MP Tahsina Rushdir Luna Demands Whereabouts of Ilias Ali; Calls for State Recognition of Enforced Disappearance Victims

Tahsina Rushdir Luna, Member of Parliament for Sylhet-2 and wife of disappeared BNP leader M Ilias Ali, made an impassioned plea on the floor of the House on Monday (March 30). Participating in the discussion on the President's speech during the first session of the 13th National Parliament, she demanded to know the fate of her husband and others who fell victim to enforced disappearances over the past 17 years.

Ilias Ali, along with his driver, went missing from Dhaka’s Banani area on April 17, 2012. Addressing the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Law Minister, Luna questioned why the families are still left in the dark despite the country being freed from "fascist rule" nearly a year and a half ago. "We want to know where our children are. What happened to Ilias and Suman Parvez?" she asked the Speaker.

Beyond seeking the whereabouts of the disappeared, MP Luna demanded that all victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings under the previous regime be officially recognized as ‘July Warriors.’ She further urged the government to ensure justice by punishing those involved in these crimes and called for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the affected families, who often face severe financial and legal hurdles.

Commending President Md. Sahabuddin for accurately portraying the grim reality of the previous regime's "fascist role" and for aligning with the electoral manifesto of the BNP, Luna expressed her optimism. She concluded by stating that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh would successfully eradicate the culture of enforced disappearances and transition into a discrimination-free, prosperous nation.