Babar expelled from BNP

Former state minister and BNP leader Lutfozzaman Babar has been expelled from the party for contesting the ninth parliamentary election as an independent candidate.
"Following directives of the chairperson and according to 5 (ga) clause of the party constitution, Lutfozzaman Babar has been stripped of the party's post of publicity secretary and primary membership," said a party press release signed by BNP Office Secretary Rizvi Ahmed yesterday.
The controversial ex-state minister for home had been a close aide to Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of Khaleda Zia, during the tenure of the previous BNP-led alliance government.
Following the promulgation of the state of emergency, the joint forces arrested Babar after recovering four firearms from his Gulshan residence in the capital on May 28.
Although a Dhaka court on October 30 sentenced Babar to 17 years' rigorous imprisonment for possessing illegal firearms and ammunition, the BNP high-up did not take any action against him ignoring the party constitution.
As per the BNP constitution, a convicted person or anyone publicly known as a corrupt person cannot remain in the party.
Babar, who was released recently, filed nomination as an independent candidate for Netrakona-4 constituency since the party did not give him ticket considering his conviction. BNP nominated Ataul Haque as its candidate in the constituency.
Even the returning officer cancelled Babar's candidature, but the chamber judge of Supreme Court declared him fit for contesting the polls.
Following the court verdict, Babar tried to get his party's backing for contesting the election but failed.
However, most BNP leaders and activists in the area are now working for Babar.
Following the dispute, the BNP high-up yesterday expelled Babar from the party on disciplinary ground.
Earlier, the party expelled a few former lawmakers and party leaders including Dhirendranath Saha, Shahidul Haque Jamal, Rustom Ali Farazi, Nazir Hossain and law affairs secretary Joynul Abedin for contesting the polls as independent candidates.