BNP expels 43 leaders

BNP expelled its 43 present and former leaders for participating in the Sylhet City Corporation polls by violating the party's decision to boycott five city polls.

Of the 43, one is the independent mayoral candidate Salah Uddin Rimon, who is a member of ward-27 unit of BNP in Sylhet city.

BNP's Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi sent 43 separate expulsion letters to the participating Sylhet BNP and unit leaders.

Abdul Quiyum Chowdhury, president of Sylhet district BNP, confirmed the development.

"BNP boycotted the polls for mayor and councillor posts in five city corporations as part of its anti-government movement. These leaders have been permanently expelled for violating the party's decision and we hope that no other leader will support them in the election," he said.

Six are incumbent councillors -- Syed Tawfiqul Hadi, Farhad Chowdhury Shamim, Nazrul Islam Munim, ABM Zillur Rahman, Ruksana Begum Shahnaz, and Abdur Rakib Tuhin.