The police yesterday showed to have arrested Bidisha in connection with a passport forgery case. She is already in police custody in a theft case filed by Ershad on June 4.

Two lower courts rejected her bail prayers after she was produced before them yesterday in the theft and passport forgery cases, the second one filed with Mohammadpur Police Station on June 5. Both courts also directed the authorities to comply with Tuesday's High Court (HC) orders.

She was produced before the courts late yesterday although the High Court had directed the government to immediately transfer ailing Bidisha to the prison cell.

A pale-looking Bidisha -- her eyes shut and face, hands and legs swollen -- was carried to the docks about half an hour after she was taken to the court hajat at about 2:20pm in a white police van. She fainted in the docks, prompting women police to pour water on her to help her regain her senses. She was later given a chair to sit in the dock with the support of two female policemen.

Court proceedings over, Bidisha was taken to Dhaka Central Jail at 4:20pm from where she was shifted to the BSMMUH at 6:05pm.

Bidisha's domestic help Jesmin Sangma, arrested on Tuesday, was, meanwhile, remanded for two days yesterday after the police showed her arrested in the theft case. The police in their prayer for taking Sangma on a five-day remand said she knows everything about Bidisha's "criminal activities".

CONTEMPT CHARGE
Bidisha's lawyers yesterday said they would charge Dhaka jail authorities with contempt of court for refusing them a meeting with their client despite the High Court ordered full access of the lawyers to her during police remand or custody.

"We went to the jail to meet Bidisha, but we were not allowed," said Barrister Sara Hossain, one of Bidisha's lawyers. "We sent a slip to the jailer thrice from the gate as we were barred from entering the jail for around two hours from 4:20pm, but he even did not bother to meet us," she said.

The lawyers were not allowed to see Bidisha at the prison cell, either.

As the lawyers showed Deputy Jailer Jannatul Farhad the High Court order, he said, "This order will not do, you need to take permission from the Dhaka Central Jail authorities."

The lawyers, Bidisha's father Abu Bakar Siddiq, a former Rajshahi University professor, and her sister Manisha left at about 7:15pm.

"After consulting Bidisha's father, we will file a contempt of court case in the High Court against the jail authorities for dishonouring the High Court order," said Barrister Tanjibul Alam, another lawyer of Bidisha.

CASE MEANT FOR HARASSMENT
Another counsel for Bidisha, Shafi Uddin Bhuiyan, argued in the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka that the cases were filed to harass and humiliate his client. He maintained that the government pressured Ershad into filing the case to advance its petty interests. Moreover, Bidisha is a victim of the government's dirty game.

"Bidisha deserves to be set free on bail as she is seriously ill. Moreover, she now has fainted twice in the dock," Bhuiyan told the court.

The lawyers also submitted the certified copy of High Court orders.

The forwarding report Investigation officer (IO) Kazi Nure Alam, also officer in charge of Gulshan Police Station, placed before the lower court yesterday says Bidisha gave important information during her three-day remand, which is being verified. Moreover, she is a short-tempered woman who poses a threat to the life of the complainant if she gets bail until the investigation of the case is over, the IO said.

Magistrate Rafiqul Islam rejected the bail petition and directed authorities to comply with the High Court directives. Bidisha broke down in tears and slapped her forehead on hearing the order.

Later, she was taken to the court of Magistrate Jagannath Das Khokon where Bidisha was shown arrested in the other case on charges of false personification in one of her three Bangladesh passports, and providing false information about her place and date of birth.

In the two passports issued on March 1, 1996 and February 27, 2000 she mentioned her name as Bidisha Siddiq Wilson, place of birth as Bagherhat and date of birth to be July 1, 1967.

However, in another passport issued on January 7, 2003, the date of birth reads March 6, 1971 and place of birth Dhaka.

The defence lawyers, while moving for her bail, said their client was not involved in the matter. Moreover, the police implicated her as part of a conspiracy to harass her.

The court, however, rejected the bail petition, but it directed the authorities to comply with the High Court order and allow Bidisha's family to meet her.

BIDISHA FEARS FOR LIFE
Bidisha fears that she may be killed in police custody. "Ask Dr Kamal to put up my case, otherwise the police may kill me in their custody," Barrister Tanjibul Alam quoted Bidisha as saying.

Bidisha later told journalists yesterday that the IO asked her to disclose names of the journalists who, according to the IO, maintain contact with her. She did not name any, though.

She also alleged that she was not allowed to sleep properly and take medicine.

"I did not embezzle money, neither did I steal mobile set or damage furniture," Bidisha said and added that it is Ershad who is a thief, as he has stolen her son Eric Ershad.