A Dhaka court has rejected the bail petition of former Chief Justice A.B.M. Khairul Haque, who was arrested in connection with the murder of Abdul Kaiyum Ahad during the anti-discrimination student movement in the capital’s Jatrabari area.
On Thursday (July 31), Metropolitan Magistrate Masum Mia issued the order after a hearing. Advocate Monayem Nabi Shahin, representing Khairul Haque, argued for bail, stating that his client is a former Chief Justice who was being harassed through the case.
The lawyer further said that the incident occurred on July 18 last year, but the case was not filed until July 6 this year, almost a year later. There was no specific explanation given for the delay. He added that on the day of the incident, Khairul Haque was at his office at the Law Commission and later returned home under police protection. He did not visit the Jatrabari area.
The defense highlighted Khairul Haque’s age (81) and health conditions, claiming he was suffering from multiple chronic illnesses and would not abscond if granted bail.
Following the hearing, the court rejected the bail application, the defense confirmed.
According to the case documents, on the evening of July 18 last year, during the anti-discrimination student protests in Jatrabari, Abdul Kaiyum Ahad was attacked with gunfire, sharp weapons, tear gas shells, and sound bombs. He collapsed near the Kakjali Police Box after being shot in the face and chest.
Later, then-officer-in-charge of Jatrabari Police Station, Abul Hossain, allegedly fired bullets into both of Ahad’s legs. Ahad was taken to a local hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
On July 6, Ahad’s father Md. Ala Uddin filed the murder case with Jatrabari Police Station, naming 467 individuals including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and listing A.B.M. Khairul Haque as the 44th named accused, along with 1,000–2,000 unidentified persons.
