Published : 08 Jul 2026, 06:09 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:22 AM
Former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque has been shown arrested in another case, barring his release from jail.
He had previously been granted bail in eight separate cases.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman gave the arrest order on Wednesday based on a plea from police in a case over attempted murder and explosives charges at Banani Police Station.
Sub-Inspector Moktar Hossain of the prosecution police said Justice Khairul was not produced in court, but the hearing was instead held virtually.
Later, the court granted the request to show him arrested.
His lawyers, meanwhile, have applied for bail in the case. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for the afternoon.
Justice Khairul’s lawyer Monayem Nabi Shahin said: "As soon as he gets bail in one case, he is shown arrested in another. Today, he was shown arrested in a ninth case. I don't know when he will be released. We are waiting to complete a century."
On Jul 24, 2025, the police arrested Khairul from his Dhanmondi home. He has been in jail since then.
Initially, there were three cases against him, but soon after he was granted bail by the High Court, he was shown arrested in several fresh cases.
As a result, his lawyers allege that the release of the former chief justice has been repeatedly blocked intentionally.
Most recently, on Jun 30, a High Court bench granted Justice Khairul interim bail for six months in the Khowaib murder case at Dhaka’s Jatrabari Police Station.
But two days later, Banani Police Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam applied to show him arrested in another case of attempt to murder and the Explosives Act.
Although a hearing was scheduled for Monday, the hearing was postponed to Wednesday due to the lack of original documents in the case. And after the hearing on Wednesday, the formalities of arresting him were completed.
The case alleges that, on the afternoon of Aug 4, 2024, during the July Uprising, protesters in front of the Setu Bhaban in Mohakhali were attacked, shot and had explosives thrown at them while on their way to Shahbagh.
The violence injured 25 to 30 people, including Ujjal Mia.
Ujjal filed the case with Banani Police Station on Nov 20, 2025 under the Explosive Substances Act, alleging attempted murder.
Motahar Hossain Saju, one of Khairul's lawyers, said when this case was filed, the former chief justice was in jail.
"How can a person who is in jail be involved in a new case and be shown arrested? This is completely illegal."
Khairul took office as the 29th chief justice of the country on Sept 30, 2010.
On May 10, 2011, the Appellate Division declared the 13th Amendment illegal, thus abolishing the caretaker government system.
Seven days after the verdict, on May 17, he retired from the post of chief justice.
After his retirement, he was made the chairman of the Law Commission on Jul 23, 2013.
He resigned from the post on Aug 13, 2024, after the fall of the Awami League government.
Khairul was arrested a year after the changeover of power.
He has now been shown arrested in nine cases, including charges of murder and attempted murder in connection with incidents during the July Uprising, verdict "forgery" and corruption.
