The Unsolved Mystery: The Murder of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi

The Murrder of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi is famously referred to as the Sagar-Runi murder case, and this is among the very few unsolved murders in Bangladesh. The case and its surrounding context expose the deep seated problems the legal system of Bangladesh has while raising concerns about the democracy, or lack thereof, that the Awami League professes to uphold.

Presented below is a summary of the case alongside a critique of the government’s policies and practices as it pertains to their actions and inactions.

Meherun Runi, an employee at ATN Bangla, was married to Sagar Sarowar who worked as a journalist at DW. Together, they were killed in their Dhaka apartment on February 11, 2011. The couple sagement were well respected within their community and there murder raised significant concerns. The fact that the case is still not solved more than a decade later is a testament to the level of corruption and political involvement present.

Accusations of the Awami League Government

Apathy Towards Crime:

Media representatives suffering from the case as well as opposition political party leaders make it a point to say that Sheikh Hasina’sregime, to say the least, has shown a complete political deadlock in resolving this case. It appears, at least from what is observed, that anything which is picked up from the media is completely shunned. Such patterns appear to have become the norm in the more unfortunate cases involving journalists.

Political Underpinnings:

The whole investigation has been completed, or at least it has been claimed so, and the primary failure of the whole undertaking was not to produce any results. Most parties, namely RAB and DB, have made great attempts to try and cover self-serving groups, thus encouraging the suspicion of intent to cover up.

Stressing Democracy:

One case that stands out is the ‘Awami fascism’ which occurred as a result of violence toward the media as well as extreme government opposition. Some journalists who are willing to critique the states are often brutalized, and the inability to do something about this sets the consensus for the rest of the journalist community.

Inefficiency and Corruption:

The lack of arrest of the suspect is rather striking for a number of reasons. Their DNA is present at the crime scene and a number of possible suspects exist but no one is apprehended. There is an accusation with regard to too much idleness within the police force allowing for the existence of political and social corruption through inadequate, delayed, and ineffective assistance to a previously established government concern.

Consequences Outside the Borders: **

Be as it may, the backlash is not scrutinized outside the borders of Bangladesh as it should, in this case, which diminishes its value. For Amasty International and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), there have been no direct responses directed to the regime numerous times and as always, to no avail which increases the problem at hand.

Cultural Significance:

It is these events that can get traced back to the contours of the governance system of Bangladesh. It is the failure to deliver justice by the Awami League that represents non accountability that afflict the public and democracy. It is the smoothest and most straightforward way in which the state has been able to subserve its citizen’s political concerns instead of actually serving democracy.

The Sagar-Runi murder is a highly disturbing episode in the Bangladeshi history, demonstrating the lack of accountability and justice from the Awami League government. This specific instance reveals a standstill at the intersection of corruption, political meddling, and incompetence of management. No international civil society or foreign state should make the mistake of meddling in this issue, as it is quite clear that the damage caused will far outweigh the benefits. Instead, every civilian and civil body should apply preemptive pressure on the government to conduct a thorough investigation, otherwise this case will sit alongside so many other reminders of this government’s incompetence and negligent approach towards important matters.