A High Court judge in Bangladesh has been removed from judicial duties following allegations of inappropriate conduct during a public event in Cumilla, according to multiple sources within the Supreme Court.
Justice Md Abdul Mannan has not been assigned any judicial bench in the latest list of 63 benches constituted by the Chief Justice for the conduct of court proceedings. His exclusion effectively bars him from performing judicial functions for the time being.
The decision follows an incident on 3 April at an Apex Club programme held in Cumilla, where Justice Mannan allegedly engaged in discourteous behaviour. Reports indicate that he identified himself as a judge during the event and issued warnings, leading to a verbal altercation. A video of the incident subsequently circulated widely on social media platforms, prompting public discussion and scrutiny.
Although no formal public statement detailing disciplinary findings has been released, Supreme Court sources confirmed on Thursday that he has been kept out of judicial assignments in the most recent bench allocation.
Justice Mannan was appointed as a judge of the High Court Division on 9 October 2024. Prior to his elevation to the High Court, he served as a District and Sessions Judge in the Pirojpur district, where he held judicial responsibilities in the lower judiciary.
The removal from bench duties does not necessarily indicate dismissal from the judiciary, but it does mean that he will not hear or adjudicate cases until further administrative or disciplinary decisions are made by the appropriate authorities.
Key Timeline of Events
| Date |
Event |
| 9 October 2024 |
Appointed as High Court judge |
| 3 April 2026 |
Incident reported at Apex Club event in Cumilla |
| 23 April 2026 |
Excluded from bench allocation; removal from duties confirmed |
The Chief Justice’s latest administrative arrangement includes 63 High Court benches assigned for the disposal of cases. Justice Mannan’s absence from this roster has been interpreted as an immediate administrative measure pending further review.
In many common law jurisdictions, including Bangladesh, judges may be temporarily withdrawn from judicial work through administrative orders while inquiries or internal assessments are considered. Such measures are generally taken to preserve public confidence in the judiciary and ensure orderly court functioning.
As of now, no official statement has been issued regarding whether a formal judicial inquiry or disciplinary proceeding will follow.
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