The Rapid Action Battalion no longer controls the investigation into the killings of two journalists, Meherun Nahar Runi and Sagar Sarowar. The High Court replaced them and gave the investigation over to a highly capable taskforce, which has six months to produce a report on the matter.
The bench, which includes Justices Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam and Farah Mahbub, issued the ruling on Monday.
Advocate Shishir Manir, recently appointed as the plaintiff’s attorney, represented the petition in court. Anik R. Haque, Additional Attorney General, represented the state.
“It has taken the RAB twelve years to produce an investigation report in this case. The judge referred to it as “disgraceful.”
We have formed a high-powered taskforce and instructed them to submit their report within the next six months. We have now removed the RAB from the investigation. We have set the deadline for April 6 of the following year.
The plaintiff in the case, Runi’s brother Nowsher Roman, announced on Sunday that Supreme Court Advocate Manir will represent his interests.
On February 12, 2012, Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar and ATN Bangla Senior Reporter Runi suffered fatal stab wounds in the bedroom of their rented flat in Rajabazar, Dhaka. At the time, their only child, 5-year-old Mahir Sarwar Megh, was at home.
Roman, Runi’s brother, reported the incident to the Sher-E-Bangla Nagar Police Station.
The police station began the investigation after the case was filed. Three days later, the police took over the case. Later, on April 18, 2012, RAB assumed control of the case.
The then-home minister promised the country 48 hours after the murder to reveal the killers’ secrets, but more than ten years have passed since then.
