Muhammad Abdul Hafiz
Muhammad Abdul Hafiz | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1, 1967 |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka |
| Occupation | Judge |
| Known for | Judge of the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court |
Muhammad Abdul Hafiz serves as a judge on the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court.
Early life
Born on 1 June 1967, Abdul Hafiz pursued his higher education at the University of Dhaka, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees.
Career
Abdul Hafiz initiated his legal profession at the Dhaka District court in 1982 and advanced to become an advocate of the High Court Division by 1985. He was designated as an additional judge of the High Court Division on 27 April 2004, before being confirmed as a permanent judge exactly one year later.
During his judicial service, Abdul Hafiz has overseen numerous high-profile cases involving key political leaders and activists. Notably, in May 2010, he authorized bail for suspects in the Shamim Reza Rubel murder investigation. Two months later, in July 2010, he sanctioned bail for activists from the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal linked to confrontations at University of Dhaka's Madhur Canteen, alongside members of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
In June 2011, bail was granted by Abdul Hafiz to BNP politicians Abdus Salam Pintu and Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu. By August 2018, he allowed bail for BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and directed the government to return the passport belonging to Sylhet's mayor, Ariful Haque Choudhury.
October 2018 saw Abdul Hafiz approve bail for several BNP figures such as Abdul Moyeen Khan and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who faced sedition allegations. Later that month, barrister Mainul Hosein was also granted bail in defamation proceedings. In January 2019, he extended bail provisions to journalists charged under the Digital Security Act.
Between June 2019 and September 2021, Abdul Hafiz repeatedly granted bail to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia concerning defamation and other legal matters, including a notable five-year extension in 2021.
In October 2020, he approved bail in a case under the Digital Security Act related to derogatory online remarks about national leaders. Subsequently, in June 2021, he authorized bail for BNP politician Nipun Roy Chowdhury regarding multiple cases tied to leaked telephone conversations.