Dhaka: The Supreme Judicial Council has concluded its final hearing on one of the High Court judges, with the final hearing on another judge scheduled for September 2.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the council has already completed the final hearing on Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman, who is currently on leave. A decision in his case is anticipated to be announced soon. Meanwhile, the final hearing for High Court Division Judge Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar is set to take place on September 2.
Previously, the authority to remove Supreme Court judges was assigned to the parliament through the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution. However, both the High Court Division and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court later declared the 16th Amendment illegal, leaving the review petition unresolved.
Subsequently, a three-member Supreme Judicial Council, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, commenced its activities. The council also includes Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury from the Appellate Division. The council has been investigating allegations against 12 judges who were placed on leave on October 16 last year due to allegations of corruption and nepotism towards the deposed Sheikh Hasina’s government.
Among the 12 judges are Justice Naima Haider, Justice Sheikh Hasan Arif, Justice Ashish Ranjan Das, Justice Mohammad Khurshid Alam Sarker, Justice SM Moniruzzaman, Justice Ataur Rahman Khan, Justice Shahed Nur Uddin, Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman, Justice Md Aminul Islam, Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon, Justice Khizir Hayat, and Justice Khondaker Diliruzzaman.
Justice Shahed Nuruddin resigned on January 30 via a letter addressed to the President. Additionally, two judges, Justice Md Aminul Islam and Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolon, were not appointed as permanent judges after serving as additional judges of the High Court Division since July 31, 2022. Their extended term concluded on January 30. Two other judges, Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan and Justice Ashish Ranjan Das, retired upon completing their service terms on December 30 and January 30, respectively.
The President removed two judges following a thorough investigation by the Supreme Judicial Council. Justice Khizir Hayat was removed on March 18, and Justice Khondaker Diliruzzaman on May 21. The council’s investigation is still ongoing regarding the remaining five judges. Among them, Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman was specifically directed to be thoroughly investigated by the Supreme Judicial Council on March 23. He was summoned before the council on June 25 to explain the allegations against him and appeared on July 1 to address those allegations.