The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday expelled Barrister Shahjahan Omar for violating party discipline, after he submitted a nomination paper as an Awami League candidate for the Jhalakathi-1 constituency.
A press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said Shahjahan Omar has been expelled from all party posts, and his primary membership has also been revoked.
Shahjahan Omar was the vice chairman of BNP.
Earlier on Thursday, Shahjahan in a press briefing, said he would contest in the national polls from Jhalakathi-1.
On Wednesday, Shahjahan was released on bail from Kashimpur Central Jail. He was arrested in a case filed for setting a bus on fire in Dhaka’s New Market area on November 4.
The BNP has expelled several senior leaders in the last few days for “violating party discipline.”
On November 28, the BNP expelled Chairperson's Advisory Council Member Syed AK Ekramuzzaman and National Executive Committee Member Shah Md Abu Zafar.
The duo was expelled from all positions, including primary membership in the party, based on allegations of involvement in activities against party discipline.
Ekramuzzaman is contesting as an independent candidate from the Brahmanbaria-1 constituency in the January 7 election.
The other expelled leader, Abu Zafar, joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM) on November 20. He serves as the party's acting chairman.
On November 15, the BNP expelled its two national executive committee members—Advocate Khandaker Ahsan Habib and Barrister Fakrul Islam—from the party's all levels for announcing to join the election.
They were expelled from all posts of the BNP, including primary membership, based on specific allegations of their involvement in activities that go against party discipline, said a party press release, and signed by its Assistant Office Secretary Taiful Islam Tipu.
The duo expressed their disagreement with BNP’s ongoing movement and called upon the party to participate in the upcoming election.
The 12th parliamentary election is scheduled for January 7.
The deadline for submission of nomination papers in the 12th parliamentary elections expired on Thursday.
Aspirants were asked to submit their nomination papers to the returning officers within 4pm.
The nomination papers will be scrutinized on December 1-4 and then the candidatures can be withdrawn by December 17.
The 12th parliamentary election will be held on January 7 (Sunday), 2024 as per the polls schedule announced by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on November 15 last.