BNP expels 61 Members for defying party decision in Upazila elections

In a recent development, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled 61 members for their participation in the second phase of Upazila Parishad elections.

The announcement was made via a press release sent to the media on Saturday afternoon, revealing the list of expelled individuals.

According to the statement, the decision to expel these members from all positions, including primary membership, was made for violating party discipline by participating in the elections against the party‍‍`s decision.

The announcement was sent under the name of the party‍‍`s Senior Joint Secretary General, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Among the expelled members, 26 are candidates for the chairman position, while 19 are running for vice-chairman and 16 for female vice-chairman positions.

The list of expelled members includes prominent figures such as former Union Parishad President Habib Al Amin from Bogura, BNP‍‍`s influential activist Rafiqul Islam from Devigong, Joint Editor Riyad Arfan Sarkar from Syedpur (Organizational District), BNP member from Dinajpur Riazul Islam, VP Arif from Lalpur Upazila in Natore, VP Jahangir Hossain from Baghatipur Upazila, Former Vice President Zulfikar Ali from Gangni Upazila in Meherpur, former Deputy Editor Md. Anamul Haque from Dighalia in Khulna, Organizational Editor Sabbir Ahmed from Khulna, former General Editor Abdul Halim from Borguna, Freedom Fighter from Manikganj Abdul Mannan, BNP member from Manikganj Khandaker Lekut Hossain, Vice Chairman from Bhuyapur Upazila in Tangail, Mostafizur Rahman, Central member of Youth League from Tongibari in Munshiganj, Former General Secretary of Tangibari Mahbubur Rahman, Cox‍‍`s Bazar‍‍`s Pequay Upazila‍‍`s former Vice President Shafiayet Aziz, former Organizational Editor Jakir Hossain Majumdar from Lama in Bandarban, and former Organizational Editor Abu Sufian from Hajiganj Upazila in Chandpur.

In the second phase, 26 of these expelled members are running for the chairman position in 159 upazilas across the country. Following the decision of the Standing Committee of the Central Council of the Party to boycott the upazila elections, various efforts were made to dissuade candidates from contesting. In this regard, a letter was sent to the candidates regarding the decision of the Standing Committee. Additionally, special responsibilities were assigned to central, divisional, and district-level leaders to convince the participating candidates about the decision. However, despite all efforts, they chose to participate in the elections.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of party activists, BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, "Discipline must be maintained within the party. The party has decided not to participate in the elections. Running as a candidate in the election means giving legitimacy to this illegitimate government. If the election is bigger than the party, then they should resign first. If you want to be part of the party, you must abide by the party‍‍`s decisions; otherwise, it may not be possible."