The investigation into the murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi has been extended once again, with the court granting time until April 15. This marks the 117th extension of the investigation deadline. On Sunday, the investigation officer, Additional Police Superintendent of PBI Mohammad Azizul Haque, failed to submit the report, prompting Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate MA Azharul Islam to issue the extension order. A previous court had instructed the PBI to submit the report by December 23, 2024.

Earlier, on January 8, another court had allowed the questioning of Major General (retired) Ziaul Ahsan and former Additional Inspector General of Police (DIG) Mashiur Rahman in connection with the case. In a hearing last September, the High Court expressed deep concern over the failure of RAB to solve the 12-year-old murder mystery, labeling the prolonged investigation as unfortunate. The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub-ul-Islam remarked that this delay had harmed not only Sagar and Runi’s family but also the entire nation.

Following a writ petition, the court instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to transfer the investigation from RAB to a high-powered task force, composed of experienced officers from various agencies. The task force has been directed to complete the investigation and submit its report to the High Court within six months. The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for April 6. Previously, the government had filed a petition to amend a 2012 High Court order that transferred the case from the Detective Branch of Police to RAB.

The PBI took over the investigation in November 2024, and by December 23, another court had instructed the PBI to submit the report by January 27. Sagar, the news editor of private TV channel Masranga, and Runi, a senior reporter for ATN Bangla, were murdered on February 11, 2012, in their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Their 5-year-old son, Mahir Sarwar Megh, was present at the scene. Runi’s brother, Nowser Ali Roman, filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station the following day.