Government failure to trace missing Ilias frustrating

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday expressed disappointment over "government failure" in tracing out former lawmaker and the party's organising secretary (Sylhet division), M Ilias Ali, who, along with his driver, has been missing since April 17, 2012.

"Already four years have gone by...The government failed to inform us what happened to him. It is frustrating as he has not been rescued even after the prime minister gave the assurance to the victim's family members," a BNP leader quoted Fakhrul as saying.     

Fakhrul made the remarks on meeting the family at Ilias' Banani residence in the capital in presence of some party men. BNP claims that government agencies picked them up to make them disappear.      

Tahsina Rushdir Luna, wife of Illias, said, "The prime minister told me that she will give high priority to the missing incident but later the law enforcers did not cooperate with me in getting him back." The people did not see any effective initiative such as arrests or interrogations, BBC Bangla quoted Luna as saying, adding, "They just said they are trying." She said she would hold on to hope till her dying breath. Meanwhile, Ilias Mukti Sangram Parishad formed a human chain at the Sylhet Shaheed Minar demanding Ilias' return while Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal offered prayers.