BNP takes Babar back
Withdraws his expulsion order
BNP has withdrawn the expulsion order against former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, now detained in an August 21 grenade attack case.
In a letter issued on December 17, the party said it hopes Babar would commit himself to strengthening the organisation.
The letter, signed by Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, addresses Babar as former publication affairs secretary.
It reads, "You would be glad to know that the expulsion order against you has been withdrawn in line with clause 5 (c) of the party charter and on instructions from the honourable chairperson."
Meanwhile, BNP leaders and workers in Netrakona, Babar's home district, welcomed the decision to bring the former state minister back to the fold. They brought out a procession to celebrate the news yesterday afternoon.
Babar was expelled from the party on December 26 last year for refusing to pull out of the December 29 general election as an independent candidate.
The controversial ex-state minister had been a close aide to Tarique Rahman, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
During the state of emergency, the joint forces recovered four firearms from his Gulshan residence and arrested him on May 28, 2007.
A Dhaka court on October 30 that year sentenced Babar to 17 years' rigorous imprisonment for possessing illegal arms and ammunition.
The High Court on October 16 last year granted him a six-month bail on health grounds.
The Supreme Court on October 23 curtailed the bail period by three months.
Later, he was arrested in a murder case filed in connection with the August 21 grenade blasts at an Awami League rally in 2004.