Ex-CJ Khairul Haque denied bail in Jatrabari murder case

A Dhaka court has rejected the bail plea of former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque in connection with the murder of Jubo Dal activist Abdul Qayyum Ahad during the July movement in the capital's Jatrabari area.

Metropolitan Magistrate Masum Mia passed the order following a bail hearing on Thursday (July 31).

Haque was arrested on July 24 from his Dhanmondi residence by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and was sent to jail later that night.

According to the case, Abdul Qayyum Ahad was shot dead during a political demonstration. His father, Ala Uddin, filed the case naming 467 individuals, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as accused. Haque remains in police custody pending further investigation.

Defense counsel Monayem Nabi Shahin argued that Haque, aged 81, has been under 24-hour police surveillance since August last year and was at home under police protection on the day of the incident, July 18, 2024. He further claimed that the case was filed nearly a year later, on July 6, without a clear explanation for the delay.

Despite the defense citing Haque’s age, health condition, and cooperation with law enforcement, the court denied bail.

Additionally to the Jatrabari case, Khairul Haque was shown arrested in another case filed at Fatulla Police Station in Narayanganj, which accuses him of delivering an “illegal and fake” verdict related to the annulment of the caretaker government system. He is also under remand in a separate case filed by Shahbagh Police Station alleging corruption and abuse of judicial authority.