The law enforcers are still in the dark about the motives behind the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi, a year after the homicide.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said after arresting a ‘suspect’ of the couple’s murder on Saturday that they still needed more investigation.
RAB has made eight arrests in a year. The latest on Saturday was that of a security guard of the apartment, ‘Humayun’ alias ‘Enamul’, who was picked up from Brahmanbaria.
They have carried out tests on the DNA samples they collected from 16 arrestees and suspects combined, but did not find a match with the DNA evidence found at the murder site.
Golam Nowsher Roman, brother of journalist Mehrun Runi and plaintiff of the case is disappointed with the pace of the investigation, and feels the case is ‘going nowhere’.
Maasranga television news editor Sagar Sarwar and ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Nahar Runi were killed on February 11 last year in their own residence at East Razabazar.
Initially, police’s Detective Branch was in charge of the sensational murder case. But it was later handed over to RAB, when DB admitted to their failure in securing any breakthrough.
Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir announced in last year’s October that seven people have been arrested among eight identified for their ‘involvement’ in the murder.
Alamgir had announced a Tk 1-million reward for information leading to Enamul’s whereabouts.
The seven others arrested are – Runi’s ‘friend’ Tanvir Rahman, a security guard of the apartment Palash Rudra Paul and suspected criminals ‘Rafiqul’, Bakul Mia, Masum Mintu, Kamrul Hassan and Mohammad Sayeed.
Even though the Home Minister claimed that the arrestees have been identified for their involvement in the murder, RAB Director General Mokhlesur Rahman after making the latest arrest on Saturday told reporters that they are all being held as suspects.
RAB sent DNA samples of 16 suspects to the United States for carrying out tests, the RAB official said. Several results have already arrived.
“So far there has been no match with the DNA evidence found at the murder site,” the RAB DG said.
He said RAB so far got back reports of nine DNA tests.
Enamul’s DNA sample will also be sent to the US, the RAB head said.
“There are still a lot of matters that need to be looked into. We cannot say anything until the probe is complete,” he added.
He avoided a direct answer when asked how much time the elite force would still need in completing the investigation.
“This sensitive case is based on a ‘scientific’ probe besides a regular investigation. We cannot expect the probe to be completed in a hurry,” he said.
The RAB Director-General claimed that the ‘scientific’ probe has unveiled ‘significant’ findings in the case, but did not mention what the findings were.
Runi’s brother Nowsher expressed dissatisfaction at the investigation which so far failed to unveil the motive behind the murders.
About the arrests he told bdnews24.com, “There is no reason to view this positively.”
“These aren’t achievements. The law enforcers have achieved nothing for this case.”
After the Sagar-Runi murder in February last year, then Home Minister Sahara Khatun had announced an ultimatum, saying the murderers would be arrested by 48 hours.
After Alamgir took office as Home Minister he announced that progress would be made in the case within a month.
The eight arrestees were ‘identified’ for their alleged involvement during that time.
Five among the eight arrested are also accused in the murder of Dr Narayan Chandra Dutta Nitai. The law enforcers claimed they are professional burglars.
The law enforcers are still in the dark about the motives behind the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi, a year after the homicide.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said after arresting a ‘suspect’ of the couple’s murder on Saturday that they still needed more investigation.
RAB has made eight arrests in a year. The latest on Saturday was that of a security guard of the apartment, ‘Humayun’ alias ‘Enamul’, who was picked up from Brahmanbaria.
They have carried out tests on the DNA samples they collected from 16 arrestees and suspects combined, but did not find a match with the DNA evidence found at the murder site.
Golam Nowsher Roman, brother of journalist Mehrun Runi and plaintiff of the case is disappointed with the pace of the investigation, and feels the case is ‘going nowhere’.
Maasranga television news editor Sagar Sarwar and ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Nahar Runi were killed on February 11 last year in their own residence at East Razabazar.
Initially, police’s Detective Branch was in charge of the sensational murder case. But it was later handed over to RAB, when DB admitted to their failure in securing any breakthrough.
Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir announced in last year’s October that seven people have been arrested among eight identified for their ‘involvement’ in the murder.
Alamgir had announced a Tk 1-million reward for information leading to Enamul’s whereabouts.
The seven others arrested are – Runi’s ‘friend’ Tanvir Rahman, a security guard of the apartment Palash Rudra Paul and suspected criminals ‘Rafiqul’, Bakul Mia, Masum Mintu, Kamrul Hassan and Mohammad Sayeed.
Even though the Home Minister claimed that the arrestees have been identified for their involvement in the murder, RAB Director General Mokhlesur Rahman after making the latest arrest on Saturday told reporters that they are all being held as suspects.
RAB sent DNA samples of 16 suspects to the United States for carrying out tests, the RAB official said. Several results have already arrived.
“So far there has been no match with the DNA evidence found at the murder site,” the RAB DG said.
He said RAB so far got back reports of nine DNA tests.
Enamul’s DNA sample will also be sent to the US, the RAB head said.
“There are still a lot of matters that need to be looked into. We cannot say anything until the probe is complete,” he added.
He avoided a direct answer when asked how much time the elite force would still need in completing the investigation.
“This sensitive case is based on a ‘scientific’ probe besides a regular investigation. We cannot expect the probe to be completed in a hurry,” he said.
The RAB Director-General claimed that the ‘scientific’ probe has unveiled ‘significant’ findings in the case, but did not mention what the findings were.
Runi’s brother Nowsher expressed dissatisfaction at the investigation which so far failed to unveil the motive behind the murders.
About the arrests he told bdnews24.com, “There is no reason to view this positively.”
“These aren’t achievements. The law enforcers have achieved nothing for this case.”
After the Sagar-Runi murder in February last year, then Home Minister Sahara Khatun had announced an ultimatum, saying the murderers would be arrested by 48 hours.
After Alamgir took office as Home Minister he announced that progress would be made in the case within a month.
The eight arrestees were ‘identified’ for their alleged involvement during that time.
Five among the eight arrested are also accused in the murder of Dr Narayan Chandra Dutta Nitai. The law enforcers claimed they are professional burglars.bdnews24.com
