The High Court has removed the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the investigation into the murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.
An HC bench led by Justice Farah Mahbub issued the ruling on Monday (30 September).
The court stated that the investigation would no longer be the responsibility of RAB. Instead, it has been referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is expected to establish a task force composed of qualified personnel from various agencies to carry out the inquiry.
Earlier that day, the state filed a petition to remove RAB from the case.
Meanwhile, on 29 September, Mohammad Shishir Monir was appointed as the Supreme Court lawyer representing the plaintiffs.
The plaintiff, Meherun Runi's brother, Nausher Roman, confirmed this appointment.
Currently, RAB is investigating this high-profile case, but the plaintiffs intend to petition the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to take over the case in order to uncover the mystery and identify those involved.
Mohammad Shishir Monir stated that DNA test results for two individuals must be identified based on the ongoing investigation.
Additionally, an application will be made to transfer the investigation responsibility from RAB to the PBI.
The tragic events unfolded on 11 February 2012 when the journalist couple was murdered in their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka. Their five-year-old son, Mahir Sarowar Megh, was present at the time.
Sagar was working for the private television channel Maasranga TV, while Runi was employed by ATN Bangla. Following the incident, Runi's brother, Nausher Ali Roman, filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Police Station.
Initially, the investigation was assigned to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, which was later transferred to the Detective Police after three days. On 18 April 2012, the case was handed over to RAB.
In the aftermath of the murders, the then-home minister had promised to unveil the identity of the culprits within 48 hours, but a decade has passed without any resolution to the mystery.
