Rumeen Farhana, 8 others expelled from BNP for running as independents

The expulsion of 8 other leaders comes a day after the submission deadline for nomination papers

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled nine leaders, including Rumeen Farhana, for defying the party’s decision relating to participation in the parliamentary polls.

The expelled leaders also included five members of the National Executive Committee.

A media statement signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi confirmed the decision. The statement was issued on Tuesday evening.

The other expelled leaders included Executive Committee members Gias Uddin, Mohammad Shah Alam, Mamun Hasan, Abdul Khalek and former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president Tarun Dey.

The leaders have been expelled from all positions they may be holding in the party, including the party’s primary membership.

Close to 200 BNP leaders have filed nomination papers to run as independent candidates in the parliamentary polls after failing to secure the party’s nomination.

The deadline to submit the nomination papers expired on Monday. The expulsion decision comes on Tuesday, the day BNP’s chief Khaleda passes away at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka after suffering from prolonged illnesses.