Published : 25 Aug 2024, 08:41 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 11:48 AM
Retired Supreme Court Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, who was detained while attempting to flee to India through Sylhet’s Kanaighat border, has been sent into jail custody.
During his court appearance, an agitated crowd hurled eggs and shoes at the former judge who also taught at the University of London.
Sylhet Judicial Magistrate Alomgir Hossain ordered his arrest under Section 54 around 4:00pm on Saturday, and sent him to jail, said court police's Inspector Md Jamshed Ali.
The Border Guard Bangladesh, or BGB, detained Manik on Friday night near the Dona border in Kanaighat Upazila.
Inspector Ali said: "As per jail court regulations, he will receive privileges as a former judge. He did not have a lawyer present in court, but he mentioned his ill health."
"We have learned that there are multiple cases against him, including murder charges, filed at Dhaka’s Lalbagh, Badda, and Adabar police stations."
Witnesses said as Manik was being escorted to the court, a crowd hurled eggs and shoes at him.
Some youths also attempted to assault him, but police ensured his security and brought him into the courtroom safely.
Following his arrest, Lieutenant Colonel Asadun Nabi, the commander of the 19th BGB Battalion, told journalists: "We apprehended him at the Dona border while he was attempting to enter into India illegally. He will be handed over to the relevant authorities through legal procedures.”
On Thursday, a defamation suit was filed against him for making “offensive remarks” about BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman.
Lawyer Ziaul Haque brought charges against Manik at Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Court.
Workers Party chief Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu were also accused in the defamation case.
The plaintiff has demanded Tk 3 billion in damages from the defendants over the “defamatory” remarks.
The court has ordered the PBI to investigate the allegations and submit a report.
According to the case dossier, Manik called Ziaur Rahman a “Razakar and war criminal” on a talk show which was broadcast on Channel i on Oct 3, 2022.
On Feb 15, 2023, the former justice allegedly said Ziaur was “not a freedom fighter”, and labelled him as an “infiltrator”.
Justice Manik, who taught law at the University of London, began his career as a lawyer in the High Court in 1978.
In 1996, during the Awami League government, he was appointed as deputy attorney general. In 2001, the government appointed him as an additional judge of the High Court, but he was later dismissed when the BNP formed government.
After the Awami League returned to power in 2009, he was reinstated as a judge following a High Court ruling. In 2013, he was elevated to the Appellate Division.
Before his retirement in 2015, Justice Manik was frequently in the headlines for clashing with the then chief justice Surendra Kumar Sinha. He even lodged complaints against Justice Sinha with the president.
After retirement, Justice Manik regularly appeared on television talk shows and took part in social movements. He has consistently been a vocal supporter of the Awami League government.
