Former CJ Khairul granted bail in 4 cases

The High Court (HC) on Sunday granted bail to former Chief Justice (CJ) ABM Khairul Haque in four cases, including one over the killing of a Jubo Dal activist during the July movement and three others related to alleged forgery of a verdict concerning the caretaker government system.

The bench of Justice Md Khairul Alam and Justice Md Sagir Hossain passed the order on March 8.

Senior lawyers Monsurul Haque Chowdhury, Advocate Motaher Hossain Saju, Barrister Sara Hossain, Sayeed Ahmed Raja and Monayem Nabi Shaheen represented Khairul Haque in court, while Deputy Attorney General Zahirul Islam Sumon appeared for the state.

Lawyers said Khairul Haque will not be released immediately as another case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission ACC remains pending against him.

Police arrested Khairul Haque from his Dhanmondi residence in Dhaka on July 24 last year. He was later shown arrested in a murder case filed over the death of Jubo Dal activist Abdul Kaiyum Ahad in Jatrabari during the July movement.

In addition to that case, four more cases were filed against him. On August 27, Supreme Court lawyer Mujahidul Islam Shaheen lodged a case with Shahbagh Police Station alleging forgery in the caretaker government verdict. 

Two similar cases were filed on August 25 in Narayanganj’s Fatullah and Bandar police stations by local BNP leader Abdul Bari Bhuiyan and Nurul Islam Molla respectively.

Earlier, on August 4, the ACC filed a separate case accusing Khairul Haque of corruption linked to alleged plot forgery.

After lower courts denied him bail in the cases, Khairul Haque sought relief from the High Court. The court had previously issued rules asking the authorities to explain why he should not be granted bail in five cases. Sunday’s order grants him bail in four of them.