Hasina govt's senior officials obstructed Sagar-Runi murder probe: Plaintiff's lawyer

Senior officials of the Sheikh Hasina government obstructed the investigation of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi's murder, said Mohammad Shishir Monir, the lawyer for the plaintiff in the case.

"Even after 13 years, the investigation report has not been made public," he said while speaking to journalists in front of the Supreme Court's Annex Building on Tuesday (11 February).

He further said, "When the interim government took office, a High Court bench formed a high-level task force to investigate the case. The task force is required to submit its investigation report to the court by 4 April."

He added, "The members of the task force have already spoken to the plaintiff, lawyers, and others concerned.

"According to the task force members, the investigation has progressed significantly. Those involved in the investigation have informed them that under the previous government, senior officials obstructed the probe, which is why it did not move forward." 

The plaintiff in the case, Naosher Roman, and Sagar-Runi's son Mahir Sarowar Megh were also present at the time.

Meanwhile, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said the interim  government is committed to prioritising the swift and just  resolution of the Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi murder case.

"This case stands among the government's highest-priority legal proceedings, with law enforcement agencies who are actively working to submit the investigation report as soon as possible," she said.

Earlier, on 17 October last year, following a High Court directive, a four-member high-level task force was formed to investigate the murder of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, with the chief of the Police Bureau of Investigation as its convener. 

The committee includes a police representative of at least additional DIG rank, as well as representatives from the Criminal Investigation Department and the RAB.