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Tampering verdict on caretaker system

Ex-CJ Khairul placed on 7-day remand

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A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed former Chief Justice (CJ) ABM Khairul Haque on a seven-day remand in a case accusing him of tampering with the Supreme Court verdict that abolished the caretaker-government system from the Constitution.

Judge Md Sanaullah of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the investigation officer.

Earlier, police produced Justice Khairul Haque before the court, requested his arrest in the case, and submitted a petition seeking a 10-day remand. The court approved showing him arrested and granted a seven-day remand.

Md Zinnat, general register officer of Shahbagh Police Station, confirmed the development to The Financial Express.

Supreme Court lawyer Muzahedul Islam Shahin filed the case on August 27 last year against the former Chief Justice and former law commission chairman Khairul Haque at Shahbagh Police Station.

Khairul is accused of tampering with the verdict that annulled the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police detained Justice Khairul Haque at his Dhanmondi residence in Dhaka on July 24 this year.

He was later shown arrested in connection with the Abdul Quaiyum murder case filed with Jatrabari Police Station on July 6, 2025, according to the petition submitted in court. On the same day, a Dhaka court sent him to jail in connection with the murder case.

Two additional cases filed with Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj against him are also under investigation, according to the police petition.

Khairul Haque served as Chief Justice from October 1, 2010 to May 17, 2011.

On May 10, 2011, an Appellate Division bench led by him annulled the 13th Amendment, declaring the caretaker government system for elections illegal.

The verdict, issued a week before his retirement, declared the nonpartisan election-time government illegal despite strong objections from prominent jurists such as Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, Barrister M Amir-ul Islam, and former attorney general Mahmudul Islam.

These jurists had strongly advocated retaining the caretaker government system to safeguard the country's democracy.

Khairul Haque's verdict effectively gave former prime minister Sheikh Hasina a significant political advantage to stay in power.

bikashju@gmail.com

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