Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Views divided in BNP camp

The BNP top brass appear to have differing views on missing party leader Ilias Ali's wife Tahsin Rushdir Luna's presence in Saturday's Rab drive to rescue her husband.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia expressed her displeasure over this when Luna met her on Saturday night, and that frustrated Luna, party insiders said.
Asked about the Rab drive and reported negotiations between the government and BNP over Ilias, Luna yesterday only said, “There is no hope from anyone. I want my husband back at any cost.”
Ilias Ali, BNP organising secretary and former lawmaker, along with his car driver went missing in the early hours of April 18.
The main opposition party has accused the government of abducting Ilias while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described the incident as a drama.
On Saturday, following its joint drive with police at Pubail in Gazipur, Rab said they took Ilias' wife with them during the operation.
But Luna, who met Khaleda Zia after the drive, said she did not go anywhere with Rab.
BNP insiders said hearing about the drive, a group of party leaders met the chairperson and said it was not a right decision for Luna to go with Rab. She should have informed the party first about her decision so that it could get involved in the rescue process.
Khaleda agreed with them and expressed her displeasure to Luna when she met her.
The party insiders further said another group of leaders met Khaleda on Sunday night and convinced her that Luna took the right decision since rescuing Ilias is the first priority for her and for the party as well. A message was communicated to Luna that the party would stand by her in any situation.
Talking to the media at her residence yesterday, Luna said she was not afraid of anyone exerting pressure on her. “Who'll put pressure on me and why? I have no time to listen to anyone's statements. I just want my husband back."
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, a senior BNP leader said some leaders were busy trying to use the incident for their political gains.
Meanwhile, Khaleda did not visit Ilias' family yesterday although sources at her office had informed the media earlier that she would visit the family in the evening.
BNP standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mia met the wife and children of Ilias, and said the party would do its best to ensure that Ilias returned to them.
Contacted, State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku yesterday said investigation into the incident was still on, and when it ends, the outcome will be made public.
Commander M Sohail, director of Rapid Action Battalion's legal and media wing, said, “From the beginning, we are investigating the incident with utmost sincerity but we need more time to complete the task.”
Kazi Mainul, investigation officer for the general diary filed after Ilias' missing, said they yesterday submitted a second report to a Dhaka court, describing their efforts to rescue Ilias.

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