In a stunning fall from grace, former Appellate Division Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, a powerful and controversial judicial figure, was apprehended while trying to cross the Sylhet border into India. 

Discovered lying on banana leaves, his current state is a jarring contrast to his overtly dominant lifestyle during the Awami League's regime.

Local residents near the border first spotted Manik and alerted the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), who questioned and then handed him over to the police.

Local officials and journalists described the location of his arrest as a hilly jungle near the Indian border, a far cry from his powerful position in Bangladeshi society.

During the BGB's interrogation, videos circulating on social media show Manik being questioned about his identity and reason for attempting to cross the border. 

In a somewhat humiliating exchange, a BGB member mocked Manik,referencing a recent incident where he insulted a TV presenter.

The incident has sparked significant public interest and highlighted the dramatic reversal of fortune for a once-influential judge.

When questioned about his reasons for fleeing to India, Justice Manik stated that he was "fleeing out of fear… fear of the administration."  He further revealed he was escaping with an agreement for 15,000 Taka, carrying a British passport, a Bangladeshi passport, money, and some debit and credit cards.

He alleged that those assisting him had taken a substantial amount of money from him, approximately 60-70 Lakh Taka, and even resorted to violence.

This incident adds to Justice Manik's ongoing legal troubles, including a recent case filed against him for making derogatory remarks about BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.

A tainted career

Justice Manik's career has been marked by a series of controversies. Recently, a Supreme Court lawyer urged the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate claims that Manik failed to pay rent on a government-provided house after his retirement. 

The lawyer alleged that Manik occupied a government residence in Gulshan for over a year post-retirement without settling rent, gas, and water bills, totaling 1.419 million Taka.

Throughout his career, Manik has been closely associated with the Awami League government. He was appointed Deputy Attorney General in 1996, participated in the Sheikh Mujib murder case, and was briefly a High Court judge. 

However, his position was not made permanent when the BNP came to power in 2001. His reinstatement as a judge in 2009, following the Awami League’s return to power, reignited controversies about his career.

Among the most notable controversies was his verdict in the Colonel Taher murder case, where he condemned the trial as a "cold-blooded murder" and labeled Ziaur Rahman a "cold-blooded killer." 

His contentious nature persisted, particularly when he publicly clashed with Chief Justice Surendra Sinha in 2015, which led to his removal from a bench and a subsequent request for Sinha’s impeachment just days before Sinha's retirement.

In 2012, Manik faced criticism for causing a stir over not getting a business class seat on a flight. He issued a contempt of court notice against senior officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which was later resolved when the officials granted an unconditional apology.

Despite facing significant criticism, including from members of the ruling Awami League in Parliament, Manik was promoted to the Supreme Court's Appellate Division in 2013, just six months after the parliamentary controversies.

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