SC upholds Ex-Chief Justice Khairul Haque’s bail in 5 cases

Former Chief Justice Khairul Haque

Dhaka, Apr 28 — The Appellate Division on Tuesday upheld the High Court’s order that granted bail to  former Chief Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque in five separate cases.

An SC bench headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury dismissed multiple petitions seeking a stay on the bail order and rejected state appeals against the High Court’s decision, thereby keeping the bail orders in force.

Senior lawyers Kamrul Haque Siddique and Advocate Motahar Hossain Saju appeared for Khairul Haque during the hearing.

Advocate Motahar Hossain Saju said Khairul Haque will not be released from jail immediately as he remains shown arrested in two other cases.

Earlier, on March 8, the High Court granted bail to Khairul Haque in four cases after issuing a rule.

He later secured bail in an ACC case on March 11.

The state subsequently moved the Appellate Division seeking a stay on those bail orders.

However, during this period, he was shown arrested in two more cases at lower courts .

Khairul Haque was arrested by police from his Dhanmondi residence in Dhaka on July 24 last year.

He was later shown arrested in a murder case filed over the killing of Jubo Dal activist Abdul Kaiyum Ahad in Jatrabari during the July movement.

Besides, four other cases were filed against him including one over alleged manipulation of the caretaker government verdict. The case was lodged on August 27 at Shahbagh Police Station by Supreme Court lawyer Mujahidul Islam Shahin

Khairul Haque was appointed the 19th Chief Justice of Bangladesh on September 27, 2010, with the appointment effective from September 30 the same year.

He retired on May 17, 2011, and later served three terms as Chairman of the Law Commission. - UNB