Staff Reporter :
Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has asked three High Court judges to provide written explanations concerning the unusually large number of bail orders they issued while serving on the vacation bench during the Supreme Court’s recent recess.
According to Supreme Court Special Officer Muajjem Hussain, the judges have been directed to submit detailed case-wise explanations along with the names of the lawyers who represented the accused in each bail petition. The submissions are due today (28 October).
The judges had initially been given a three-day deadline, which expired on Sunday (27 October).
Court sources said the instructions were officially communicated on 24 October via WhatsApp by Special Officer Muajjem Hussain to Justices Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman, Mustafa Zaman Islam, and Md Zakir Hossain.
The three judges, who were previously part of two-member benches that issued the bail orders, are now serving as single-member bench judges.
The move follows public and institutional concern after Law Adviser Asif Nazrul raised questions over reports that a High Court bench had granted bail in nearly 800 cases within just four to five hours.
Sources at the Supreme Court confirmed that one of the judges has requested a 12-day extension to submit his written explanation, addressing the Chief Justice through a letter sent to the Registrar General’s Office.
When approached for comment, Special Officer Muajjem Hussain said he had no further information about whether the judges had met with the Chief Justice or submitted their reports.
He also declined to elaborate on earlier remarks, noting that no additional directives had been issued beyond the written explanation request.
Legal analysts and senior lawyers have described the Chief Justice’s move as an important step toward ensuring accountability and transparency in the judicial process, particularly concerning the granting of bail in large volumes within a short period.
