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Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal sought the extension, telling the court the investigation is in its final stage, but investigators have been unable to reach key individuals involved at the time of the killings after August 5, 2024.

“The delay in completing such a murder investigation is very painful,” he said.

He also informed the court that a progress report has been submitted through the Supreme Court registrar general’s office.

Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir, representing the case informant, urged the court to allow only three months and to summon taskforce officials to explain the delay.

Writ petitioner’s lawyer Manzill Murshid prayed for the progress report to be submitted by affidavit so lawyers can review it.

About one and a half years ago, the High Court directed the interim government to form a taskforce and submit its report within six months.

However, Md Mustafa Kamal, additional inspector general of police and chief of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), who heads the taskforce, recently said there has been no significant progress.

Earlier probes by the Detective Branch and Rapid Action Battalion also failed to identify the killers or submit a full report.

Sagar, news editor of Maasranga TV, and Runi, senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were murdered in their West Rajabazar flat on February 11, 2012. Runi’s brother filed a case the next day without naming any suspects.

Despite a pledge by then home minister Sahara Khatun to arrest the killers within 48 hours, more than 14 years on, the case remains unresolved.

Earlier this month, a Dhaka court deferred submission of the investigation report for the 125th time, setting May 7 as the next date.

The High Court had previously criticised the taskforce for failing to complete the probe, questioning how long it would take to finish an investigation that has drawn nationwide attention.

The court had earlier granted multiple extensions, including a six-month deadline that expired on March 31 last year.