Dhaka, 02 September (H.S.): Bidisha Ershad, the second wife of former President Hussain Muhammad Ershad, will remain in jail after her bail plea was rejected in an alleged fraud case involving the sale of a flat. Several lawyers, including Dhaka Bar Association President Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan, appeared on Bidisha’s behalf before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Shahjahan Kabir and sought bail. Lawyer Hemayetuddin Khan Hiron, appearing for the complainant, opposed the bail petition.

According to a report by the Dhaka Tribune, Bidisha’s other lawyer, Moniruzzaman Sabuj, said that the court rejected the bail petition after hearing the arguments. He said, “We sought bail on the condition that she would file an appeal. We will now approach the High Court and seek justice there.” On May 20, the court sentenced Bidisha to two years in prison and imposed a fine of 10,000 taka (approximately Rs 7,732).

As Bidisha had been absconding, the court issued an arrest warrant against her. Police arrested her from a restaurant in Gulshan at around 8:30 p.m. on August 25. She was produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Dhaka the following day, and the court ordered that she be sent to jail.

Businessman Mosharraf Hossain Sikder filed the case at Gulshan Police Station in 2008, accusing her of fraud in connection with the sale of a flat at President Park in Baridhara. According to the complaint, the flat was agreed to be sold for 80 lakh taka between the two parties. The complaint alleges that on July 10, 2001, Bidisha called Mosharraf to the Rajnigandha office in Banani and asked him to issue a pay order of 75 lakh taka in the name of her nominee and friend, Abdul Razzaq.

Mosharraf paid the amount through Standard Chartered Bank’s Kawran Bazar branch. Subsequently, both parties signed a memorandum of understanding. Under the agreement, the registration of the flat was to be completed after the remaining amount was paid and approval was obtained from the Capital Development Authority (RAJUK). The complainant alleged that despite a promise to hand over the flat by July 10, 2002, it was not handed over even after a considerable period had elapsed.

The complaint states that when Mosharraf pressured Bidisha to hand over the flat, she promised to return the money. It is alleged that on February 9, 2005, she issued a cheque for 72 lakh taka. However, when the cheque was deposited, it was dishonoured due to insufficient funds in the account. The complainant alleged that Bidisha subsequently delayed the matter by making various excuses and neither returned the money nor handed over the flat. He also alleged that Bidisha threatened to have him killed.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar