A Dhaka court has issued a show cause notice to a senior police officer for allegedly obstructing judicial proceedings during the arrest hearing of former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, who delivered the landmark Bangabandhu assassination verdict.

Tarek Zubair, Deputy Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Crime, Information and Prosecution Division, has been asked to explain his conduct by July 30, according to a court order issued by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sanaullah.

Khairul Haque was arrested on July 24 in connection with a murder case filed at Jatrabari Police Station. During the scheduled court hearing, DC Zubair allegedly called the judge from his mobile phone, insisting on conducting the hearing while keeping Haque in a prison van outside the court.

The magistrate reportedly declined the request to uphold the integrity of judicial proceedings. Later, when asked how long it would take to present the accused in court, Zubair reportedly refused to respond and advised the judge to speak to a DMP advisor or commissioner.

The court described the DC’s behavior as “disrespectful” and amounting to obstruction of judicial work, potentially constituting contempt of court. It warned that the matter could be escalated to the Chief Justice via the Registrar General of the Supreme Court.

Khairul’s arrest has triggered political backlash. The ruling Awami League called it “unjust” and linked it to alleged repression by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

The court’s response signals rising tensions between the judiciary and law enforcement in Bangladesh amid growing scrutiny of legal proceedings involving high-profile figures.