Dhaka: The High Court has granted bail to former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The decision was delivered by the High Court bench comprising Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain and Justice Md Jakir Hossain.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Senior Advocate Mansurul Haque Chowdhury, Motahar Hossain Saju, and Barrister Mustafizur Rahman Khan represented Khairul Haque during the hearing. With this decision, the lawyers confirmed that there is no legal impediment to Khairul Haque’s release from jail.
Previously, on March 8, the High Court granted bail to Khairul Haque in four other cases, including charges related to murder. On October 26, the court had asked the government to justify why the former Chief Justice should not be granted bail in five cases. Khairul Haque was detained by police from his Dhanmondi residence in Dhaka on July 24 of the previous year. He was subsequently charged in connection with the murder of Jubo Dal activist Abdul Qayyum Ahad during a movement in July.
The former Chief Justice faces additional legal challenges, including a travel ban along with eight others. One of the cases involves an accusation of forging a judgment related to the caretaker government system, filed by Supreme Court lawyer Mujahidul Islam Shaheen at Shahbagh Police Station on August 27. Another case was filed by Abdul Bari Bhuiyan on August 25 at Fatulla Police Station in Narayanganj, and a similar charge was filed the same day by Nurul Islam Molla at Bandar Police Station.
Additionally, the ACC filed a corruption case against Khairul Haque on August 4 concerning alleged irregularities in plot allocation. After lower courts rejected his bail pleas, Khairul Haque sought relief from the High Court, which has now issued a rule regarding bail in these five cases.