Chairman of ATN Bangla, a Private Television Channel of Bangladesh in a recent press meet at London, UK has made some obnoxious remarks about Meherrunnessa Runi, the deceased Senior Reporter of ATN. He was responding to a question from a Journalist about his alleged involvement of the murder of the popular media personality couple Golam Mostafa Sarwar [Sagar Sarowar] and Meherunnessa Runi. They were brutally murdered at their bed room in February by unidentified assailants. In almost 4 months since that gruesome murder Police, RAB and intelligence agencies have failed so far to arrest any suspect or establish any clue of the murder.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Home Minister Shahara Khatun have on several occasions assured of all possible actions to nab the killers and bring them under justice. People from all walk of lives of all political divides specially the united journalist community, human rights organizations are continuously urging upon the government to arrest the suspects and bring them under justice. There has been judiciary instruction to conduct investigation by RAB after miserable failure by Police and CID. In the face of combined journalist movement police has started behaving irrationally. International journalist communities and human rights commissions are closely monitoring the development of events. It now appears that a very powerful syndicate may be protecting the killers and plotters.
On the backdrop of above the response of ATN Bangla Chairman to the allegations of his involvement in the murder of the journalist couple has great significance. Meherun Runi served ATN Bangla with credible records for a long term. She accomplished many admirable tasks including several assignments with PM Hasina. No one could bring any credible complaints against her professional records or personal character. It is really unfortunate that ATN Bangla Chairman has brought this nonsense allegation against very lively and effervescent lady journalist 4 months after her demise. ATN Chairman tried to assassinate the character of Runi portraying her as play girl and mentioning the incident arising out of domestic misunderstanding. We who knew the couple for a long time find this ridiculous and baseless. Sagar – Runi in our opinion was one of the happiest Bangladeshi Couple. Their close associates friends and colleagues in Bangladesh and Germany will spontaneously endorse this. Rather there are various gossips about the personal character of the person who made such cruel allegations. If the person has any credible evidences why he did not produce this to investigation agencies? Now that he has said this we urge upon Government to interrogate this person. We suspect he must have some links with the mastermind of the incident.
There was strong gossip that brother of Chairman ATN was arrested following the murder. It was also strongly rumoured that for the strong link of ATN Bangla Chairman suspected killer of Sagar-Runi was let off the hook. Consequently the investigation process was misled. Bloggers and well wishers of Sagar –Runi at home and abroad remains alert. Journalist community is united in demanding justice of killing. In this situation adverse reaction of Chairman ATN Bangla gives strong signal that there might be some truth behind the rumour.
We who knew the couple intimately cannot accept the ugly statement of ATN Chairman. There is a wide saying that sinners cannot hide their sins too long. Runi was like our younger sister. She was a bit extrovert. But that does not mean she was what persons of controversial nature is trying to say. The ugly attempt in assassinating the character of deceased innocent Runi will not go unchallenged. We strongly condemn what ATN Bangla Chairman said about loving mother of luckless orphan Megh.
We demand that Chairman ATN be arrested and interrogated for his controversial statement. He has hinted of some knowledge regarding the clue of the killing.
We are not aware of what are the issues and challenges in credible investigation of Sagar –Runi murder? We still believe that Government will soon establish clue, arrest suspects and bring them under justice. If there is no credible progress in the investigation process soon government’s popularity will witness landslide. People of Bangladesh never make mistakes in taking the right decision at the right time.
Arafatul Islam
Dr. Habib Siddiqui
Engr Khondkar A Saleque
Siegfried Schmidt
The Chirman of ATN Bahgla is a very low level criminal to utter susch disrespectful comments about a promising, bright journalist lady. We should ban ATN bangla and this Chairman should definitely be arrested and interrogated.
Well, according to ATN Bangla chairman, all pimps and prostitutes should be murdered like this then or all families and couples who have familial problems have no right live. And the state agencies must keep shut if they are murdered. The killers of such couples or people must be rewarded by the state instead of awarding punishment. If we agree even with the statement of the ATN Bangla Chairman as alleged here, then what makes it justified that the police should be unable to arrest the killers, the Home Minister and the Prime Minister after oweing the responsibilities to find the killers must retract from their stand? What makes it justified for RAB to keep silent after receiving the responsibities to investigate the case from the Court? What prompted them to exhume the dead body for re-postmortem ( I do not remember exactly whose dead body was that?) ? This was a very sensative murder case. At the first instant the Home Minister said, she would be able to arrest the killers within 48 hours. The PM herself took the responsibility to monitor the case. We expected that they were not very ordinary people to promise such and the killers shall have no avenue to escape. But gradually all promises of those vvips have faded like transcient daffodils. They failed to keep their promises yet remained stuck to chairs unmoved and to really say immorally. And now it is time to act morally, catch hold and interrogate the ATN Bangla Chairman. He has after all given some clue and more should be squeezed out of him. The Home Minister was asking for clues desparately and here it is for her to grab and denude the mystery. Thanks to the author for this story.
It is very worrying how many people have ‘gone missing’ in recent times in Bangladesh and I can only hope and pray that the murder of this beautiful couple is completely unrelated – ie that there were no political forces involved. As a bideshi living in the country and loving the people I was horrified that such a crime could take place and even more so that no culprit has been found. There is no doubt that there must be justice for both of them – not criticism and slander. If the criminals behind these murders are not caught I fear for the future of the country and the next generation.