Expelled BNP leaders too campaigning for Cumilla rally

Some BNP leaders and activists, who were earlier expelled from the party, have been campaigning for the November 26 rally in Cumilla.

They were campaigning "for the sake of the party's interest", said the party insiders.

Monirul Haque Sakku, former mayor of Cumilla City Corporation, was expelled from the party in May for competing in the city election after defying the party's decision.

Sakku, also a former joint secretary of Cumilla (south) district BNP, was seen campaigning for the last couple of days in the city.

He and his followers conducted campaigns in Nurpur, Katabil, Hazratpara, Barpara, Housing Estate and Balutoba areas yesterday.

"We are determined to make our rally successful for the sake of our party. I will continue doing politics till my death. I hope the party high-ups will withdraw my expulsion order," he told The Daily Star.

Nizam Uddin Kaisar, former president of the Cumilla city Swechchhashebak Dal, a front organisation of the BNP, was also expelled from the party in May. He too joined the campaign.

Besides, several other BNP leaders who were also expelled for contesting in polls, have become active again and are conducting campaigns for the rally.

Meanwhile, Kaisar and around a dozen expelled BNP men held a press conference yesterday demanding the withdrawal of their expulsion orders.

Kaisar also alleged police were raiding the houses of different BNP men with an aim to foil the November 26 rally.

BNP men were also seen campaigning and distributing leaflets in different adjoining districts, including Laxmipur, Brahmanbaria, Noakhali, Chandpur and Feni.

"We hope that several lakh people will join our November 26 rally," said Amin-ur-Rashid Yasin, convener of the Cumilla (south) district BNP.

The BNP has been holding rallies in the divisional cities protesting the price hike of essentials and fuel.

Recent rallies were held in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, Faridpur and Sylhet.

The rest of the rallies are scheduled for November 26, December 3 and 10 in Cumilla, Rajshahi and Dhaka.