Md. Shahjahan Bashar, Dhaka Correspondent:
Justice Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, who sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust case, has finally resigned. On Sunday (August 31), he submitted his resignation to Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed. It was later sent to the President.
On the orders of the Chief Justice, High Court Justice Akhtaruzzaman was asked to appear before the Supreme Judicial Council on July 1 to explain the allegations of irregularities. He appeared in person and submitted his resignation today after giving an explanation.
On March 23 this year, the President ordered a full investigation against Justice Akhtaruzzaman and several other judges. Earlier, on October 16 last year, Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed sent 12 High Court judges on leave on charges of corruption, extrajudicial activities and working as close associates of the then fascist Sheikh Hasina government. At the same time, a decision was taken not to assign them to the bench.
The judges sent on leave are: Justice Naima Haider, Justice Sheikh Hasan Arif, Justice Ashish Ranjan Das, Justice Mohammad Khurshid Alam Sarker, Justice SM Moniruzzaman, Justice Ataur Rahman Khan, Justice Shahed Nur Uddin, Justice Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Justice Md. Aminul Islam, Justice SM Masud Hossain Dolan, Justice Khizir Hayat and Justice Khondaker Diliruzzaman.
After the allegations were raised, the Supreme Judicial Council started an investigation against them. As a result, Justice Akhtaruzzaman was summoned to give an explanation. After giving an explanation, he decided not to continue in office.
On February 8, 2018, while serving as a judge of Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court-5, Justice Akhtaruzzaman sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case at a temporary court set up at the parade ground of the Prisons Department in Bakshibazar.
In the same verdict, Khaleda Zia’s eldest son and acting chairman of the BNP, Tarique Rahman, and four others were sentenced to 10 years in prison each. They are – former Magura MP Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former bureaucrat Dr. Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Mominur Rahman.
Political circles believe that the resignation of the judge who gave the verdict in Khaleda Zia’s much-discussed case could create a major stir in the country’s judiciary. Especially, the Supreme Judicial Council’s action and recent investigation activities in the context of allegations of corruption and arbitrariness against judges have added a new dimension to the judiciary.
Now, questions have arisen in political and judicial circles as to whether this resignation will further accelerate the ongoing purge within the judiciary.