# Sagar-Runi Case Documents Burned at DB Office, State Tells High Court

> The state told the High Court that documents in the Sagar-Runi murder case were burned in a DB office fire during the 2024 student protests. However, DMP denied the claim. The HC has ordered the investigation to be comp…

Published: 2026-09-17 · Desk: Bangladesh · Source: Dhaka Tribune

The prosecution has informed the High Court that documents related to the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, stored at the Detective Branch (DB) of police, were destroyed in a fire on August 5, 2024, during the student-led mass protests.

However, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) denied the claim, stating on its official Facebook page: "The information circulated in various electronic and print media claiming that the documents of the Sagar-Runi murder case were burned while in DB custody is not correct."

In response, the High Court on Tuesday directed that the investigation into the case be completed within six months.

Earlier, on April 15, a Dhaka court extended the deadline for the probe report submission to May 21—marking the 117th extension since the case began.

Sagar and Runi were murdered on February 11, 2012, in their rented apartment in West Rajabazar, Dhaka, while their four-year-old son, Mahir Sarwar Megh, was present.

Runi’s brother, Nawser Alam, filed the initial murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police. The investigation was first handled by the DB, then transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which failed to submit a report after 111 extensions over 12 years.

On September 30, 2024, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-powered task force under the Ministry of Home Affairs to take over the investigation, effectively removing RAB from the case. The full text of this order was released on October 16.

A four-member task force was officially formed on October 23, 2024, with the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) as the convener. The task force also includes representatives from Police Headquarters, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), all holding senior ranks.

The Ministry instructed the task force to submit its findings within six months.

Original reporting: https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/379323/state-tells-hc-sagar-runi-murder-case-docs-burnt
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