Families of enforced disappearance victims are in serious trouble: BNP

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday 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 house missing BNP leader Ilias Ali in the city’s Banani area, he also alleged that the government has so far not taken any initiative to trace the victims of enforced disappearance because of its own 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 BNP leader Ilias Ali and his driver from Banani area a decade ago in the capital. “It’s very clear that this incident happened through this government. As the government has no step to find out the victims of enforced disappearance, their families are being deprived of all facilities and facing serious ordeals.”

Fakhrul along with BNP joint secretary general Sayed Moazzem Hossain Alal went to Ilias’ house at noon and talked to his wife Tahsina Rushdir Luna and other family members. He also presented them with the Eid gifts on behalf of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Referring to his conversation with Luan, he said Ilias Ali's family has been in great danger. “His (Ilias’) wife told me that they could not handle his (Ilias Ali's) bank account. They couldn't even pay tax on his car. These things have caused a great deal of pain to the family."

The BNP leader said Ilias’ family had to face a lot of problems regarding her daughter's college admission as some colleges were not allowing for admission. “Not only Ilias Ali’s family, but all the families of the victims of enforced disappearance are going through a lot of trouble."

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-ul-Fitr.

BNP organising secretary M Ilias Ali along with his driver Ansar Ali went missing on the midnight of April 17, 2012 from the capital’s Banani area. Since then, BNP has been blaming the security agencies for the mysterious disappearance, an allegation denied by the government.