On September 30, 2024, the High Court directed the formation of a high-powered taskforce under the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the case, removing RAB from the probe.

Subsequently, on October 23, 2024, the government formed a four-member taskforce through a Home Ministry notification to investigate the double murder and submit its findings within six months.