The State has filed an application seeking a stay of the High Court’s directive that barred authorities from showing former Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Selina Hayat Ivy as arrested without specific cases and instructed that she not be harassed.
The development was confirmed on Tuesday (19 May) by Ivy’s lawyer, Motahar Hossain Saju.
According to the case history, Selina Hayat Ivy was arrested at around 3:00 am on 9 May last year from Chunka Kutir in the Deobhog area of Narayanganj city. Following her arrest, she was shown as arrested in multiple cases. Subsequently, the High Court granted bail in five cases. However, the Appellate Division stayed that bail following an appeal by the State.
Later, on 18 November, she was shown arrested in five additional cases. On 26 February, the court granted bail in those cases as well, but those orders were also stayed following applications by the State. Eventually, the Appellate Division upheld bail granted in a total of 10 cases.
Amid this legal process, police from Siddhirganj Police Station sought to show Ivy as arrested in two separate murder cases filed on 11 September 2024 and 30 June 2025 respectively. The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Narayanganj allowed the applications on 2 March in one case and on 12 April in the other.
A writ petition was subsequently filed challenging the legality of these arrest records. After hearing the matter, on 26 April, the High Court issued a rule asking why the act of showing her as arrested (so-called “shown arrest”) in the two Siddhirganj cases should not be declared beyond legal authority and contrary to fundamental rights.
In the same order, the High Court directed that Ivy must not be shown arrested or harassed in cases where there is no specific case-based justification.
The State has now approached the Appellate Division seeking a stay of the High Court’s order.
Timeline of Key Legal Developments
| Date | Event | Judicial Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 9 May (last year) | Arrest from Chunka Kutir, Deobhog | Arrest executed |
| Subsequent period | Shown arrested in multiple cases | Multiple cases added |
| Later period | Bail granted in five cases | Stayed by Appellate Division |
| 18 November | Shown arrested in five more cases | Additional cases included |
| 26 February | Bail granted in those cases | Later stayed |
| 2 March | Arrest shown in murder case | Allowed by Chief Judicial Magistrate |
| 12 April | Arrest shown in second case | Allowed by Chief Judicial Magistrate |
| 26 April | High Court ruling | Rule issued; restriction on harassment |
| Recent | State appeal | Stay sought in Appellate Division |