Police seek to rearrest former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque in new case
Police have requested that former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque be rearrested in connection with an attempted murder case stemming from the student-and-public uprising in July 2024. The application was filed today, Thursday, at a Dhaka court by the case's investigation officer, Sub-Inspector (SI) Saiful Islam of Banani Police Station. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka, Md. Sefatullah, has scheduled July 6 for a hearing on the petition. SI Moktar Hossain of the prosecution confirmed this information.
According to the case's First Information Report (FIR), protesters were demonstrating in front of the Setu Bhaban in Mohakhali on the afternoon of August 4, 2024. As they proceeded towards Shahbag, they were allegedly attacked with gunfire and hand bombs, resulting in injuries to 25 to 30 individuals, including Ujjwal Mia. Ujjwal Mia subsequently filed the case under the Explosive Substances Control Act at Banani Police Station on November 25 of the previous year. The investigating officer's application states that evidence gathered during the investigation indicates Khairul Haque's involvement in this incident.
This latest request follows a series of arrests and bail proceedings for Khairul Haque. He was rearrested on May 23 in a case related to the alleged murder of a youth named Khobaib in Jatrabari during the July mass uprising, shortly after securing bail in seven other cases. The High Court granted him bail in that case on June 30, and the Supreme Court's Chamber Court upheld his bail today. Khairul Haque was initially arrested by Detective Police (DB) on July 24, 2025, from his Dhanmondi residence. He had previously received bail in five cases on March 30. Subsequently, he was rearrested in two separate murder cases in Jatrabari and Adabar police stations. Amidst these repeated arrests in various cases, a writ petition was filed challenging their legality. Following a hearing on May 17, the High Court ordered that Khairul Haque should not be arrested or harassed in cases where he has not been named as an accused.
The repeated rearrests and subsequent bail proceedings involving former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque highlight significant procedural complexities within the justice system. The police's application to rearrest him, citing new evidence of involvement in a 2024 incident, suggests a continuous investigative focus. However, the High Court's prior directive against arresting or harassing him in cases where he is not an accused underscores the importance of due process and the potential for legal challenges to repeated detentions. This situation prompts reflection on the balance between diligent investigation and the protection of individual rights, particularly for high-profile individuals. Future legal frameworks may need to address mechanisms for preventing potential harassment through serial arrests while ensuring accountability for alleged offenses, considering the impact on public trust in judicial and law enforcement institutions.
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