Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has taken initiatives to bring back more than hundred leaders who have been expelled in different occasion aiming to strengthen the party.
BNP aims to restore strong bonding among leaders and activists from all level- central to grassroots, keeping an eye on the 13th National Parliament Election.
The party made a draft list of leaders who have been expelled during the last decade from party at different levels. The list comprises of at least 500 names.
After verifying, the expulsion orders of more than a hundred leaders who have not committed serious crimes or violated major party discipline in the first phase will be withdrawn.
However, those who have allegations of extortion, encroachment and other violations of party discipline after August 5 will not be spared.
The names of more than two hundred leaders have already been sent to the acting chairman of the party.
A reliable source from BNP confirms that the process of sending rest of the names is also underway.
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Senior Joint Secretary General of the party, told Bangladesh Pratidin: “Many have applied for withdrawal of their expel orders.”
They will be included to the party after a thorough investigation, he said, adding: “This is a contentious process. People get punishment upon committing injustice or violating the party regulations, and they get the chance to rectify.”
Advocate Abdus Salam Azad, Organizing Secretary of BNP, said: “Initiatives have been taken to bring back those expelled who have no major crimes, have faith in the party leadership and have not joined any other party.”
He furthered that after the verification, the expulsion of these leaders may be withdrawn. Apart from that, we have seen many leaders jumping into the party’s movement program despite being expelled for months, even for longer than that.
Another source, close to BNP, said: “BNP is trying to reconstruct party and committees with the dedicated leaders and activists ahead of election.”
As a part of strengthening party, the inclusion of leaders who has been expelled on various occasion is ongoing. The acting Chairman Tarique Rahman instructed to prepare a list. Following his instruction, the party is preparing a list of the names of leaders expelled from the party in more than a decade.
These lists include the names, titles, addresses, reasons for expulsion and the name of the person recommending the withdrawal of the expulsion order.
Party sources also said that the so-called reformist leaders of the party will be listed along with those who are inactive due to anger, resentment and arrogance. Efforts will be made to activate them in the party in phases.
However, it is also known that leaders who have participated in the January 7, 2024 elections by violating party discipline are not being considered for the time being.
Translated by Afsar Munna
