The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the High Court’s bail orders granted to former Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Selina Hayat Ivy in 10 separate criminal cases, effectively clearing the way for her release from jail.
In its ruling, the apex court dismissed five petitions filed by the state challenging earlier High Court decisions. Those decisions had granted bail to Ivy in five cases on 9 November last year and later extended similar relief in five additional cases. The court also vacated chamber judge orders that had earlier stayed the High Court’s bail orders.
Following the verdict, legal representatives confirmed that Ivy’s bail in all 10 cases will remain valid. Deputy Attorney General Fatima Akhter and Ivy’s lawyers Md Motaher Hossain Sazu and SM Hridoy Rahman stated that there is now no legal obstacle to her release from custody.
A bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury delivered the orders after hearing 10 separate petitions filed by the state.
The court also directed the High Court to dispose of rules issued on 26 February, which asked the government to explain why Ivy should not be granted permanent bail in five of the cases.
Ivy was arrested on 9 May last year in connection with the murder of garment worker Minarul, and was later shown arrested in nine additional cases. After the High Court granted her bail in several cases, she was again implicated in two more murder cases related to incidents during the July 2024 Uprising.
Her legal team noted that she was granted ad-interim bail by the High Court on 30 April, along with further judicial observations seeking clarification on permanent bail.
While the state had attempted to challenge the bail orders in multiple cases, those petitions remain pending in some instances before the Appellate Division.
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