18 judges sent on forced retirement

The government has ordered forced retirement of 18 judges, including Bikash Kumar Saha, previously associated with the Sheikh Hasina administration, due to their alleged involvement in irregularities, according to online and electronic media.
The decision was formalised through a notification issued by the Law Ministry on Thursday night, following orders from the President.
The notification, signed by Md Azizul Haque, Deputy Secretary (Administration-1) of the Law Ministry, said that the retirements were enacted under Section 45 of the Government Service Act, 2018, in the public interest.
The affected judges, all members of the Bangladesh Judicial Service who have completed 25 years of service, are as follows:
Bikash Kumar Saha, District and Sessions Judge (attached to the Ministry); Sheikh Mofizur Rahman, District Judge; Md Mahbubar Rahman Sarkar, Judge, Rajbari Women and Children's Crime Prevention Tribunal; Sheikh Golam Mahbub, Judge, Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, Kushtia; Md Mojibur Rahman, Judge, Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1, Gaibandha; Md Ehsanul Haque, Judge, Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, Bhola; Md Jewel Rana, Judge, Crimes Preventing Public Safety Prevention Tribunal, Khulna; Md Monir Kamal, Judge, Sylhet Cyber Tribunal; Shahidul Islam, Special Judge, Patuakhali; Al Mahmud Faizul Kabir, Special Judge, Dinajpur; Md Nazimuddaula, District and Sessions Judge, Tangail; AKM Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, Judge, Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, Thakurgaon; Fazle Elahi Bhuiyan, Judge, Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3, Habiganj; Abu Zafar Md. Kamruzzaman, District and Sessions Judge (Joint Officer); Md Rustam Ali, Member, Administrative Tribunal, Barishal; Md Nurul Islam, Joint Officer (Additional District and Sessions Judge); AKM Enamul Karim, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Patuakhali; and Mohammad Hossain, Joint Officer, Joint District and Sessions Judge. The retirements take effect immediately, as per the notification, marking a significant move to address alleged misconduct within the judiciary.