An influential leader of BNP and former lawmaker of Sylhet-2 constituency M Ilias Ali has been missing for more than a decade, but his family members are still waiting to get him back.
However, a former RAB officer, Sub Inspector of Police (SI) Masood Rana claimed that Ilias Ali had been killed a long time ago.
Masood Rana, who worked at the RAB headquarters from 2014 to 2017, said in a video message, “Sad news for those waiting for BNP leader Ilias Ali. He was killed a long time ago.”
Describing how Ilias Ali was murdered, Masood said, “He was taken to the sea through Patenga Beach in a speedboat under heavy security. His mouth was wrapped in polythene and his stomach was pierced with a knife. He was tied to a stone and drowned in the sea.”
Masud Rana added, “Not just Ilias Ali, many leaders remain missing. Some people have been rescued from the Ayna Ghar. Those who could not be tracked as yet had met this tragic end.”
On the night of April 17, 2012, Ilias Ali and his driver Ansar Ali were picked up from Banani Road by unknown people. The police recovered the abandoned car. The duo have been missing ever since.
Human chain demands the return of missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali in Sylhet
Residents of Bishwanathpur and Osmaninagar upazilas of Sylhet on Thursday formed a human chain demanding the return of M Ilias Ali, former organizing secretary of BNP's central executive committee and president of the district unit of the party.
They formed the human chain on Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar premises in the afternoon.
Though the BNP leaders had been silent for a long on this issue, they now raised voices after Sheikh Hasina left the country following the student-led mass uprising on August 5.
Addressing the event, speakers alleged that Ilias Ali had been vocal against Indian dominance and Sheikh Hasina's fascism. Dictator Sheikh Hasina kidnapped him in 2012, they alleged.
Demanding the immediate release of the BNP's former leader, they threatened that they would go for tougher programmes if he did not return.
Chaired by former Vice-President of Sylhet district BNP Jalal Uddin, Bishwanath Upazila's Swechchhasebak Dal Member Secretary Ashiqur Rahman conducted the programme.
Fakhrul Islam Faruk, vice president of the district unit of BNP, Fakhruddin Chairman, president of Osmaninagar unit of BNP, Aminul Haque Belal, president of Sylhet Press Owners' Association and former BNP leader, among others, spoke at the event.
