LDP suspends ex-Army officer Sarwardy for ‘breaching party discipline’

He has been served a show-cause notice

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has suspended its presidium member retired Army lieutenant general Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy on charges of breaching party discipline.

A media statement signed by the party's Secretary General Redwan Ahmed on Saturday said Sarwardi had been suspended from all party positions for activities contrary to the LDP constitution.

He has been asked to explain within the next three days why he should not be expelled.

On Apr 19, Sarwardy joined the LDP by presenting a bouquet to the party chief Oli Ahmad, accompanied by several hundred supporters.

According to the statement, Sarwardy posted a highly "misleading" message on Facebook concerning the BNP, which does not reflect LDP’s position.

"Such misleading statements are extremely regrettable and against party discipline. The matter has come to our attention, as well as that of LDP President retired colonel Oli Ahmad," the party said.

In October 2023, a US citizen named Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy held a press conference at the BNP office, identifying himself as an “advisor” to the US president.

Sarwardy was arrested on Oct 31 of that year in connection with a case filed over that incident.

The case alleged that BNP leader Ishraque Hossain and Sarwardy had escorted the individual to the BNP office.

Sarwardy is originally from Chattogram. During his military career, he served in several capacities, including Commandant of the National Defence College, GOC of the Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC), GOC of the 9th Infantry Division, and director of Military Intelligence for the Bangladesh Army.