The High Court has granted six months’ interim bail to former Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayor Selina Hayat Ivy in five cases, including ones filed over murder allegations.

The bench of Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher passed the order with a rule on Thursday.

Senior lawyer Sara Hossain and Motaher Hossain Saju argued for the bail petitioner, assisted by lawyer SM Hridoy Rahman.

Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Ashiquzzaman Nazrul represented the state.

Police arrested Ivy from her residence in Narayanganj city in the early hours of May 9 last year.

She was later shown arrested in three cases filed over alleged murders and two over attempted murders in connection with the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

After being denied bail by a lower court in these five cases, she filed separate petitions with the High Court and secured bail.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, her lawyer Saju said: “After Ivy obtained bail from the High Court in these five cases, the state filed applications with the Appellate Division, which stayed the bail.”

“The day she was granted bail by the High Court, applications were made to show her arrested in five more cases, which were allowed in November last year.”

Saju added that Ivy was not named as a suspect in the first information reports of these five cases.

“We told the court that she has been in prison for a long time, and there has been no progress in the investigation. After the hearing, the High Court granted her six months’ interim bail with a rule,” he said.

He added that she will not be released immediately, as the state’s petitions challenging her bail in the other five cases are pending before the Appellate Division.