Former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque has officially been shown arrested in a corruption case involving the illegal acquisition of a 10-katha plot from the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) by allegedly abusing his power and providing false information.
The order to show him arrested was issued on Wednesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court’s acting judge, Ibrahim Mia, who also rejected Khairul Haque’s bail petition following hearings from both sides.
Khairul Haque, who is currently behind bars, was brought to court from Keraniganj Central Jail around 9:30am and produced before the judge at 10:30am. His lawyer, Monayem Nabi Shahin, appealed for bail, which was opposed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) counsel Hafizur Rahman.
After hearing both parties, the court denied bail and ordered that Haque be shown arrested in connection with the graft case.
The case was filed by ACC Deputy Director Abdullah Al Mamun on August 6, accusing the former Chief Justice and seven RAJUK officials of collusion and fraudulent land acquisition.
The co-accused are Engr Md Nurul Huda, former RAJUK chairman; AIM Golam Kibria, member (Finance & Estate); Md Abu Bakkar Sikder, member; Anwarul Islam Sikder, member (Planning); Akhtar Hossain Bhuiyan, member (Estate); M Mahbubul Alam, former joint secretary and member (Development); Nazmul Hai, member (Administration & Land.
According to case documents, Khairul Haque was already the owner of a six-story ancestral home on approximately 18 kathas of land on NAEM Road in Dhaka. However, during his tenure as Chief Justice, he allegedly submitted a false affidavit to obtain an additional 10-katha plot from RAJUK, despite being ineligible.
This move, the ACC argues, violated Rule 13 of the Dhaka Improvement Trust (Allotment of Lands) Rules, 1969.
The prosecution further alleges that Khairul Haque breached the terms of allocation by failing to deposit the required installment payments on time. Instead, he made the payment five years later, after his retirement and without interest, which is a violation of RAJUK’s financial policies.
As a result, the government allegedly incurred a financial loss of Tk 4.74 lakh, an amount the ACC says was embezzled, constituting a punishable offense under anti-graft laws.
This is not the first legal challenge for the former Chief Justice. On July 24, Haque was arrested by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police from his Dhanmondi residence in connection with the murder of Jubo Dal activist Abdul Kaiyum Ahad during the July movement protests in Jatrabari. He was sent to jail that same night.
Later, on July 30, he was placed on a seven-day remand in a separate case filed with Shahbagh Police Station, accusing him of delivering politically biased and unlawful verdicts during his judicial career.
Khairul Haque remains in custody as multiple cases against him proceed.
