UN human rights experts have expressed their “deep concern” at the “failure” of Bangladesh authorities to complete an investigation into the murder of prominent journalists Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“A decade after the killing of the two journalists, there’s still no justice as a result of an appalling and pervasive culture of impunity in Bangladesh,” said the experts on the 10th anniversary of the couple’s murder.

They urged the government of Bangladesh to conduct and complete “prompt, thorough, independent and effective” investigations and bring perpetrators to justice for the murder of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi and other killings of journalists and human rights defenders in Bangladesh, according to a joint statement.

The experts are Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; Clément N Voule, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Nils Melzer, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi were stabbed to death at their home in front of their 5-year-old son in February 2012.

“When crimes against journalists go unpunished, they embolden the perpetrators and encourage more attacks, threats and killings with the intention of intimidating the media into silence. We see those deeply worrying signs in Bangladesh,” said the experts.

They said journalism should not carry the inherent risk of being attacked, intimidated or killed with impunity but unfortunately that is the current reality for many journalists, human rights defenders and other members of civil society in Bangladesh, according to the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the leading UN entity on human rights.