Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan has warned Justice Md Emdadul Haque Azad over his recent remark to state counsels that they have turned Bangladesh into “hell” during a bail hearing, asking him to be more careful when making comments during court proceedings until his retirement.
The judge was summoned to the chief justice's private chamber and issued a warning, with other Appellate Division judges present, on Tuesday, according to Supreme Court administration sources.
Justice Emdadul Haque Azad is retiring on October 15 at the age of 67. He became a high court judge in 2004 under the BNP-led four-party coalition government.
His controversial comments came just five days before his retirement.
Meanwhile, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin criticized the remark as unconstitutional and indecent, saying the judge had violated the oath of his office.
Justice Md Emdadul Haque Azad on Tuesday was hearing the bail petition of Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary of the human rights organization Odhikar, and ASM Nasiruddin Elan, its director, in a case filed under the ICT Act.
Aj Mohammad Ali, the lawyer for the Odhikar officials, told the court that they had been sentenced to two years in jail in an ICT case. They were also fined Tk10,000 each.
At this time, Deputy Attorney General Rezaul Karim again opposed their bail.
When state counsel DAG Rezaul opposed the bail petition, the justice said: “Then why did you sentence them to two years in prison? Could you not give them life sentences?”
At one point in his speech, the justice also addressed the state counsel and said: "You have turned the country into hell."
