Wing Commander Saifur Rahman produced before ICT in Elias Ali disappearance case

Former BNP lawmaker and leader Elias Ali's disappearance case has taken a new turn with Air Force Wing Commander Saifur Rahman Saif being produced before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka.

Saifur was taken to the tribunal shortly after 9am on Sunday (August 23) following a warrant issued against him in the case, which has been brought under allegations of crimes against humanity.

Prosecution sources said the tribunal's arrest warrant was executed and Saifur was brought before the court. The prosecution is expected to seek an order formally showing him arrested in the case.

Earlier, on August 9, International Crimes Tribunal-1 issued an arrest warrant against Saifur. The prosecution later said investigators had found information indicating his alleged involvement in the disappearance of Elias Ali. The investigation, however, has not yet been completed.

Elias Ali, then BNP organising secretary and a former lawmaker, went missing from Dhaka's Banani area on the night of April 17, 2012. His personal driver, Ansar Ali, also disappeared with him. Neither has been traced since.

The disappearance has remained unresolved for more than 14 years, with various claims and allegations emerging over the years but no confirmed information about their whereabouts or fate.

The case is now being investigated as an alleged crime against humanity. Saifur's appearance before the tribunal marks a significant development in the long-running investigation into the disappearance.