Alamgir also vows to book Sagar-Runi killers

Dhaka, Sep 18  Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir on Tuesday promised journalists that those involved in the killing of journalist couple Sagar Srowar and Meherun Runi would be brought to justice.
The newcomer minister made the comment a day after assuming charge of the Home Ministry on Monday.
His remarks remind one of the promise his immediate predecessor had made with regard to arrest of the killers of the journalist couple. She had vowed to nab the murderers within 48 hours of the killing.
Both police and Rapid Action Battalion, who were assigned the task of investigating the case, failed even to identify the killers, let alone arresting them in about seven months since the two were killed at their West Razabazar residence in the capital on Feb 11.
"I am personally concerned and sad over the matter. I think, it is a sad incident for the nation," said Alamgir when asked whether he had any plans to prioritise the case.
Journalists asked him the question when he visited the monument built in memory of police officials martyred during the 1971 Independence War at the Razarbagh Police Lines and placed wreath there.
"We are strongly committed to put those offenders (who masterminded and carried out the killing) to trial," he added.
The failure to ensure justice against the killing has strained the government's relations with the press alongside giving rise to a raft of speculations including the one that questions the government's intention to have killers tried.
Journalists are holding intermittent protests against the government's failure in this regard. Sarowar was the News Editor of private television channel Massranga while his wife Runi was a senior reporter of another television channel ATN Bangla.
Alamgir was sworn in as a minister on Sep 13, along with four others, as the Cabinet was expanded, with little over a year left to the incumbent government's term.