No bar to release of former chief justice Khairul Haque: Lawyer

Former chief justice Khairul Haque faces no further impediment to his release from jail, after he secured bail in the ninth case, his lawyer Advocate Monayem Nabi Shahin told reporters Monday.

The High Court bench of Justice KM Jahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher granted the interim bail in a case filed over state-backed atrocities during the July Uprising.

The High Court bench also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned why the former chief justice will not be granted a normal bail in the case.

Until the matter is settled, Khairul Haque would continue to enjoy the interim bail, High Court sources said.

The case was the ninth filed against the former chief justice. Earlier, he had secured bail in eight cases.

As per the case statement, on 4 August 2024, forced backed by the then Awami League regime launched violent attacks on otherwise peaceful anti-government demonstrators in front of the Setu Bhaban in Mohakhali in the capital.

The protesters were marching towards the Shahbagh intersection when the attackers swooped on them with firearms, crude bombs and local weapons, leaving at least 25 people injured.

After the regime’s ouster, Uzzal Mia, one of the injured, filed an attempted murder case with the Banani Police Station.

It is worth noting that Khairul Haque served as the chief justice from 30 September 2010 to 17 May 2011. Ten days before leaving office, a Supreme Court bench, led by him, issued a highly controversial verdict. The verdict invalidated the 13th Constitutional Amendment, and thereby, scrapped the non-partisan caretaker government system, paving the way for three consecutive rigged elections under the Awami League regime.

On 5 August 2024, the regime fell in the face of widespread protests, and a series of legal measures were initiated against those allied with the autocratic rulers.

On 24 July 2025, Khairul Haque, believed to be a close Awami League ally, was arrested from his residence in Dhanmondi in the capital in case filed over the killing of an uprising activist.