Justice Akhtaruzzaman resigns while under inquiry

Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman, a judge of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, resigned on Sunday while under investigation by the Supreme Judicial Council.

He submitted his resignation letter to the President through Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, according to a Supreme Court notification that did not provide further details on the issue.

The notification stated, "Justice Mr. Akhtaruzzaman of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, who was under inquiry by the Supreme Judicial Council, submitted his signed letter of resignation to the President through the Chief Justice on August 31, 2025." Justice Akhtaruzzaman had sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in two corruption cases in 2018. However, the apex court recently cleared BNP Chairperson from both convictions.

Akhtaruzzaman was among 12 High Court judges barred from judicial proceedings on October 16 last year. The action followed mass protests on the Supreme Court premises on that day, where protesters, mostly students, demanded the removal of what they called "pro-Awami League fascist judges."

The 12 judges are Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Justice Naima Haider, Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif, Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar, Justice S. M. Maniruzzaman, Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman, Justice Khizir Hayat, Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman, Justice Md Aminul Islam, Justice S. M. Masud Hossain Dolon, Justice Shahed Nuruddin, and Justice Ashish Ranjan Das.

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