BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the Awami League government has ‘introduced the culture of enforced disappearance’ in Bangladesh politics by making their party leader Ilias Ali missing nine years ago. “Those who speak in favour of Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty and the country’s independent existence are being consciously and systematically annihilated, disappeared or detained,” he said. Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “The incident of enforced disappearance has begun in the politics of Bangladesh with Ilias Ali’s one as the first attempt to weaken the nationalist force.” Sylhet Divisional Nationalist Sanghati Sammilani in Dhaka arranged the discussion demanding that BNP leader Ilias Ali be traced who was reportedly made disappeared nine years back. Also read: BNP launches virtual meetings with senior leaders 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. Fakhrul said they are still hopeful about the return of Ilias Ali. “We'll never give up our hope as we know that Elias Ali will come back to us. We also believe that our other boys who have gone missing will return among us.” He said they are trying to bring a change in the government in a democratic manner enduring immense repressions to free the nation from misrule and protect the country’s independence and sovereignty. “We believe our young generation will undoubtedly be able to turn Bangladesh into a free and successful independent Bangladesh.” The BNP leader said a brave leader like Ilias Ali is needed to protect the interest of the country and its people and over the current awful situation. Also read: Coronavirus situation alarming, says BNP He said Bangladesh is now under the grip of two monsters—the current government and the coronavirus. Fakhrul said the Awami League government has been trying to protect the interests of other countries sacrificing Bangladesh’s ones just to hang onto power. Under the circumstances, he said, they are trying to overhaul their party and strengthen its organisational capacity to establish people’s rights and restore democracy in the country. Fakhrul said it is a great achievement of BNP that none of its leader and activist left the party though they have been subjected to serious repressive acts for over a decade. Also read: BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said the enforced disappearance of Ilias Ali is a clear proof that Bangladesh's independent sovereignty is going to be ruined. He thinks neither the Bangladesh government nor the Awami League made Ilias Ali disappeared. “But who did it? I want to know this from this government…I would like to say those who have done it don’t want to see Bangladesh as an independent country.”