Eighteen BNP Members Expelled for Defying Party Mandate

In a decisive move to maintain internal discipline ahead of the upcoming National Parliamentary Elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled eighteen leaders and activists from its Noakhali-2 constituency branch. The purge follows allegations that the individuals actively campaigned for an independent "rebel" candidate, Kazi Mofizur Rahman, in direct contravention of the party’s official dictates.

The expulsion order was formalised late Tuesday night through a press release signed by the BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. On Wednesday afternoon, the Convener of the Noakhali District BNP, Mahbub Alamgir, confirmed the central committee's decision, noting that the move was necessary to address the "anti-organisational activities" of those supporting a candidate other than the party’s chosen representative.

A Constituency Divided

The Noakhali-2 seat, covering the Senbagh and parts of the Sonaimuri areas, has become a focal point of internal friction. Among those removed from the party are high-ranking local figures, including the Joint Conveners of the Senbagh Upazila BNP, Jahangir Hossain Chowdhury and Nazrul Islam.

The purge also includes a significant portion of the municipal leadership, notably the Joint Conveners of the Senbagh Municipal BNP, Kamal Uddin, Rezaul Haq, and Tajul Islam. The following table outlines the key figures affected by this disciplinary sweep:

Defiance Amidst the Purge

The central command's stern warning appears to have done little to dampen the spirits of the "rebel" faction. Abul Kalam Azad, a former Upazila Chairman and one of the expelled members, remained remarkably undeterred by the news. Speaking to local media, Azad dismissed the significance of his formal removal.

"Where the head is missing, what use is the cap?" Azad remarked metaphorically. "I no longer hold an official title; I am merely a supporter. We, the grassroots supporters, have taken to the field with our candidate’s 'Cup and Saucer' symbol. We intend to return home only after securing his victory."

Azad’s comments highlight a burgeoning rift between the party's central hierarchy and its local machinery. He argued that expelling loyal supporters for backing a locally favoured candidate risks hollowing out the party’s core, asserting that the supporters "stand united" behind their chosen independent.

Strategic Implications

The mass expulsion is a clear signal from the BNP leadership that it will not tolerate fractured support bases as the election date nears. However, the defiance shown by the Senbagh branch suggests that internal disciplinary measures may not be enough to prevent "rebel" candidates from siphoning off critical votes from the official party nominees. As the campaign intensifies, the electoral outcome in Noakhali-2 will likely serve as a barometer for the BNP’s ability to maintain its organisational integrity.