The state cannot escape responsibility for impunity

When journalists Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi were murdered in their Dhaka apartment on February 11, 2012, their five-year-old son Megh was at home. More than 14 years later, the investigation into their deaths remains unfinished. Megh is now 19, but the state has yet to establish who killed his parents and why.

The case has become one of the most prominent examples of the prolonged delays in Bangladesh's justice system. On 5 November, a Dhaka court deferred the submission of the investigation report for the 131st time, setting December 9 as the next date. Separately, on October 27, the High Court gave the task force, formed last year to investigate the long-unsolved double murder, another six months to complete its investigation and submit its report by April 29, 2027.

Such repeated delays demand an explanation. Why has the investigation remained inconclusive for so long? Have all possible leads been pursued and the available evidence properly examined? What institutional failures have stood in the way? Above all, who is accountable for the failure to bring the investigation to a conclusion? The government and the law enforcement agencies concerned must answer these questions and explain what they are doing to ensure that the case does not remain unresolved indefinitely.

The problem, however, extends far beyond one high-profile murder. When a journalist is killed, arrests and the filing of a charge sheet are often presented as signs of progress. But they are not justice in themselves. Allegations must be established in court, trials must be completed and verdicts delivered. When investigations and trials remain stalled for years, families are left waiting, and those responsible may never be held accountable.

A recent report by The Daily Star documented 61 journalists and media workers killed in Bangladesh between 1972 and 2026. At least one person was convicted in 14 of those cases, while the remaining 47 have yet to result in a conviction. Some are still under investigation or in court; others were closed or never led to charges. The report, citing the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said that 28 journalists were killed in Bangladesh between 1992 and 2026 in connection with their professional work.

Not every journalist or media worker on the list was necessarily killed because of their work. But that makes thorough, impartial investigations all the more important. Whatever the motive, the state has a duty to establish the facts, identify those responsible and ensure that justice is delivered.

Journalists working outside Dhaka are particularly vulnerable. In district towns and upazilas, local correspondents often report on crime, drug trafficking, smuggling and the activities of influential people. Their reporting can bring them into conflict with powerful local interests. Yet many have limited access to legal assistance, institutional support or effective protection when threatened.

The recent killings of journalists in different parts of the country underline the risks. On August 7, 2025, Asaduzzaman Tuhin of Protidiner Kagoj was hacked to death in Gazipur while filming an attack. Police filed a charge sheet against eight people, but the trial is yet to conclude.

On January 5, 2026, Rana Pratap Bairagi, acting editor of BD Khobor, was murdered in Monirampur, Jashore. Police attributed his killing to an internal conflict involving a banned armed group, a claim that should be examined through the investigation and judicial process.

On October 15, Lutfuzzaman Fakir Alif of Ruposhi Bangla was shot dead in Durgapur of Netrokona. He had reported on irregularities, including cross-border smuggling, but police have not officially disclosed a motive for his killing. Any possible connection between these deaths and the journalists' work must be investigated rather than assumed or dismissed.

Impunity has consequences beyond the families of those killed. It can make other journalists think twice before reporting on powerful individuals, criminal networks or sensitive issues. Some may avoid pursuing difficult stories; others may abandon investigations altogether. Over time, this fear can deepen self-censorship and deprive the public of information about corruption, crime and abuse of power.

Addressing the problem requires more than expressions of concern after each killing. Investigations must be prompt, impartial and evidence-based. Authorities must preserve physical and digital evidence, examine witness accounts and pursue all credible leads.

Families must be kept informed of investigative progress and given clear explanations for delays. Journalists outside Dhaka also need accessible channels to report threats and obtain legal assistance, while media organisations must take greater responsibility for the safety of their reporters, especially those working in high-risk areas.

The figures in The Daily Star report should prompt a closer examination of every unresolved case. The authorities must make public the status of investigations and trials, explain prolonged delays and identify the obstacles preventing cases from reaching a conclusion. Accountability cannot be measured by the number of arrests or charge sheets alone.

Megh cannot get his parents back. But the state can still deliver what their family has been denied for more than 14 years: the truth about their deaths and justice for those responsible. The same obligation applies to the families of every journalist who has been killed.

The state's commitment to press freedom will mean little if those who threaten or kill journalists can expect to escape accountability. Ultimately, justice for murdered journalists is not only about protecting the media; it is also about protecting the public's right to know.

Md Abbas, a former journalist, is currently working in corporate communications.