The main opposition BNP on Wednesday claimed that its organising secretary M Ilias Ali, who mysteriously went missing one year ago, is in government custody.“We still believe Ilias is in custody of the government’s law enforcers or other agencies,” BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told reporters while visiting Ilias Ali’s Banani residence.
“We demand the government return Ilias Ali safely to his family,” he added.
Mosharraf, along with BNP vice chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka, went to Ilias’ residence, ‘Sylhet House’, around 10am to console his family members, marking the day of his forced disappearance.
Ilias Ali went missing along with his driver, Ansar Ali, on April 17 midnight last year. Since then, BNP has been blaming the security agencies for his mysterious disappearance, an allegation denied by the government.
The BNP leaders talked to Ilias’ wife Tahsina Rushdir Luna and his sons and daughters, and enquired about their wellbeing.
Talking to reporters, Mosharraf said they came to Ilias’ house on behalf of party chief Khaleda Zia to console them.
He said though the Prime Minister had assured Ilias’ family of taking every necessary step to return him alive to them, the government could not trace his whereabouts over the last one year.
He accused the government of trying to return to power through holding a lopsided election by keeping the opposition leaders and activists in jail.
“We want to clearly state that the government won’t be able to resist the ongoing movement for restoration of the caretaker government by resorting to repressive acts and killing and making people disappeared,” the BNP leader said.
Replying to a question that the BNP chief may be arrested, Mosharraf said the government can arrest her in ‘false’ cases if it wants. “But its consequence will be horrifying.”
Ilias’ wife Luna said, “I still believe I’ll get back my husband if the government becomes sincere. I’m counting on Allah.”
With tears in her eyes, Luna alleged that the law enforcers did not inform her about the progress of their inquiries though one year has already elapsed. UNB
