A 49-year-old woman was detained today after allegedly appearing in place of the actual accused in a cheque dishonour case, surrendering before a Dhaka court and seeking bail.

The two lawyers representing her reportedly left the courtroom after she was detained.

The surrender and bail petition, signed by Supreme Court lawyer Hammad Emdad Hossain, was submitted before the court at noon. Court employees, however, are yet to confirm whether Hammad was among the two lawyers who represented the woman.

Lawyer Hammad told The Daily Star, "I don’t know anything about this."

Several journalists contacted him for comments following the incident.

He claimed that he has not practised in the lower courts since 2022.

Judge Tania Sultana Lipi of Dhaka’s Joint Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court-4 today ordered Monowara Begum into police custody on allegations of fraud after she allegedly appeared before the court in place of the actual accused, Nasrin Sikder, said bench assistant Ibrahim Khalil Apu.“During the hearing, the judge became suspicious after questioning Monowara about her age. When she gave false information to the court, the judge ordered her detention. The lawyers representing her then reportedly left the courtroom in haste,” he said.

"We handed over the woman to Kotwali Police Station, and a case is supposed to be filed against her for fraud," Sub-Inspector Ripon Molla, in charge of the lock-up at the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, told The Daily Star.

After being detained, Monowara, who works as a cleaner, broke down in tears.

“I know nothing about this,” she told the court between sobs. “A lawyer from Agarbati Goli near the court brought me here. I have committed no crime. If anyone has, it is that lawyer. Please release me and arrest him. I earn a living by cleaning lawyers’ chambers. The lawyer called me, so I came.”

She pleaded, saying, “Please forgive me and let me go. I also work in people’s homes to support myself. I know nothing about this. I have two young children.”

According to court records, the case was filed on March 23 last year by Nibedita Ahmed Tuli against Nasrin.

The complaint states that, due to a close family relationship between the parties, the complainant provided Nasrin with a total of Tk 29 lakh at different times for the purchase of a flat. In return, Nasrin allegedly issued a cheque from BRAC Bank on January 27 of the previous year.

When the complainant later deposited the cheque at Sonali Bank for encashment, it was returned unpaid due to “insufficient funds”. She subsequently filed the case with the court seeking redress.