The BNP has expelled its 43 current and former leaders for life for defying party orders and participating in Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) polls.
The leaders were informed about the expulsion in a letter signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday night.
Among them, one mayoral candidate of Juba Dal participated in the election, 38 people contested for the post of councillor of general wards, and four for the position of councillor of reserved wards.
Earlier, the BNP issued show-cause notices against 41 leaders and activists, including the district unit Chhatra Dal president and general secretary, for participating in the upcoming Sylhet City Corporation (CCC) elections, disobeying the party decision.
The recipients were asked to explain why organizational action will not be taken against them within the next 24 hours.
However, only five leaders responded, and none of them withdrew from the polls. Because of this, those 43 leaders have been expelled from the party for life.
Sylhet district unit BNP President Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury said that BNP is not participating in any polls under the current government and Election Commission. “But in Sylhet, those who did not accept the party's decision and became candidates were expelled by BNP for life.”
Sylhet Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury said that the letter of expulsion was sent to the concerned leaders on WhatsApp.
On Saturday, BNP issued lifetime expulsions to its nine leaders for participating in the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election in violation of party decisions.
A letter, signed by the party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, was delivered to the respective leaders on Saturday.
On Thursday, the BNP issued show-cause notices to 19 candidates of the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) election for the same reason in separate letters.
Those facing the notice include former central Chhatra Dal leader Kamrul Hasan, who is vying for the mayoral post as an independent candidate, and three Barisal city unit joint conveners and members of the BNP contesting for general councilor posts.
On the other hand, in the upcoming Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) election, slated for June 21, there are 12 BNP leaders for general councillor positions and three for reserved women councillor positions. Five of them are general councillors and two are reserved women councillors.
Earlier, in defiance of the party decision, 29 BNP leaders contested the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election, with a dozen of them emerging victorious in the voting that saw a 48.75% turnout. All of them were expelled for life before the election, which took place on May 25.
