HC reschedules ex-CJ Khairul’s bail hearing to Oct 26
The High Court has rescheduled the hearing on former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque’s petition seeking bail and dismissal of a murder case filed over the killing of Abdul Kaiyum in Jatrabari during the anti-discrimination student movement in July–August 2024. The hearing will now take place on October 26.
The hearing was originally scheduled for Sunday (August 17) before the High Court bench of Justice Md Zakir Hossain and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja. However, following a time petition submitted by the defense, a new date was set.
Previously, on August 11, a commotion broke out in the courtroom during the hearing of the petition, when lawyers from both sides engaged in a heated exchange. Pushing and shoving reportedly ensued after the state counsel sought more time, while the defense attempted to proceed with the hearing. The petition, filed by Khairul Haque on August 7, was listed as item number 18 on the cause list that day. Following the incident, the court rescheduled the hearing for August 17.
Appearing for Khairul Haque in court were senior Supreme Court lawyers MK Rahman, former Justice Mansurul Hoque Chowdhury, senior advocate Kamrul Haque Siddiqui, advocate ZI Khan Panna, advocate Manzil Morshed, advocate Sheikh Awsafur Rahman Bulu, advocate Mohammad Mohsin Rashid, advocate Motahar Hossain Saju, and advocate ABM Siddiqur Rahman, among others, most of whom are aligned with the ruling Awami League.
Representing the state were Deputy Attorney General Russell Ahmed and Md Emran Khan Robin, along with Assistant Attorney Generals Ujjal Hossain, Jasim Uddin, Shafwan Karim, and Ibrahim Khalil.
During the student-led anti-discrimination movement in July 2024, Juba Dal activist Abdul Kaiyum Ahad was shot dead in Dhaka’s Jatrabari on July 18. On July 6, 2024, his father, Alauddin, filed a murder case with Jatrabari Police Station, naming 467 individuals as accused—including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Chief Justice Khairul Haque.
Khairul Haque was arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police from his Dhanmondi residence on July 24 and sent to jail that night. On July 29, he was shown arrested virtually in a separate case filed at Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj, accusing him of delivering an illegal verdict that annulled the caretaker government system.
In another case filed with Shahbagh Police Station, Haque was accused of judicial misconduct, including issuing a fabricated verdict with alleged malicious intent. He was placed on a seven-day remand for interrogation in connection with that case.