Several BNP leaders involved in Ilias Ali’s disappearance: Mirza Abbas

BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said several leaders of the party are involved with the disappearance of BNP leader Ilias Ali, not the Awami League government.

“Awami League government didn’t abduct Ilias Ali. Many know the persons hiding inside the party (BNP),” he told a virtual discussion.

Sylhet Bibhag Jatiyatabadi Sanghati Sammeloni-Dhaka arranged the discussion seeking quick recovery of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s illness and demanding of getting back BNP organizing secretary M Ilias Ali.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir joined the virtual discussion as the chief guest.

Ilias, the then organising secretary of the BNP, went missing along with his driver Ansar Ali from the city’s Banani area on April 17, 2012. BNP was blaming the government for the incident so far.

Pointing to the party’s secretary general, Mirza Abbas said: “In the previous night of his disappearance, Ilias Ali was locked into severe arguments with a person at the party office. Ilias was harshly scolding the person. The snakes that bite from behind are still staying inside my party. If they are not removed, the party cannot go ahead by any means.”

"I got the information around 2:30am on that night when Ilias disappeared. I immediately contacted the officials I knew, and they informed me that he (Ilias) was being taken to Chattogram."

The driver of Ilias Ali's car has also not been found since then, said the BNP leader.

Nine years have passed since M Ilias Ali and his driver Ansar disappeared from the capital, but their families are still waiting anxiously for their return.

He said those who are involved with the incident do not want the country’s independence and sovereignty.

“I know the Awami League government didn’t abduct him. I want to know from the government those who are involved with the disappearance, can’t they be exposed to justice?” he said.