Published: 12:05 AM, 20 August 2026
Ex-CJ Khairul Haque freed after securing bail
Former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque has been released from custody after securing bail in all the cases filed against him.
He was released from Keraniganj Special Jail on Wednesday afternoon, his lawyer Motahar Hossain Saju confirmed to bdnews24.com.
The release followed Monday's decision by the Appellate Division's chamber court to uphold Justice Khairul's bail.
The state had sought a stay on the High Court's interim bail in cases filed under the attempted murder and explosives control laws. After hearing the plea, Chamber Judge Md Rezaul Haque issued a "no order".
Justice Khairul's lawyer had earlier said nine cases had been filed against the former chief justice and he had secured bail in all of them. As he had not been shown arrested in any other case as a named suspect, there was no legal obstacle to his release.
The attempted murder case involving restaurant worker Ujjal Mia was filed on Nov 25, 2025. Justice Khairul, however, had already been in jail since Apr 27 that year.
On May 17, the High Court ordered authorities not to show the former chief justice arrested or harass him in any case without specific grounds.
On Aug 9, an Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury upheld that order.
The following day, a High Court bench comprising Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher granted Haque bail in the attempted murder case.
Justice Khairul became Bangladesh's 19th chief justice in 2010 and retired in May 2011.
He was appointed chairman of the Law Commission in 2013 and resigned from the post on Aug 13, 2024, eight days after the fall of the Awami League government.
Police arrested him in his Dhanmondi home on Jul 24 last year. He had remained in custody since then.
