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Ershad now denies filing cheating case

Further hearing on Bidisha's bail petition on June 18

STAR REPORT
Questions swirl over the cheating case in which former military ruler HM Ershad's estranged wife Bidisha has been kept behind bars, after Ershad yesterday came up with a series of contradictory statements.
"I did not lodge the case in which Bidisha is now being held in jail," he told reporters at the VIP Lounge of Zia International Airport (ZIA) yesterday morning on his return from Saudi Arabia.
Ershad was learnt to have filed the case on June 5 with the Court of
First Class Magistrate, Dhaka accusing Bidisha of hiding her marriage with British Peter Stuart Wilson from him and marrying him without divorcing Wilson. But he also said he did not file the case on that day.
Bidisha, who was expected to be released Monday on obtaining bail in a passport forgery case, was shown arrested in the cheating case Monday evening when her relatives
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.were waiting to receive her.
Her lawyers, however, pointed out that a complainant has to appear in person before the court to file such a case, which Ershad did not do.
Dhaka Central Jail Authorities informed Bidisha's lawyers and relatives of the cheating case Monday evening although the case was filed on June 5.
Ershad, also chairman of Jatiya Party, filed a case on June 4 charging Bidisha with theft, ransacking, and making threats to his life. Gulshan police arrested Bidisha, who acted as a presidium member of Jatiya Party until her expulsion, at Ershad's Baridhara residence the same day.
She was shown arrested later in a passport forgery case. The Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka refused her bail in both cases, but the Court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge granted her bail in the theft and passport forgery cases on Sunday and Monday.
BIDISHA YET TO GET BAIL
Bidisha's counsels yesterday moved a petition before the Court of First Class Magistrate, Dhaka for her bail in the cheating case. They argued that the case aims to harass her. "She did not hide any information and did not cheat on Ershad," Advocate Zahirul Islam, one of her lawyers, told the court.
The defence lawyers sought Bidisha's bail on the grounds that the charges brought against her are bailable. Besides, it needs to be taken into account that she is seriously ill.
Ershad's counsel Advocate Syed Amzad Hossain opposed the bail prayer.
First Class Magistrate Mofidur Rahman heard both sides and said he would further hear the arguments on June 18.
CONFUSION
"I do not know of the case in which Bidisha is in jail now," Ershad said
yesterday, completely contradicting the records of the cheating case that bears his signature and was filed on June 5.
He mentioned in the complaint that Bidisha had been the wife of Wilson, keeping him (Ershad) in the dark despite having relations with him (Ershad) in marriage.
Bidisha continued the relation with Wilson and stayed with him in London as husband and wife even after her marriage with Ershad, the complaint said, adding that Bidisha mentioned Wilson as her husband while applying to Bangladesh High Commission in London for passport.
Asked about the charge of adultery, Ershad told reporters yesterday: "I have no knowledge about the other case or who filed it. I am sure the government knows about it."
Asked how many cases he filed against Bidisha, Ershad said, "I lodged two cases on June 3 and 4 against my former wife -- one for stealing property and making threat to my life and the other for fraudulence."
Referring to his marriage with Bidisha, Ershad said, "I trusted Bidisha and married her in the belief that she was a divorcee. I divorced her when I found that she lied to me about her previous married life."
"After learning that Bidisha obtained a passport mentioning Peter Wilson as her husband, what can [I] do? How can one tolerate this? I did not commit any sin. In fact, Bidisha committed sin."
NO GOVT PRESSURE, LINK
Ershad denied having "any covert link" with the coalition government that forced him to expel and divorce his second wife. "I have not signed agreement with anyone."
"Election is still far off. We will first consolidate the party and then take decision keeping in view the national and party interest," he said.
On allegations about kidnapping his son Eric, the former dictator said, "Why should I kidnap my own son? ... Eric is very much with me as you
are seeing now. In fact, it has long been my intention to take my son with me to perform Umrah Hajj."
About speculations that he would not return home because of the Bidisha episode, Ershad said, "When I die, I will die on the soil of Bangladesh."
Jatiya Party senior leaders including Kazi Jafar Ahmed, Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Golam Habib Dulal, Mujibur Rahman, Mohammad Ali Sarker were present at the airport to receive Ershad.
He also briefly addressed the waiting party workers on Airport Road. He told the crowd through loudspeaker that he married and divorced Bidisha in accordance with "Sharia".
"Can I not divorce my wife?" he quipped.