BNP show-causes 64 leaders for contesting upazila polls

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party has issued show-cause notices to its 64 grassroots leaders, seeking an explanation as to why they are contesting the forthcoming upazila parishad elections first phase on May 8, defying the party decision. Among them, 24 BNP leaders were contesting as chairman, 21 as vice chairman, and 19 as reserved-seat vice chairman. BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told New Age that letters were sent to contestants on Wednesday, asking them to reply within 48 hours. He said that on April 15, the BNP standing committee meeting decided to boycott the upcoming upazila parishad elections as the party believed that no election could be peacefully held under the Awami League. ‘As the BNP people did not withdraw their candidature in the upazila election in defiance of the party decision and contesting elections by them, it was a violation of party discipline and gross betrayal of the party. The party would take action against them,’ he said. He added that instructions had been given to submit a written explanation to the acting chairman of the party at the Naya Paltan central office within 48 hours, showing proper reasons as to why organisational action would not be taken against them as per the party constitution. According to the BNP office, out of 64 leaders, five have already been expelled from the party, and the decision about others will be taken after discussion in the party forum upon receiving their reply to the letter. The five expelled leaders are president of Jaldhaka upazila unit BNP of Nilphamari district Fahmid Faisal Chowdhury, vice-president of Dinajpur district’s Birol upazila BNP Sadek Ali, joint convener of Chikondandi union of Chattogram north district Rashed Ali Mahmud, and Cox’s Bazar BNP leaders Zahurul Alam and Hannah Mia.
Published on: 2024-04-25 15:25:24.328067 +0200 CEST