Former BNP MP Expelled for Alleged Disciplinary Breaches

In a decisive move aimed at maintaining internal party cohesion, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has officially expelled Dr Salek Chowdhury, a three-time former Member of Parliament and the President of the Niamatpur Upazila BNP unit. The expulsion, which strips him of his primary membership and all other party-affiliated roles, was announced on Sunday evening, 4 January. The formal directive was issued via a press release signed by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General, Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, citing activities fundamentally incompatible with the party’s constitution and policies.

The catalyst for this drastic measure appears to be Dr Chowdhury’s decision to contest the upcoming 13th General Election as an independent candidate. Despite failing to secure the official party nomination for the Naogaon-1 (Porsha-Sapahar-Niamatpur) constituency—which was instead awarded to Mostafizur Rahman, the General Secretary of the Niamatpur Upazila BNP—Dr Chowdhury proceeded to file his nomination papers. Earlier that same day, election officials had declared his candidacy valid following the scrutiny process.

Responding to the news of his ousting, Dr Chowdhury expressed surprise, claiming he had yet to receive any formal correspondence from the party high command. He maintained that his actions did not constitute a breach of discipline, noting that the deadline for withdrawing candidacy is not until 20 January. He argued that any disciplinary action prior to that date was premature. Furthermore, he alluded to internal conspiracies, suggesting that while the party’s Acting Chairman, Tarek Rahman, remains in mourning over the recent passing of the party matriarch, certain factions within the BNP are exploiting the situation to sideline veteran leaders.

Dr Chowdhury’s political pedigree is substantial; he represented the Naogaon-1 seat during the sixth, seventh, and eighth parliaments, winning consecutive elections in 1906 and 2001. His expulsion signals the BNP’s rigid stance against “rebel” candidates as it attempts to present a unified front for the national polls.

Profile of Dr Salek Chowdhury and Election Context