3 HC judges resign amid misconduct allegations

Three judges from the High Court Division of the Supreme Court — Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury, Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque, and Justice AKM Zahirul Hoque — resigned on Tuesday after being barred from performing judicial duties for five years due to allegations of misconduct. 

The judges submitted their resignation letters, which were accepted by the President on November 19. 

A notification from the Ministry of Law, signed by Secretary Sheikh Abu Taher, confirmed the resignations. It stated, "Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury, Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque, and Justice AKM Zahirul Hoque of the High Court Division have resigned in accordance with Article 96 (4) of the Constitution. The President has accepted their resignations."

The three judges had been prohibited from performing judicial duties for nearly five years, and their decision to resign follows the formation of the Supreme Judicial Council, which may have influenced their choice. 

This marks the conclusion of extended inquiries into their alleged misconduct, which had kept them off the bench since the investigations began.