Stand-released Pirojpur judge transferred

Pirojpur District and Sessions Judge Md Abdul Mannan, who was stand released from his duties and attached to the law ministry on March 3, has been transferred to Kurigram.

His release came hours after he had passed an order to send former Awami League lawmaker AKMA  Awal and his wife Laila Parvin to jail in three corruption cases. The incident drew widespread criticism from the civil society and media.

The law ministry made the transfer under the advice from the Supreme Court, said a law ministry notification issued on March 10. It said Judge Abdul Mannan has been transferred as the district and sessions judge of Kurigram on public interest. On March 4, the High Court issued a rule asking the law and justice division secretary of the law ministry to explain why the decision to stand release Abdul Mannan should not be declared illegal.

The bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir had come up with the suo moto rule after newspapers published reports on the law ministry decision.