BANGLADESH

The home ministry has reacted sharply to reports appearing in a section of the media on a 'deal' reached between the government and the BNP to 'return' missing leader M Ilias Ali.

Dubbing the report baseless, a media statement on Monday said all-out efforts were being made by the law enforcing agencies to trace the BNP organising secretary.

Ilias' wife Tahsina Rushdir Luna was sincerely helping the law enforcers, the statement said.

"Instead of helping the government for an early recovery of the abducted leader," the note said, "the opposition is misleading people by making false and instigative remarks to provoke them."

About the report on Ilias, it said, "These reports even talked of some imaginary conditions for the release of Ilias, thus creating confusion among the people."

The reports were, in fact, aimed at thwarting the efforts to recover the victims, Ilias and driver of his car Ansar Ali, it added.

The home ministry also urged everyone to help speed up the recovery.