Judge Akhtaruzzaman Resigns Following Khaleda Zia’s Five-Year Sentence in Zia Orphanage Trust Case

Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman, the judge who sentenced former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to five years in the Zia Orphanage Trust case, has resigned. He submitted his resignation on Sunday, August 31.

The Supreme Judicial Council had summoned Justice Akhtaruzzaman, who was on leave, to explain allegations of misconduct. He appeared in person before the council on July 1 and provided his explanation. Following this, he formally submitted his resignation to Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refat Ahmed, who has already forwarded it to the President.

Earlier, on March 23 of this year, the President had ordered a full investigation into Justice Akhtaruzzaman’s conduct. Last year, on October 16, Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refat Ahmed had sent 12 judges, including Justice Akhtaruzzaman, on leave following allegations of corruption and acting in favor of the previous government. Their benches were also suspended temporarily.

The 12 judges include: Justices Naima Haider, Sheikh Hasan Arif, Ashish Ranjan Das, Mohammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar, S.M. Moniruzzaman, Ataur Rahman Khan, Shahed Noor Uddin, Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Md. Aminul Islam, S.M. Masud Hossain Dolon, Khizir Hayat, and Khondkar Dilruzzaman.

After the allegations surfaced, the Supreme Judicial Council, led by the Chief Justice, initiated investigations against all 12 judges, and Justice Akhtaruzzaman was specifically called to provide explanations regarding the charges.

For context, on February 8, 2018, Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 at Bakshibazar sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust case. Alongside Khaleda Zia, her son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, former Magura MP Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dr. Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, and Mominur Rahman were sentenced to 10 years each.