BNP on Tuesday alleged that plainclothes police tried to forcefully enter missing BNP leader Ilias Ali’s Banani residence at the dead of night on Monday, scaring the family members.

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that the law enforcers have kept harassing BNP leaders and activists, even in the holy month of  Ramadan, just to spread panic among them.

“DB police went to our missing leader Ilias Ali’s residence, Sylhet House, in Banani right before Sehri and asked his ailing wife, Tahsina Rushdir Luna, to open the door,” Rizvi said, UNB reports.

He said Luna got panicked at this and phoned BNP leaders urging them to protect her.

As reporters started gathering in front of the house, the BNP leader said, the DB personnel left the spot. “I strongly condemn the cowardice and terror role of the plainclothes police.”

Ilias Ali went missing along with his driver, Ansar Ali, on the midnight of 17 April, 2012. Since then, BNP has been blaming the security agencies for his mysterious disappearance, an allegation denied by the government.

Contacted, Luna said a team of DB police had been in front of their house around 3am and asked the security guards to open the gate, but they did not.

Later, she said, the police left the spot around 4am. “We’re deeply worried and terrified over such an attitude of the police.”

KK