Former Chief Justice A B M Khairul Haque Arrested by Detective Branch

Former Chief Justice A B M Khairul Haque has been arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. The arrest was made on Thursday morning (24 July) at approximately 8:00 AM from his residence in Dhanmondi, the capital.

The development was confirmed by Mohammad Nasirul Islam, Joint Commissioner of the Detective Branch.

“Shortly after 8:00 AM, we detained former Chief Justice Khairul Haque from his residence in Dhanmondi. He has been brought to the DB office. Further legal procedures will be taken against him in due course,” said the DB official.

Background of the Case

The arrest is connected to a case filed on 18 August 2024, shortly after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. The case was filed by Imrul Hasan, a member of the Dhaka Bar Association.

The allegations include:

• Fraudulent conduct in the judgement related to the abolition of the 13th Constitutional Amendment.
• Misuse of judicial authority in delivering and executing the verdict.

Public Demands and Political Pressure

Over the past year, BNP-backed legal organisations, including the Nationalist Lawyers Forum, have repeatedly demanded Khairul Haque’s arrest and trial. Their activities included:

• Press conferences
• Human chains
• Formal petitions and memorandums to relevant authorities

These groups accused the former chief justice of acting in favour of political interests and misusing judicial power during his tenure.

His Role in the Final Phase of the Hasina Government

Before the fall of the Awami League government, Khairul Haque held the position of Chairman of the Law Commission. After the regime change on 5 August 2024, he resigned on 13 August and has since remained out of the public eye.

Now, with his sudden arrest nearly a year later, the case may set a significant legal precedent regarding the accountability of former top judicial officials in Bangladesh.