SC upholds Ivy’s bail in 10 cases

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday upheld the High Court bail of former Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Selina Hayat Ivy in 10 cases.

The apex court dismissed five petitions filed by the state challenging the HC verdicts that on November 9 last year granted bail to Ivy in five cases and vacated its chamber judge’s orders that stayed her HC bail in other five cases.

This means that Ivy’s HC bail in total 10 cases will remain effective, Deputy Attorney General Fatima Akhter and Ivy’s lawyers Md Motaher Hossain Sazu and SM Hridoy Rahman told The Daily Star.

There is no legal bar to Ivy’s release from jail following the SC orders, Motaher said.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury delivered the orders.

The Appellate Division also asked the HC to dispose of the rules issued on February 26, directing the state to explain why Ivy should not be granted permanent bail in five cases.

On May 9 last year, the former NCC mayor was arrested in connection with garment worker Minarul murder case and later she was shown arrested in nine other criminal cases.

The HC granted bail to Ivy, former senior vice-president of the Narayanganj district Awami League, whose political activities are banned, in all the 10 cases on November 9 last year and February 26 this year following her bail petitions.

Ivy was shown arrested in two other murder cases immediately after the HC granted her bail in five other cases on February 26 this year, said her lawyer Sazu.

He said the cases were filed with Siddhirganj Police Station in Narayanganj on charges of killings Selim Mondal and Abdus Salam during the July uprising in 2024.

On April 30, the HC granted ad-interim bail to Ivy and also issued two separate rules asking the state to explain as to why she should not be granted permanent bail in the cases.

The state then filed two petitions with the Appellate Division seeking stay on the HC bail. The petitions are pending with the Appellate Division.