Seven local leaders of Awami League, including younger brother of the social welfare minister, were expelled from the party in Lalmonirhat.

The district AL took the action over disobeying the party's decision and cooperating with rebel candidates during union parishad election in Lalmonirhat.

The decision came at an emergency meeting of AL's Lalmonirhat district unit office last night, the unit's General Secretary Matiar Rahman confirmed.

The district AL unit vice-president and Kaliganj upazila Chairman Mahabuzzaman Ahmed, younger brother of Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed, is among the expelled leaders.

Six other expelled leaders are: Jahangir Alam Biplob, member of the district AL unit, who is contesting as rebel candidate for chairman post of Madait union; Syed Ali Pramanik, vice president of Kaliganj upazila unit of AL; Khabir Uddin, president of Ward-5 AL unit under Chalbala union; Nurul Amin, general Secretary of Gorol union unit of AL; Shahidul Haque, general secretary of Gorol union AL; and Ferazul Islam, organising secretary of Kakina union AL.

Mahabuzzaman said that he was expelled from the party because of personal conflict. His wife Sajeda Begum is contesting as a rebel candidate for the chairman post in Tusbhandar UP election. Her position in the electoral field is very good, he said.

Advocate Matiar Rahman, general secretary of the district AL, said that Sajeda, who was president of Kaliganj upazila unit of Mahila AL, was also expelled from the party four days ago for disobeying the party's decision.