The High Court on Sunday asked the government to explain within ten days why former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque should not be granted bail in five cases filed against him since his arrest on July 24, 2025.
The bench of Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice Md Sagir Hossain issued the rule after hearing five separate petitions moved by senior lawyer Md Munsurul Haque Chowdhury on behalf of Khairul.
Attorney general Md Asaduzzaman did not oppose the rule but objected to granting interim bail in four cases linked to murder, sedition, and verdict fraud.
ACC lawyer Sarwar Hossain sought adjournment in a separate corruption case over allegedly obtaining a Rajuk plot through forgery, saying the commission had not been notified of the hearing.
The court said it issued the rule as there was a 鈥榮ubstantial question鈥� in the bail petitions.
The attorney general, however, objected to the 10-day timeframe, noting that in ordinary cases, courts usually allow four weeks.
Munsurul Haque told the court that Khairul, who is over 80 and has suffered a heart attack, did not seek immediate bail but only issuance of the rule.
The five cases against the former chief justice involve corruption, murder, sedition, and verdict manipulation, making him the first former chief justice in Bangladesh to be arrested and prosecuted.
Earlier in August, another High Court bench deferred hearing on Khairul鈥檚 bail and quash petitions in a murder case to October 19, following chaos in court between pro-Awami League lawyers and government law officers.
According to the case filed with Jatrabari Police Station on July 6, 2025, Khairul and several hundred Awami League leaders, including Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader, were accused of involvement in the July 2024 uprising, during which Juba Dal leader Abdul Quiyyum Ahad was killed in Dhaka鈥檚 Kajla area.
Khairul is the 44th accused in that case.