President Mohammed Shahabuddin has accepted the resignation letter of High Court Justice Md Akhtaruzzaman, who faced misconduct allegations before the Supreme Judicial Council.

Justice Akhtaruzzaman submitted his resignation letter on 31 August, ahead of the council’s final decision on the charges. The president approved it on 7 September, according to an update published Thursday (11 September ) on the Supreme Court website and confirmed by its public relations officer, Md Shafiqul Islam.

The council began an investigation against Akhtaruzzaman on 23 March after the president ordered a probe into misconduct allegations. He appeared before the council on 1 July  following a notice served on 25 June . The council held its final hearing on 26 August .

Justice Akhtaruzzaman was among 12 judges barred from judicial duties on 16 October last year after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government during the July uprising. Protesters had branded them as allies of the ousted regime.

The resignation makes him the fifth High Court judge to step down since the Supreme Judicial Council launched misconduct proceedings. Earlier, Justices Salma Masud Chowdhury, Kazi Reza-ul Haque, and A.K.M. Zahirul Haque resigned in November last year, while Justice Shahed Nuruddin resigned on 30 January this year.