Ivy’s bail denied, court grants division at jail

A Narayanganj court yesterday rejected the bail petition of Salina Hayat Ivy, former mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation, and ordered jail authorities to provide her with division facilities.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Shamsur Rahman passed the order in the afternoon, confirmed advocate SM Siddiqur Rahman, one of Ivy's defence counsels.

"We informed the court that Ivy is a clean and honest politician. She served as mayor for three terms and was previously the municipality chairman. Her arrest has tarnished the image of the government," Siddiqur told reporters outside the courtroom.

Another defence lawyer, advocate Mahbubur Rahman Masum, said the court turned down the bail plea but granted their subsequent request for division facilities in prison, instructing jail authorities accordingly.

Ivy, also the former senior vice-president of AL's district unit, was arrested on Friday morning from her ancestral home in Deobhog area of Narayanganj city.

According to locals, police launched a raid at the residence on Thursday night, but due to resistance from area residents and Ivy's supporters, officers had to wait until dawn. She was taken to the district police superintendent's office.

Police later showed her arrested in a murder case filed over an incident during the anti-discrimination students movement in July last year. Ivy was sent to Kashimpur Women's Central Jail later.

She has been named in five cases involving murder and attempted murder during the July uprising that led to the ouster of the AL government in August 5.