Selina Ivy on 2-Day Remand in July Murder Case

Selina Hayat Ivy, former Narayanganj City mayor and district Awami League senior vice-president, jailed over Minarul murder case in Siddhirganj.

A Narayanganj court on Saturday placed former Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Selina Hayat Ivy on a two-day police remand in a case filed over the killing of garment worker Minarul Islam during the July uprising in Siddhirganj.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Nur Mahsin issued the remand order after police sought a seven-day remand for interrogation.

Defence lawyer Awlad Hossain said they were not given a fair hearing in court. “We argued that the victim died in a road accident, which is confirmed by the medical certificate. Ivy’s name had not been mentioned by any of the accused earlier,” he said.

He also pointed out that the case statement directly blamed Shamim Osman for the gunfire that killed Minarul. “On these grounds, we appealed for cancellation of the remand prayer, but the court still allowed a two-day remand,” he added.

On the other hand, public prosecutor Omar Faruk Nayan stated that Ivy, a former vice-president of the Narayanganj District Awami League, was involved in the attack. “On orders from the party leadership, their supporters opened fire on students and civilians, killing ordinary people,” he alleged.

The prosecution sought a seven-day remand to uncover details about the incident, including the location of weapons and ammunition used in the attack. The court, however, approved a two-day remand after the hearing.

Ivy was arrested on 8 May in connection with the murder of Minarul Islam. The following day, she was sent to jail after an overnight standoff and an attack on the police convoy during her arrest.

The case centres on the killing of Minarul Islam during clashes between rival political groups in Siddhirganj last July.