HC orders no more arrest of ex-N’ganj mayor Ivy in new cases

Ivy, ex-Mayor of Narayanganj.

Dhaka, Apr 26 — The High Court on Sunday directed authorities not to harass or arrest former Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Selina Hayat Ivy in any new cases.

At the same time, the court issued a rule asking why showing Ivy as “shown arrested” in successive cases should not be declared illegal.

A bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury issued the rule upon a petition, asking the home secretary, law secretary and 14 others to respond. The order was confirmed by Advocate Motahar Hossain Saju, who appeared for Ivy alongside senior lawyer Barrister Sara Hossain.

Advocate Motahar Hossain Saju said Ivy has already secured bail in 10 cases from the High Court, but was recently shown arrested in two new cases. Challenging the legality of such actions, a writ petition was filed, following which the court issued the rule and directive.

Ivy was arrested from her Deobhog residence in Narayanganj on May 9 last year and later shown arrested in multiple cases. She was initially granted bail in five cases by the High Court, which was later stayed by the Appellate Division.

She was subsequently shown arrested in further cases, bringing the total number of cases against her to 12, according to the petition. - UNB