A. B. M. Khairul Haque

A. B. M. Khairul Haque (born 18 May 1944)^[1] is a Bangladeshi jurist,^[2] who served as the 19th Chief Justice of Bangladesh and the current chief of Bangladesh Law Commission.^[3]

A. B. M. Khairul Haque
19th Chief Justice of Bangladesh
In office 1 October 2010 – 17 May 2011
Appointed by	Zillur Rahman
President	Zillur Rahman
Prime Minister	Sheikh Hasina
Preceded by	Mohammad Fazlul Karim
Succeeded by	Md. Muzammel Hossain
Personal details
Born	(1944-05-18) 18 May 1944 (age 81)
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Alma mater	University of Dhaka
Profession	Former Chairman of Law Commission

He's known for controversial rulings that shaped Bangladesh's political landscape, including the verdict against the Caretaker Government system.^{[citation needed]}

Career

In June 2008, Justice Khairul Haque and Justice Md Abu Tariq held hearings on suo moto contempt rule against Ekramul Huq and other journalists after a magazine published a report on a High Court judge whitening black money.^[4] Justice Khairul Haque and Justice Abu Tariq declared Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2008 illegal due to provision allowing "constructive criticism" of judgement.^[5]

Khairul Haque delivered the verdict which declared the Caretaker Government illegal and unconstitutional.^[6]

He was made Chairman of Law Commission on 23 June 2013 for a term of three years.^[7] He called for trial of Pakistani soldiers for war crimes committed during Bangladesh Liberation War.^[8]

On 24 July 2025, Haque was arrested in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.^[9] He was accused in the murder case of Abdul Kaiyum, an activist of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party affiliate Jubo Dal.^[10] Kaiyum died in protests led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 18 July 2024.^[10] Journalist David Bergman criticized his arrest saying "To use a judicial decision as a pretext for a criminal case—let alone a murder charge to which he has no connection—is also a direct assault on the principle of judicial independence and the rule of law,".^[10] Bergman believed Haque was targeted for his 2011 decision that abolished the caretaker government.^[10]

Leading Judgments

• Abdul Mannan Khan v Government of Bangladesh (declaring caretaker government unconstitutional)^{[citation needed]}
• Siddiq Ahmed v Bangladesh^{[citation needed]}
• Bangladesh Italian Marble Works v Government of Bangladesh^{[citation needed]}