The High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The bench of Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain and Justice Md Zakir Hossain passed the order, following a hearing on a rule issued earlier on his bail petition.
Senior lawyers Monsurul Haque Chowdhury, Mostafizur Rahman Khan, Motahar Hossain Saju, and Monayem Nabi Shaheen appeared for the petitioner during the hearing.
Earlier, on 8 March, another High Court bench led by Justice Md Khairul Alam and Justice Md Sagir Hossain granted permanent bail to Khairul Haque in four cases filed on various charges, including murder and alleged forgery of a judgment related to the caretaker government system. The state later moved an appeal seeking a stay on that order.
Lawyer Monayem Nabi Shaheen told TIMES of Bangladesh that, for the time being, there is no legal barrier preventing the release of former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque from prison.
Khairul Haque filed a bail petition in the ACC case on 19 October last year. After hearing the petition, the High Court on 26 October issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why he should not be granted bail. The court delivered its order on Wednesday after the hearing on the rule.
Khairul Haque served as the chief justice of Bangladesh from 30 September, 2010 to 17 May, 2011.
The former chief justice was arrested on 24 July last year from his residence in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. He was later shown arrested in a murder case over the killing of Abdul Kaiyum Ahad, a leader of Jubo Dal, during the July mass uprising in Jatrabari, Dhaka.
According to sources, Khairul Haque faces multiple cases, including a murder case filed with Jatrabari Police Station. Separate cases have also been filed at Shahbagh Police Station, Bandar Police Station in Narayanganj, and Fatullah Police Station over allegations of forging a verdict related to the caretaker government system.
In addition, the ACC filed a case against him over alleged corruption in the purchase of a residential plot from the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
