Former Bangladesh Chief Justice arrested in Dhaka

Dhaka

Former Chief Justice of Bangladesh, A.B.M. Khairul Haque, was arrested on Thursday morning from his Dhanmondi home in Dhaka, according to local media reports. The police’s Detective Branch confirmed the arrest but did not reveal the exact reason. He was taken to the Detective Branch office for further action.

This arrest comes amid an ongoing crackdown by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government on officials linked to the previous Awami League government. Several of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s allies have been detained or face legal action.

Justice Khairul Haque served as the 19th Chief Justice of Bangladesh from September 2010 to May 2011. He was also appointed Chairman of the Law Commission during Hasina’s term and held the position for several years. He resigned from the post in August last year, just days after the Awami League was removed from power.

The Nationalist Lawyers’ Forum recently called for his arrest, blaming him for damaging the country’s judiciary and democracy. At least two cases have reportedly been filed against him since the interim government took office. One case, filed last year by a BNP leader, related to Khairul’s 2011 verdict declaring the caretaker government system unconstitutional. However, a Dhaka court dismissed the case due to lack of evidence.

Analysts say this arrest reflects a larger political vendetta against Hasina-era officials. Since her ouster during a student-led uprising in August 2024, many in her party have faced charges widely viewed as politically motivated, marking a worrying trend for Bangladesh’s democratic framework.