Bidisha Siddique Denied Bail in Dhaka Flat Fraud Case
Former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad's ex-wife Bidisha Siddique has had her bail plea rejected by a Dhaka court following her conviction in a flat sales fraud case. Siddique, who was sentenced to two years in prison, has now filed an appeal against her sentence.
A Dhaka court has officially rejected the bail petition of Bidisha Siddique, the former wife of the late former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad, in connection with a prominent flat sales fraud case originating in the capital's Gulshan area. The decision was handed down by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Shahjahan Kabir following a formal hearing on the matter.
The legal proceedings stem from a judgment delivered earlier this year on May 20. On that date, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Jamshed Alam found Bidisha Siddique guilty in the Gulshan police station fraud case regarding the sale of a flat. The magistrate sentenced her to two years of rigorous imprisonment, alongside a fine of ten thousand taka, with an additional one month of simple imprisonment stipulated in default of payment.
Following her sentencing, law enforcement authorities apprehended Siddique on August 25 at approximately 8:30 PM from a restaurant located within the capital city. The subsequent day, on August 26, she was formally sent to jail to begin serving her judicial custody as mandated by the lower court's ruling.
In response to the judicial outcome, Siddique’s legal defense team has taken immediate steps to challenge the conviction. Lawyer Md. Mahmudul Kabir addressed the legal strategy, stating that they have formally filed an appeal against the sentence which the court has accepted for review.
Elaborating on the defense's position during the recent court proceedings, lawyer Md. Mahmudul Kabir noted that they had simultaneously moved for bail on behalf of their client. During the hearing, the defense argued that Siddique has a special-needs child and requested the court to grant her bail on humanitarian grounds as a woman. However, citing the gravity of the case, the court ultimately rejected the bail application.
Despite the setback at the metropolitan sessions court, the defense has indicated that the legal battle is far from over. Lawyer Md. Mahmudul Kabir confirmed that following this order rejecting their bail plea, they intend to take the matter further by appealing to the higher court in pursuit of her release.
