Former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque has been shown arrested in two murder cases filed with Jatrabari and Adabor police stations.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jamshed Alam passed the order after police submitted petitions to show Khairul arrested in the cases.
On 10 March, Jatrabari Police SI Md Mahmudul Hasan petitioned to show Khairul arrested in the case over the killing of student Md Arif during the July uprising. On 29 April, Adabor Police SI Mohammad Tipu Sultan filed another petition in the case over the killing of garment worker Rubel during the movement.
Khairul was produced before the court around 11:45am under tight security and stood silently in the dock during the hearing.
The prosecution argued that Khairul was a named accused in the FIRs, alleging he politicised the judiciary to aid ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, scrapped the Fifth Amendment, and played a key role in abolishing the caretaker government system.
They claimed many lost their lives protesting against the ‘fascist’ government and therefore showing him arrested was necessary for investigation.
Defense counsel Shahin countered that Khairul, 81, is a former chief justice and a victim of judicial harassment. He said Khairul had already been granted bail in five cases on 5 March, but police sought to show him arrested in two more cases, keeping him detained despite bail.
The Arif murder case alleges that on 19 July last year, during an anti‑discrimination student movement, clashes broke out between police and Awami League activists at Bou Bazar Road in Jatrabari’s Kutubkhali area. Student Arif was shot and later declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. His father filed the case on 26 August 2024.
The Rubel murder case alleges that on 5 August 2024, Rubel and hundreds of protesters marched in Adabor’s Ring Road area. Police and ruling party activists opened fire, killing garment worker Rubel. His father filed the case on 22 August 2024.
