Bangladesh HC Bench Officer Suspended Over Bail Forgery Scandal
Dhaka, May 4, 2026: A bench officer of the High Court has been suspended following allegations of manipulating a bail order in a case linked to the seizure of 20,000 garments associated with the Kuki-Chin network.
The decision was confirmed on Monday (May 4) by sources at the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office.
Bail Order Allegedly Altered After Judicial Approval
According to officials, the accused bench officer, Zakir Hossain, was removed from duty after evidence emerged that a bail order had been altered after it was originally signed by two High Court judges.
The incident dates back nearly seven months, when bail was reportedly secured by concealing crucial information from the court.
Forgery Used to Secure Release of Accused
Investigators say the original bail document was tampered with after judicial approval.
The case number and police station details were allegedly replaced, and the modified document was later submitted to prison authorities. Based on that forged order, accused Sahedul Islam—owner of Ringvo Apparels in Chattogram—was released from custody.
He had been charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the garment seizure case.
Irregularity Exposed During Another Bail Hearing
The irregularity came to light when another accused in the same case applied for bail and cited Sahedul Islam’s release as a precedent.
This prompted scrutiny, eventually exposing the alleged forgery.
Chief Justice Orders Probe Within 48 Hours
The matter was formally brought to the attention of Chief Justice Jubayer Rahman Chowdhury by Attorney General Barrister Md. Ruhul Quddus Kajal.
Taking the allegation into account, the Chief Justice instructed Registrar General Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiqi to conduct an investigation and submit a report within 48 hours.
Further Action Expected After Investigation
Further legal and administrative measures are expected once the probe report is reviewed by the authorities.
