Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia have probably concealed the party’s joint secretary general Salahuddin Ahmed, said the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina on Saturday.

Addressing a discussion organised by Professionals Coordination Council at the Krishibid Institution in Dhaka, she also said at least eight sacks of rubbishes were dumped by the BNP chief’s office and Salahuddin might have been there.

Hasina Ahmed, the wife of Salahuddin Ahmed, earlier complained that her husband had went missing since law enforcers picked him up from a Uttara house in Dhaka on 10 March night.

The law enforcers, however, brushed aside the allegations.

Khaleda Zia in her Friday press conference urged the government to return unhurt Salahuddin.

Prime minister on Saturday said, ‘She [Khaleda] had an APS. He was used to issue a press release from underground, deep underground ... You have presumably noticed in newspaper that city corporation clearers brought eight sacks of rubbishes from that house [of Khaleda]. She yesterday alleged that her APS had gone missing. Probably it’s her party’s joint secretary, isn’t it? ... He is still missing.’

She goes on: ‘When I went to meet her [Khaleda], I knew Salahuddin was in the office and sending press releases from there. Everyone knew that... My question is, whether Khaleda had trafficked him somewhere else.’

The prime minister said, ‘We are searching for him [Salahuddin Ahmed] and it’s true. We must arrest him, if we can. He is accused in several cases.’