PM's intervention sought to accellerate probe

Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) on Friday demanded the intervention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to accelerate the probe into the murder of journalist-couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, reports UNB.

The demand was made at a rally organised in protest against the murder of DRU member journalist couple Sagar Sarowar, the news editor of Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, a senior reporter for ATN Bangla.

A memorandum will be issued to the home minister next Sunday demanding the trial for Sagar-Runi's murder. "We will issue a memorandum to the President, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice on the same demand," said DRU president Nazrul Islam Mithu during the protest.

Expressing disappointments over the change in the date of submission of probe report for 85 times in the last ten years, the journalist leaders said, "We do not have faith in the police over the investigation process."

"Investigating officers are repeatedly failing to submit the probe report. That is why the intervention of the prime minister is needed."

Besides, the leaders demanded immediate arrest of the killers and urged a united movement of journalists.

Joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Sheikh Mamunur Rashid, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) President Quddus Afrad, DUJ General Secretary Sajjad Alam Khan Tapu, former General Secretary of DRU Raju Ahmed, former Vice President of DRU Ajmal Haque Helal, former executive members of DRU Kudrat-e Khoda and Moinul Ahsan spoke at the protest rally among others.

Meanwhile, a UK-based human rights organisation has raised concern over the "unsolved murder case" of journalist-couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

The two journalists were murdered brutally inside their apartment in the Raja Bazar area of Dhaka in front of their five-year-old son, Megh, on February 11, 2012.

ARTICLE 19 that works for the freedom of expression and right to information (RTI), on Friday called for taking progressive steps to complete the investigation into the case and bring justice without any further delay.

"This unsolved case is a shameful example of the strong existence of a culture of impunity that questions the judiciary system of the country where the killers go free.