More time needed for finding Ilias: Shahara

Over a month into his disappearance, Home Minister Shahara Khatun yesterday sought more time to trace missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali.
The home minister said an investigation into the disappearance is underway and law enforcement agencies are trying hard to locate him. The government is still hopeful of finding him but more time is needed.
She was replying to queries from journalists after inaugurating a three-day workshop at a hotel in the capital.
Former BNP lawmaker Ilias Ali and his driver Ansar Ali went missing in the wee hours of April 18.
Shahara also urged the opposition party to shun politics of destruction. “People do not like destructive activities,” she said.
The International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) organised the workshop on disaster management in Saarc nations at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel.
Earlier at the inaugural programme Shahara said, “At present Bangladesh is putting together a regional plan of action to fight natural hazards, particularly earthquake.”
An agreement on rapid response to natural disaster has been signed in the Saarc 17th Summit to ensure that no member state is overwhelmed by a natural calamity, she added.
The home minister said through Comprehensive Disaster Management Programmes, the government has conducted safety and evacuation drills in more than 100 schools and plans to insert such drills in the school curriculum so that children can learn to respond quickly during an earthquake.
She also said that the government is in the process of preparing 62,000 volunteers for conducting rescue operation in urban areas after an earthquake. So far 25 percent people of the target number is trained.
Disaster Management and Relief Division Secretary Dr M Aslam Alam said Dhaka is in high risk of earthquakes and he hopes that Saarc Disaster Management Centre will help to fight such disasters should they arise.
Dr Satendra IFS, executive director of Saarc Disaster Management Centre, Neal Walker, UN resident coordinator, were present among others at the ceremony, which was presided over by Brig Gen (Retd) Abu Nayeem Md Shahidullah, director general of Fire Service and Civil Defence.