Former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque Arrested

Bangladesh

Former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque Arrested

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Former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque has been arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) on multiple charges of abuse of power, forgery of judgments, corruption and political bias. The DB Joint Commissioner confirmed that he was arrested from his residence in Dhanmondi in the capital after 8 am on Thursday (July 24).

Khairul Haque was taken to the DB office after his arrest. Officials concerned said that further legal action will be taken against him.

In a historic ruling before his retirement, he abolished the caretaker government system, which brought about major changes in the country's politics. Later, he also served as the chairman of the Law Commission during the Awami League government.

He resigned after the change of government in August 2024. Since then, several cases have been filed against him - including allegations of fraud in the ruling to annul the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, misuse of government resources and seeking political benefits.

In August last year, three cases were filed in the courts of Dhaka as well as Narayanganj in these matters.

In addition, the Nationalist Lawyers Forum recently demanded the arrest and trial of Khairul Haque in a press conference. The organization called him ‘one of the architects of the destruction of the judiciary and democracy’.

His several judgments and actions during his tenure as Chief Justice and after his retirement have sparked widespread controversy in the judiciary. There are allegations that he got promoted ignoring senior judges, gave judgments in favor of the government, and used money from the trustee fund for personal treatment.

In addition, there is controversy over his role in denying Shaheed Ziaur Rahman as the proclaimer of independence, removing the jurisdiction of anticipatory bail from the High Court, and helping to evict Khaleda Zia from her cantonment house.

Incidentally, ABM Khairul Haque was sworn in as the 19th Chief Justice of the country on September 30, 2010 and retired on May 17, 2011.