BANGLADESH

Police have raided several places in Chandpur to trace missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali.

However, there was no news of any breakthrough until 10pm Saturday.

Additional superintendent of Chandpur police Mohammad Amir Jafar told bdnews24.com: "We have information that an ambulance carrying Ilias Ali entered Chandpur from Comilla. We are searching various places ... he is yet to be recovered."

Police patrolling had been intensified in the district, he added.

The car of former MP and one of BNP's organising secretaries Ilias was found abandoned at Mohakhali near his Banani residence in the capital on April 18. Ilias and his driver Ansar Ali has been missing since then.

His family and the party have alleged that government's henchmen had picked up Ilias.

The party has already enforced three days of dawn-to-dusk general strike and announced to observe another round of two-day hartal on Sunday and Monday in protest against his disappearance.