Bangladesh former chief justice gets arrested for murder and sent to jail

ABM Khairul Haque arrest. Photo credit: Twitter handle of Tasin Mahdi

#ABM Khairul Haque# Bangladesh#Bangladesh Justice System# Bangladesh Former Chief Justice

IBNS-CMEDIA: Bangladesh’s former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque was sent to jail by a Dhaka court after he was arrested in connection with the murder of teenager Abdul Kaiyum Ahad.

Ahad was shot dead during the July-August uprising in Dhaka, which led to the toppling of former PM Sheikh Hasina’s regime in the country.

The order was issued by Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sanaullah following a hearing held on Thursday night, court sources told Dhaka Tribune.

Before the hearing, the former chief justice was brought to the court premises under tight security.

The prosecution’s petition alleged that Abdul Kaiyum, son of plaintiff Md Alauddin, was shot in the face and chest by the accused during a protest and collapsed near the Kajla police box. Several other protesters were also killed in the incident, reported Dhaka Tribune.

According to reports, the petition further claimed that Khairul, during his time as chief justice from May 1, 2011, committed criminal breach of trust and acts of sedition by misusing his judicial authority, delivering allegedly forged and fraudulent verdicts.

The petition referred that multiple cases against him remained pending in several police stations in the country.

During the hearing, no defence lawyer appeared in the court on behalf of the former chief justice.

Several pro-BNP supporters reportedly gathered outside the court and shouted slogans against ABM Khairul Haque.