An investigator on Monday told a Dhaka court that the missing Bangladesh Nationalist Party organising secretary M Ilias Ali had repeatedly tried to contact one of his lawyers on mobile phone about an hour before his disappearance but failed.
Banani police officer-in-charge (investigation) made the statement in his eighth report on the progress in the probe into the disappearance of Ilias and his driver.
Ilias, also a former BNP lawmaker, and his driver Ansar Ali went missing on early April 18.
In the report, Kazi Mainul Islam said before he went missing on the night of April 17, Ilias along with his five supporters had stayed at Rupashi Bangla Hotel for about an hour and had repeatedly tried to contact his lawyer Khondaker Ahsan Tarique. Ahsan, however, did not receive the call.
The report also added that Ilias had talked to one of his relatives, businessman Mohammad Sajal, and his family members at the hotel. Ilias went out of the hotel at 12:15am and left there with his driver in a private car.
Metropolitan magistrate Mohammad Maniruzzaman on April 19 directed the Banani police to submit reports on the progress in the investigation of the disappearance of Ilias and his driver in every 48 hours.