SC upholds bail for ex-CJ Khairul Haque

The Supreme Court’s (SC) chamber judge upholds a High Court order granting bail to former chief justice (CJ) ABM Khairul Haque in a murder case filed over the death of a protester during the 2024 July Uprising, paving the way for his release from jail.

Justice Rezaul Haque passes the order following a hearing on a plea by the prosecution seeking a stay on the High Court’s bail decision on Thursday.

Senior lawyers Mansurul Haque Chowdhury, Motahar Hossain Saju, Syed Ahmed Raza and Jahangir Hossain represent the former chief justice during the proceedings.

Speaking to reporters, lawyer Saju says there is now no legal barrier to Khairul Haque’s release as he has secured bail in all cases filed against him, including the latest order upheld by the chamber court.

Earlier developments in the case trace back to a series of legal actions following the unrest of the 2024 July Uprising.

On 16 May, police apply to show Khairul Haque arrested in the case through a submission filed by Sub-Inspector Md Ibrahim Khalil of Jatrabari Police Station.

On 23 May, after obtaining bail in seven separate cases, he is shown arrested in a case filed with Jatrabari Police Station over the killing of Khowaib, who was associated with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque approves the police application.

On 30 June, a High Court bench comprising Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher grants him bail, a decision later challenged by the prosecution before the Appellate Division.

According to case documents, Khowaib, 20, participates in the movement near Jatrabari footbridge on the morning of 5 August 2024.

Around 11:00am, protesters march towards Jatrabari intersection when police, RAB, and armed activists of the Awami League and its affiliated bodies – Jubo League, Chhatra League and Swechchhasebak League – allegedly open fire on demonstrators under the direction and support of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others.

Khowaib sustains critical injuries and is taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declare him dead, according to the case statement.

On 16 November 2024, Khowaib’s brother Zobayer Ahmed files the murder case with Jatrabari Police Station, naming Sheikh Hasina and 79 others as accused.

On 24 July 2025, the Detective Branch arrests Khairul Haque from his residence in Dhanmondi, after which he is shown arrested in eight cases one after another.

The case stems from the unrest during the 2024 July Uprising, in which protests at Jatrabari turned violent, leading to multiple fatalities and subsequent criminal cases. Former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque was later arrested and implicated in multiple cases before securing bail through successive court orders.