Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 21st January 2026, 11:57 PM
In a significant move to maintain internal cohesion and discipline ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled 59 senior and mid-level leaders. The decision follows their defiance of the central command by contesting the upcoming polls as “rebel” or independent candidates.
The announcement was formalised late Wednesday night through a press release signed by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General. The statement clarified that these individuals have been stripped of their primary membership and removed from all designated posts for engaging in activities that contravene the party’s core principles, ideology, and discipline. The expulsion order is effective immediately.
This mass expulsion highlights the BNP’s zero-tolerance policy toward internal dissent during a critical electoral season. The list includes high-profile figures, such as Lutfar Rahman Khan Azad (Chairperson’s Advisor) and Taiful Islam Tipu (Assistant Office Secretary of the National Executive Committee). The purge spans across all major administrative divisions, with the Dhaka and Rajshahi divisions seeing the highest number of casualties.
The party’s leadership remains firm that any member contesting against the officially nominated candidates undermines the collective goal of the alliance. This internal cleansing is seen as an attempt to prevent the splitting of the “pro-democracy” vote bank, which could inadvertently benefit political rivals.
| Division | Notable Expelled Individuals | Key Designations Held |
|---|---|---|
| Rajshahi | Taiful Islam Tipu, Zakaria Pintu | Assistant Office Secretary (National), Joint Secretary (Pabna) |
| Dhaka | Lutfar Rahman Khan Azad, Prof. Rezaul Karim | Chairperson’s Advisor, National Executive Member |
| Chittagong | Engineer Fazlul Azim, Liakat Ali | Former Member of Parliament, Joint Convenor (South District) |
| Sylhet | Sheikh Sujat Mia, Dewan Zainul Jakereen | National Executive Member, Former Vice President (Sunamganj) |
| Khulna | Monirul Islam, Dr Shahidul Alam | General Secretary (Narail), National Executive Member |
| Mymensingh | AB Siddique Rahman, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman | Joint Convenor (South District), Upazila President |
| Rangpur | ZM Rezwanul Haque, Bazlur Rashid | National Executive Member, District Joint Secretary |
| Faridpur | Nasirul Haque Sabu, Luvlu Siddiqui | National Executive Member, District Joint Convenor |
The expulsions have struck deep into the local power structures of several constituencies. In Tangail-3, the removal of Lutfar Rahman Khan Azad—a heavyweight advisor—is expected to send shockwaves through the local grassroots. Similarly, in Noakhali-6, the expulsion of former MP Engineer Fazlul Azim indicates that even historical loyalty and parliamentary experience are no shield against the party’s disciplinary axe.
In the Mymensingh region, the removal of AB Siddique Rahman (Joint Convenor) and Md. Morshed Alam (Senior Joint Convenor) follows recent reports of violent clashes between official party supporters and independent factions. By removing these leaders, the BNP central command hopes to de-escalate regional tensions and consolidate the party’s official campaign efforts.
As the campaign period officially begins today, the BNP central office has warned that further disciplinary actions may follow if other members are found aiding or abetting the “rebels.” The expelled leaders now face a difficult path as independent candidates, stripped of the party’s iconic “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol and the logistical support of the organisational machinery.
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