Police sue over 250, arrest 3 for obstructing Ivy's arrest, attacking law enforcers

Three people were arrested today (13 May) in a case filed by the Narayanganj police on charges of attacking law enforcers and obstructing the arrest of Selina Hayat Ivy, former city mayor and senior vice-president of the district Awami League, on 8 May.

The case was filed with the Narayanganj Sadar Police Station last night (12 May) by Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Ripon Mridha.

Confirming the case filing, Narayanganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Tarek Al Mehedi said, "Three people named in the case have been arrested. Efforts are underway to arrest the rest."

Over 250 people, with 52 named, have been accused in the case.

Following the filing of the case, police arrested Md Jisan (28), son of Md Hanif, Md Hanif (40), son of Md Kashem, and Shawkat Mikhun, son of Abdul Hai, according to police.

All of them are residents of the Shahidnagar area of Naraynganj city.

The named accused in the case include Narayanganj Sadar Thana Swechchhasebak League President Shafiqul Islam Babu, Siddhirganj Jubo League Vice President Kamrul Huda Babu, Shafiqul Islam Liton, Mainuddin Ahmed Russell, Kabir Hossain, Jamir Hossain Roni and Motaleb Hossain Master.

Police said when a team went to arrest former mayor Ivy in the murder case of garment worker Minarul Islam in Siddhirganj during the July Uprising, the law enforcers were obstructed by her supporters and the locals.

Later, Narayanganj Additional Superintendent of Police Tarek Al Mehedi, Additional Superintendent of Police (K-Circle) Hasinuzzaman, OC Nasir Uddin Ahmed and OC Shahinur Alam, along with other police members, entered Ivy's house and remained in a state of siege from 11:30pm to 5:30am.

During this time, Awami League leaders and activists who were outside raised slogans against the police and created a tense situation.

While Ivy was being arrested and taken away, an attack was made on the police at the Ukilpara intersection in the city. Several police officers were injured in the incident, police added.

The day after her arrest, Ivy was produced in the court of Narayanganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Mainuddin Kader. The judge ordered Ivy to be sent to jail.

She was later taken to Kashimpur Women's Central Jail in Gazipur.

Ivy granted division facilities in jail, bail denied

On 12 May, a Narayanganj court denied a bail application of Ivy but granted her division facilities in the prison after hearing two separate applications from her lawyers. 

The court of Narayanganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Shamsur Rahman passed the orders.

The defendant's lawyer, Advocate Mahbubur Rahman Masum, confirmed the developments to The Business Standard.

"The court has rejected her bail application. The court has given her a division in the prison with the status of a state minister," he said.

Another lawyer for the defendant, Advocate Awlad Hossain, said, "Ivy stayed in her own house during the Anti-Discrimination Movement. She was never active on the streets against the movement."

Accusing that former AL lawmaker Shamim Osman opposed the movement and opened fire on protesters, Awlad said, "That Shamim Osman has been allowed to leave the country without hindrance. And Ivy has been arrested."