A Dhaka court on Thursday deferred the submission of the investigation report in the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi for the 127th time and set July 22 as the next date.

Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Ariful Islam fixed the new date after the investigation officer, Md Azizul Haque, an additional superintendent of police at the Police Bureau of Investigation, failed to submit the report on the day.

Azizul told the court that the investigation was continuing under a task force formed following a High Court directive. The court had on April 26 last set a six-month deadline for completing the investigation.

Expressing frustration over the prolonged delay, Runi’s brother, Nowsher Roman, said he had little hope of getting justice.

‘I have no hope left to get justice for my sister and brother-in-law. It has been a very long time and justice must be served,’ he said, adding that he doubted the PBI’s sincerity in ensuring justice.

Sagar Sarwar and Meherun Runi were found murdered in their rented flat in West Rajabazar in Dhaka on February 11, 2012, while their young son, Mahir Sarwar Megh, was in the apartment.

Roman later filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station.

The detective branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police initially investigated the case before it was handed over to the Rapid Action Battalion. Over the next 12 years, RAB obtained 111 extensions but failed to submit the investigation report.

On September 30, 2024, the High Court ordered the formation of a high-powered task force under the home affairs ministry, removing RAB from the investigation.

The home ministry formed a four-member task force on October 23, 2024, to investigate the double murder.