also a former prime minister. Ali was among those charged with corruption. On 10 August 2008, Ali got anticipatory bail from the High Court related to an extortion charge in another case. 2008 election/change of government Biswanath police in Sylhet filed charges against Ilias Ali and nearly 50 local BNP leaders, for obstructing them as the police seized scattered ballot papers the day after the 29 December election. On 19 January 2010, Ali and 42 others got anticipatory bail from the High Court. It ordered the government to show cause within four weeks as to why the petitioners should not be granted permanent bail in this case. In January 2009, the Awami League government filed charges of conspiracy against Ilias Ali and 250 BNP members. He accused the government of harassment and attempting to repress the opposition. In December 2011 the government filed six cases against him. Opposition activities Long March As Organizing Secretary, Ali had major responsibilities for the "Long March," announced for 1 October 2011 by Khaleda Zia as a protest against the government's progress in a joint land survey and resolution of issues with long-disputed lands along the Sylhet-Meghalaya and Sylhet-Assam borders to India. As a result of the survey, Bangladesh ceded more than 200 acres in this area. At the end of the Long March, there was a rally of Lacs (100 thousand) people at the Madrasa. In addition to Khaleda Zia, Ilias Ali and Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh and former BNP energy advisor, were speakers. Ali spoke about resisting changes to land tenure in the border area. Since the survey had been done, local residents complained that they were being barred from ploughing croplands and fishing on the Jaintapur and Gowainghat borders. Two Bangladeshis were shot dead and at least 20 others injured in clashes in 2011 in the two months preceding the Long March. Locals under the forum 'Amra Simantabashi' (We are the border people) have been raising protest against the survey. The forum is mainly dominated by the political opposition leaders of the region. In preparation for the Long March, Ali arranged for a grand rally at Sylhet Aliyah Madrasha. He had leaflets describing the event printed and distributed in Sylhet and the key areas of Bondor Bazar, Court Point, Zindabazar, Amborkhana and others. During the Long March, Khaleda Zia traveled through a total of six districts, stopping to speak to