The BNP has sought an explanation from the party's standing committee member Mirza Abbas over his statement on the disappearance of the party leader M Ilias Ali.

Party sources said the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, on behalf of the party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman, sent the letter to him yesterday afternoon.

The letter reads that Ilias Ali remained missing for the last nine years and centering his disappearance a public opinion was formed inside and outside the country.

The letter read, "Your [statement] questioned the public opinion. In such a situation, the party's leaders and activists expect an explanation from you."

A day after delivering the statement, Mirza Abbas had said that the media distorted his statement on the disappearance of former BNP lawmaker M Ilias Ali.

Mirza Abbas, while attending a virtual programme, had said that someone from the BNP was involved in the disappearance.

He also urged the party's secretary general to find those involved in the incident.

However, after the statement was published in several media outlets, the BNP leader held a press conference at his residence in Dhaka's Shahjahanpur area and claimed that the media only presented a partial statement.

"Quoting me, a newspaper published that someone from the BNP is involved in the disappearance of former BNP lawmaker M Ilias Ali. Can anyone prove it? Impossible… I want to say it clearly that my statement was distorted," he had said in the briefing.

"The newspaper also said, the government and the ruling Awami League were not involved in the disappearance of Ilias Ali. I did not say this. It was twisted," he added.