BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas yesterday said that the media distorted his statement regarding the disappearance of former BNP lawmaker M Ilias Ali.

Mentioning that a newspaper quoted him saying the BNP leaders were involved in the disappearance of Ilias Ali, he said, "Can someone prove that I had said it? Absurd, impossible!"

He then said, "I want to say clearly, my statement was distorted."

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

He also urged the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to find those involved in the incident.

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

The BNP leader also said, "In the media report, it was also reported that the government or the Awami League did not abduct Ilias Ali. I did not even say that. My statement was twisted.

"As a member of the party's standing committee, is it possible for me to say that BNP leaders abducted Ilias Ali?"

Mirza Abbas also said, "I did not make any comment for which I have to be embarrassed to the nation, the party, its leaders and activists.

"Those who listened to my statement probably could not understand. I am sorry that I could not make them understand."

Asked whether he said that the government did not abduct Ilias Ali, Mirza Abbas said, "I commented sarcastically. It means that government should say where Ilias Ali is. The government has to answer.

"Ilias Ali was abducted during this government's tenure. If the government does not know, then who knows? I wanted to say this."

This paper has footage of Abbas saying on Saturday that some BNP men were behind the disappearance of Ilias Ali.