Former Comilla mayor Monirul Haque Sakku has resigned from the BNP in order to contest the upcoming city corporation polls.
Sakku’s personal assistant, Kabir Hassan Majumder, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune on Thursday evening.
His resignation came shortly after Nizam Uddin Kaisar resigned as president of Shwecchashebak Dal, the BNP’s volunteer wing.
He tendered his resignation to the BNP’s Comilla south unit chief Rabeya Chowdhury.
Earlier in the day, the election commission cleared both Sakku and Kaisar to contest the mayoral polls after scrutinizing their nominations.
Sakku, a two-time mayor of Comilla city, decided to step down from his post as joint secretary of the south unit as the BNP has refused to partake in any election under the Awami League government.
Kaisar also resigned citing similar reasons, saying: “Running for the polls while holding a post will reflect badly on the party’s image.”
Expelled for life
The BNP has expelled Sakku from the party for life due to his decision to contest the polls.
“Former joint secretary of the BNP’s Comilla south unit Monirul Haque Sakku has hereby been banished from all posts of the party, including a primary member, for violating party rules,” said a media statement issued by the BNP on Thursday.
The statement added that Sakku has been requested to refrain from contacting any of the party activists or members henceforth.
The Comilla City Corporation polls are scheduled for June 15.
Polls to six municipalities and 135 union parishads will also be held on the same day.
The deadline for filing nominations was May 17. Officials verified the nominations on May 19. Candidates have until May 26 to pull out of the race.
Polls symbols will be allotted to candidates on May 27.
Balloting in Comilla city will be held using electronic voting machines (EVMs).
