Dhaka : BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday threatened to wage tougher programmes if her party's disappeared leader M Ilias Ali and his driver are not retuned unharmed to their families by April 28.
She gave the ultimatum while addressing a crowded press conference at her Gulshan office at 7pm over Ilias Ali. The ultimatum came after hartal for three straight days, demanding the return of Ilias Ali and his driver, Ansar.
The BNP chairperson also announced countrywide demonstration programmes for April 26 and 28 to press for the demand. "The next course of programmes will be announced centrally on April 28," she said.
Ilias Ali, a former MP and BNP organising secretary, went missing along with his driver on April 17 midnight. BNP blamed security agencies for the mysterious disappearance of Ilias Ali, an allegation denied by the government.
Khaleda said they still hope that the good sense will prevail upon the government.
She asked the government to return to the path of peace and democracy, shunning the nasty path of terrorism, secret killing and forced disappearance. "Return Ilias and his driver immediately as they have been made disappeared," she urged the government.
Wife of Ilias Ali, Tahsina Rushdir Luna and their two sons and daughter were present at the press conference.
Asked whether Ilias was alive, Khaleda said they could not be sure but were hopeful as the government said it would find him out.
Replying to a question, she said it the government might have picked up Ilias Ali following her party's growing popularity and Ilias Ali was a popular leader.
"Government agency men and RAB members are involved with it," she told reporters adding that it is the responsibility of the government to find out Ilias and his driver.
In response to another question, she said investigation into the disappearance of Ilias Ali will take its own course while the movement will go on its own way.
Asked whether BNP will seek cooperation from any international organisation in this regard, she said many British MPs have already expressed concern over Ilias' disappearance and the matter was raised in House of Commons.
Asked whether she or her party will talk to the President over Ilias issue, Khaleda said a high-level BNP delegation met the Home Minister and discussed it with her.
Sought comments whether there was any deal with the government over Ilias issue, she replied in the negative.
BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, MK Anwar, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Maj Gen (retd) Ruhul Alam Chowdhury and BNP chairperson's press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan were, among others, present at the press conference.
She gave the ultimatum while addressing a crowded press conference at her Gulshan office at 7pm over Ilias Ali. The ultimatum came after hartal for three straight days, demanding the return of Ilias Ali and his driver, Ansar.
The BNP chairperson also announced countrywide demonstration programmes for April 26 and 28 to press for the demand. "The next course of programmes will be announced centrally on April 28," she said.
Ilias Ali, a former MP and BNP organising secretary, went missing along with his driver on April 17 midnight. BNP blamed security agencies for the mysterious disappearance of Ilias Ali, an allegation denied by the government.
Khaleda said they still hope that the good sense will prevail upon the government.
She asked the government to return to the path of peace and democracy, shunning the nasty path of terrorism, secret killing and forced disappearance. "Return Ilias and his driver immediately as they have been made disappeared," she urged the government.
Wife of Ilias Ali, Tahsina Rushdir Luna and their two sons and daughter were present at the press conference.
Asked whether Ilias was alive, Khaleda said they could not be sure but were hopeful as the government said it would find him out.
Replying to a question, she said it the government might have picked up Ilias Ali following her party's growing popularity and Ilias Ali was a popular leader.
"Government agency men and RAB members are involved with it," she told reporters adding that it is the responsibility of the government to find out Ilias and his driver.
In response to another question, she said investigation into the disappearance of Ilias Ali will take its own course while the movement will go on its own way.
Asked whether BNP will seek cooperation from any international organisation in this regard, she said many British MPs have already expressed concern over Ilias' disappearance and the matter was raised in House of Commons.
Asked whether she or her party will talk to the President over Ilias issue, Khaleda said a high-level BNP delegation met the Home Minister and discussed it with her.
Sought comments whether there was any deal with the government over Ilias issue, she replied in the negative.
BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, MK Anwar, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Maj Gen (retd) Ruhul Alam Chowdhury and BNP chairperson's press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan were, among others, present at the press conference.
