Former chief justice Khairul Haque's release stalled as police seek arrest in fresh Banani case
Former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque will not be released from jail despite securing bail in all previously pending cases, after police on Thursday sought to show him arrested in a fresh attempted murder and explosives case filed with Banani Police Station.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on Thursday fixed July 6 for a hearing on the application after the investigating officer of the case, Banani Police Station Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam, sought permission to show Khairul arrested.
According to court documents, Khairul is an accused in a case filed over the injuring of restaurant employee Uzzal Miah in front of Setu Bhaban in Dhaka's Mohakhali on August 4, 2024, during the July uprising.
The victim filed the case with Banani Police Station on November 25, 2024, accusing several people, including Khairul, of attempted murder and offences under the Explosives Act.
Khairul's lawyer, Motaher Hossain Saju, said the former chief justice had already obtained bail in all eight cases previously pending against him, including securing ad-interim bail from the High Court on June 30 in a murder case, effectively clearing the legal obstacles to his release.
"Today's application to show him arrested in the Banani case has halted his release," Saju told reporters.
He added that the High Court had earlier directed that Khairul should not be shown arrested in any new case.
The latest development comes weeks after a similar incident. On May 23, Khairul's release was also stalled after he was shown arrested in another murder case linked to the July Uprising, filed with Jatrabari Police Station.
On June 30, the High Court granted him ad-interim bail in that case, which stemmed from the killing of Khobaib, who was allegedly shot dead during protests in Jatrabari on August 5, 2024.
The case was filed on November 16, 2024, by the victim's brother, naming ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 79 others as accused.
Khairul has also secured bail in several other cases, including those related to the alleged killing of a Jubo Dal activist during the July movement, allegations of forging the caretaker government verdict, and five cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Separately, the ACC is investigating allegations that he unlawfully obtained a government plot.
Khairul was arrested from his residence in Dhaka's Dhanmondi on July 24 last year and has remained in jail since in connection with multiple cases.
He was appointed Bangladesh's 19th chief justice on September 27, 2010, assumed office on September 30, and retired on May 17, 2011. He later served three terms as chairman of the Law Commission.