Staff Reporter :
High Court Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman has resigned from his post after being placed on leave over allegations of misconduct.
According to officials at the Supreme Court administration, Justice Akhtaruzzaman tendered his resignation to Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed on Sunday.
His decision came just days after the Supreme Judicial Council concluded its final hearing on the allegations against him.
Justice Akhtaruzzaman, who previously served as a district
judge, came to national prominence in 2018 when he delivered the verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.
On 8 February that year, he sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to five years in prison.
The former prime minister ultimately spent over two years in jail before her sentence was suspended through a government executive order in March 2020. Her release has since been periodically extended.
On 26 August, Justice Akhtaruzzaman appeared before the Supreme Judicial Council, led by Chief Justice Refaat Ahmed, to present his defense against the allegations.
The controversy dates back to October last year, when the Chief Justice sent 12 High Court justices, including Akhtaruzzaman, on leave.
They faced accusations of corruption and of maintaining close ties with the previous government. Their judicial duties were suspended pending an investigation.
Alongside Justice Akhtaruzzaman, the justices placed on leave were Naima Haider, Sheikh Hasan Arif, Ashish Ranjan Das, Mohammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar, SM Moniruzzaman, Ataur Rahman Khan, Shahed Nuruddin, Md Aminul Islam, SM Masud Hossain Dolon, Khizir Hayat, and Khondker Diliruzzaman.
The investigation, overseen by the Supreme Judicial Council, is ongoing regarding the other judges.
