Eid won’t bring any joy to them

Not only Ilias Ali's family, but all the families of the victims of enforced disappearance are also going through a tough time.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said the family members of the victims of enforced disappearance, including that of Ilias Ali, are going through serious problems in absence of their near and dear ones.   

Talking to reporters after visiting the home of missing BNP leader Ilias in Dhaka's Banani, he also alleged that the government has so far not taken any initiative to trace the victims because of its involvement in these incidents.

"The situation would have been different had the government taken any initiative to find out the people who were subjected to enforced disappearance. But no such effort of the government was seen since it is involved (in these incidents)," Fakhrul said.

He said people saw that law enforcers had picked up Ilias and his driver from Banani a decade ago.

Fakhrul along with BNP joint secretary general Sayed Moazzem Hossain Alal went to Ilias' home at noon and talked to his wife Tahsina Rushdir Luna and other family members.

He also presented them with Eid gifts.

The BNP leader said Ilias' family had to face a lot of problems, including financial crisis and over their daughter's college admission as some colleges were not allowing it. "Not only Ilias Ali's family, but all the families of the victims of enforced disappearance are also going through a tough time."

He said their party has been trying to stand by the family members of those who were made disappeared by providing them with gifts and financial assistance on the occasion of Eid.

For these families, Eid will not bring any joy.

Ilias, then organising secretary of Sylhet division unit of BNP, and his driver Ansar went missing from Banani on the night of April 17, 2012.

Since then, their families have been anxiously waiting for their return.

On many occasions, the families and BNP alleged involvement of members of law enforcement in their disappearances, an allegation denied by the government.