Former mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation and senior vice-president of the district Awami League, Selina Hayat Ivy, has been sent to jail in connection with the murder of Minarul in Siddhirganj.
The order was issued by Narayanganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Mainuddin Kader following a hearing today (9 May).
According to Narayanganj court police inspector Md Kaiyum Khan, Ivy was produced before the court in the Minarul murder case, after which the court ordered her to be sent to jail.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for 26 May.
Police arrested Ivy from her house in the city`s Deobhog area early this morning (9 May).
Prior to her arrest, Ivy had said in a statement, "Even if I am in jail, I will contest the election. I am not afraid of anyone. I am a daughter from Chunka."
A team of police arrived at her house around 11:30pm yesterday (8 May). Hearing the news, Ivy`s followers gathered outside her house to prevent the arrest.
To prevent her arrest, Ivy`s supporters and activists of the Awami League blocked four roads leading to her house using bamboo poles, pushcarts, vans, and piles of sand. Announcements were made through loudspeakers in nearby mosques urging people to head toward Ivy`s residence.
As Ivy`s house remained surrounded throughout the night, the police deployed additional forces.
Quoting witnesses, police said at least 50 police officials including Narayanganj Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nasir Uddin and Narayanganj (Circle A) Additional Superintendent of Police Hasanuzzaman went to Ivy`s house in Deobhog area yesterday at 11:30pm.
During this time, at least 30 police officials entered the house.
During this time, Narayanganj police`s Additional SP (Crime and Operations) Tarek Al Mehedi announced through a hand mike, "There are cases against Ivy and we have come to take her. It will not be fruitful if you try to obstruct us. You can stay here if you want, but we will also stay and take her."
Later she was taken into custody at dawn.
At the time of her arrest, Ivy told journalists that the police were detaining her without showing any arrest warrant.
"If chanting `Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu` is a crime, then I am a criminal. But in my 21 years of service to Narayanganj, I have never done anything to harm any party or individual," she said.
"I have always spoken out whenever there was a killing in Narayanganj. Arresting me as a criminal without committing any crime is an act of discrimination," she added.
There are six cases against Ivy with Siddhirganj and Fatulla police stations over allegations of killing and attempt to murder during the July uprising, police said.
Following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August, the position of city mayor was abolished. Since then, Ivy had been staying at her home.
