No Legal Barrier to Ivy’s Release as Bail Upheld in 12 Cases

The Appellate Division’s Chamber Court has upheld the High Court’s bail orders for former Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Selina Hayat Ivy in two more murder cases filed with Siddhirganj থানা, clearing the way for her release from jail.

With the latest order, Ivy now has active bail in all 12 cases filed against her, and her lawyers say there is currently no legal obstacle to her release.

On Sunday, Chamber Judge Justice Md Rezaul Haque passed a “no order” decision on separate petitions filed by the state seeking a stay on the High Court’s interim bail orders in the two cases. As a result, the bail granted by the High Court remains effective.

According to court sources, Ivy had earlier secured bail in 10 cases. However, after those bail orders, she was shown arrested in two additional murder cases filed with Siddhirganj Police Station. She was shown arrested in one case on March 2 and in the other on April 12.

The High Court on April 30 issued a rule and granted her interim bail in both cases. The state later filed separate petitions with the Appellate Division seeking to suspend those bail orders.

Following a hearing on Sunday, the Chamber Court declined to stay the High Court orders, effectively allowing the bail to remain in force.

Senior lawyer Motahar Hossain Saju and advocate SM Siddiqur Rahman represented Ivy during the hearing, assisted by advocate SM Hridoy Rahman. Deputy Attorney General Syeda Sazia Sharmin appeared for the state.

Ivy was arrested from her residence in the Deobhog area of Narayanganj city in the early hours of May 9 last year. She was later shown arrested in three murder cases and two attempted murder cases linked to the anti-discrimination student-public movement.

In the first phase, the High Court granted her bail in those five cases on November 9 last year. The state challenged the bail orders before the Appellate Division, and the Chamber Court temporarily stayed the bail before sending the matter to the regular bench.

Later, on May 10, the Appellate Division dismissed the state’s leave-to-appeal petitions, thereby upholding the High Court’s bail orders in the five cases.

After securing bail in the first batch of cases, Ivy was shown arrested in five more cases in November last year. Four of those were murder cases filed with Fatullah Police Station, while another involved allegations of assault and obstruction of government duties filed with Narayanganj Sadar Police Station.

On February 26, the High Court granted her six months’ interim bail in the second batch of five cases and issued a rule regarding the bail matter. Although the Chamber Court later stayed the bail following state petitions, the Appellate Division on May 10 withdrew the stay orders and upheld the High Court’s bail decisions.

With the latest Chamber Court order in the Siddhirganj cases, Ivy now has bail in all 12 cases against her.

One of her lawyers said the process of sending the Appellate Division’s orders and related documents to prison authorities and other relevant offices is underway. If all formalities are completed, Ivy may be released later this week.