Swechchhasebak Dal calls hartal in Sylhet Aug 29

M Ilias Ali

Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal and Ilias Mukti Sangram Parishad have called a dawn-to-dusk hartal (shutdown) in Sylhet district for August 29 demanding information on the whereabouts of ‘disappeared’ M Ilias Ali, a former BNP lawmaker.

The hartal was declared from a rally Saturday afternoon, reports our Sylhet correspondent.

Ilias Ali, 48, went missing along with his driver from the capital on the night of April 18.

Swechchhasebak Dal and Ilias Mukti Sangram Parishad held Saturday's rally in the city’s Chouhatta area after a procession, marking 16 months of disappearance of Ali.

District BNP General Secretary Abdul Gaffar, Ilias Mukti Sangram Parishad joint convener and Swechchhasebak Dal Central Vice-president Shamsuzzaman Zaman, and Ilias Mukti Chhatra Sangram Parishad convener and central Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Vice-president Abdul Ahad Khan Jamal addressed the rally.

After the disappearance of the central BNP organising secretary, Ilias Mukti Sangram Parishad was formed to organise rallies and processions to press home the government for information about Ali.

From the rally scheduled for August 29, the leaders of Swechchhasebak Dal and Ilias Mukti Sangram Parishad will announce tougher programme for restoring caretaker government system and knowing whereabouts of Ali, the speakers said.