A Dhaka court has set May 21 as the new date for submitting the investigation report in the long-pending murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi. This marks the 117th time the investigating agency has been granted an extension for submitting the report.

The report was originally due on Tuesday, April 15, but with no submission made, Metropolitan Magistrate M A Azharul Islam set the new deadline. The information was confirmed by Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam Russel from the general recording branch of the Mirpur Model Police Station.

The couple, Sagar Sarowar, news editor at Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were brutally murdered on February 11, 2012, in their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Following the incident, Runi’s brother Nausher Alam Roman filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station.

On September 30 last year, the High Court ordered that the investigation be shifted from RAB to a newly formed high-powered task force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, responding to a writ seeking proper investigation into the case. During a court hearing, the High Court expressed hope that justice would finally be served, emphasizing that the newly granted six-month timeframe should be strictly followed. Further directives from the court are expected in an upcoming hearing.