Staff Reporter :
Major General Ziaul Ahsan and former Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the Detective Branch (DB) Moshiur Rahman are set to be interrogated in connection with the high-profile murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Nahar Runi.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court, led by Imran Hossain, approved the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI)’s request for questioning on January 8, 2025.
The PBI believes that both officials, who were involved in the initial stages of the investigation, could hold crucial information related to the case.
Ziaul Ahsan, the former additional director general (operations) of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Moshiur Rahman, the former DC of DB Police, were part of the initial investigative team following the brutal killings in 2012.
The couple was found murdered in their rented flat in West Rajabazar, Dhaka, on February 11, 2012. Their son, Mahir Sarwar Megh, who was only 4 years old at the time, witnessed the tragic event.
Runi’s brother, Nawser Alam, filed a murder case with the Sher-e-Banglanagar Police Station, which was subsequently transferred to RAB after the Detective Branch took charge.
Over the last 12 years, RAB’s handling of the investigation has faced significant delays. Despite numerous extensions, the agency failed to submit a conclusive investigation report.
The case was then transferred to a newly formed task force by the High Court on September 30, 2024, following a request from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
On October 23, 2024, the government appointed a four-member task force, led by the PBI, to continue the investigation, with a six-month timeline to finalize the probe. The task force also includes representatives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and RAB, all at senior ranks.
In the court’s order, Justice Imran Hossain expressed disappointment over the prolonged delay in the case, stating that the delay had been distressing not only for the victims’ families but also for the entire nation.
The court emphasized the urgency of resolving the case, stating that the six-month deadline should be strictly adhered to.
Sagar and Runi’s deaths remain a significant issue in the media and justice sectors, with their families and the public calling for accountability and swift resolution. The interrogation of Maj Gen Ziaul and Moshiur Rahman is expected to provide vital information in uncovering the truth behind the double murder and bringing justice to the victims.
This case continues to attract attention, with many hoping that the new investigative task force will break the stalemate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
