Family of Slain Journalists Sagar and Runi Petition International Crimes Tribunal for Murder Trial
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The family of murdered journalists Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi met with International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam on Sunday, formally requesting that the long-standing case be brought under the tribunal’s jurisdiction. The couple’s son, Mahir Sarowar Megh, and Runi’s brother, Nausher Alam, held the meeting at the tribunal’s headquarters in Dhaka to push for a swift and impartial resolution to the 14-year-old homicide case.
During the meeting, Nausher Alam urged authorities to ensure that individuals identified as potential suspects in the tribunal’s ongoing investigations are barred from leaving the country. He also called for the release of those held by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for years without evidence of their involvement, stating that the family does not want innocent individuals to remain imprisoned. The family intends to file a formal petition on Monday to transfer the case to the tribunal.
Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam acknowledged the family’s request, noting that if the complaint falls within the legal mandate of the tribunal, the office would accept it; otherwise, they would proceed according to standard legal protocols. Earlier on Sunday, Islam had expressed skepticism regarding the tribunal’s jurisdiction, describing the 2012 double murder as an individual homicide rather than a widespread or systematic crime, which typically falls under the purview of district courts.
Parallel to these developments, Prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Zoha disclosed that his office has begun interrogating suspects linked to the case. Zoha revealed that evidence seized by the Anti-Corruption Commission from the residence of a former Director General—who served in RAB at the time of the murders—had provided critical leads.
According to Zoha, a suspect interrogated by the prosecution claimed that on the night of the murders, the former Director General instructed him to be present at a specific location the following morning for a “nationally important event.” The suspect alleged that the discussion involved sensitive documentation, potentially related to electronic storage devices or tapes concerning the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) or government archives. The prosecutor noted that this initial statement is currently being analyzed as part of a broader investigation into the circumstances surrounding the journalists’ deaths.
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