The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has expelled 62 leaders nationwide for engaging in activities deemed contrary to the party’s policy, ideology and organisational discipline.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the party said that the expulsions cover primary membership as well as all posts at every organisational level.

Party insiders indicated that the action was taken against leaders who opposed party-nominated candidates and contested the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections in defiance of official decisions.

Reports suggested that across 79 constituencies, 92 BNP leaders continue to remain as rebel or independent candidates, challenging the party’s nominated representatives.

The statement, signed by BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, said that the action was taken to uphold party discipline and would be enforced without delay.

According to the statement, three leaders from the Rangpur division were expelled. They are Dinajpur district BNP joint general secretary ANM Bazlur Rashid of Dinajpur-2, BNP national executive committee member AZM Rezwanul Haque of Dinajpur-5, and  Saidpur district BNP’s former joint general secretary Riyad Arafan Sarkar Rana of Nilphamari-4.

From Rajshahi division, eight leaders were removed. They include Parvez Arefin Siddiqui Jony (Naogaon-3), Taiful Islam Tipu and Yasir Arshad Rajan (Natore-1), Daudar Mahmud (Natore-3), Ishfaq Khairul Haque Shimul and Barrister Rezaul Karim (Rajshahi-5), KM Anwarul Islam (Pabna-3), and Zakaria Pintu (Pabna-4).

The party expelled six leaders from Khulna division, namely Nuruzzaman Hablu Molla (Kushtia-1), Monirul Islam (Narail-2), Shahid Iqbal (Jashore-5), Shahidul Alam (Satkhira-3), Sheikh Masud Rana (Bagerhat-1) and Khairuzzaman Shipon (Bagerhat-4).

In Barishal division, two leaders were expelled. They are Abdus Sobhan (Barishal-1) and Mohammad Mahmud Hossain (Pirojpur-2).

From the Dhaka division, nine leaders were expelled. They are Mohammad Dulal Hossain (Narayanganj-1), Ataur Rahman Khan Angur (Narayanganj-2), Md Rezaul Karim (Narayanganj-3), Advocate Mohammad Ali (Tangail-1), Lutfur Rahman Khan Azad (Tangail-3), Farhad Iqbal (Tangail-5), Jamal Ahmed Chowdhury (Narsingdi-5), Mumin Ali (Munshiganj-1) and Mohammad Mohiuddin (Munshiganj-3).

The party expelled seven leaders from Mymensingh division. They are Rezaul Karim Chunnu (Kishoreganj-1), Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal (Kishoreganj-5), Salman Omar Rubel (Mymensingh-1), Abu Bakkar Siddiqur Rahman (Mymensingh-10), Md Morshed Alam (Mymensingh-11), Md Delwar Hossain Bhuiyan Dulal (Netrokona-3) and Md Aminul Islam Badshah (Sherpur-3).

The BNP expelled seven leaders from the party’s Faridpur organisational division. They are Sajjad Hossain Siddiqui (Madaripur-1), Kamal Jamal Nuruddin Molla (Madaripur-1), Milton Baidya (Madaripur-2), Nasirul Haque Sabu (Rajbari-2), MH Khan Manju, Sirajul Islam Siraj and Advocate Habibur Rahman Habib from Gopalganj.

The party expelled five leaders in Sylhet division. They are Anwar Hossain (Sunamganj-3), Dewan Zainul Zakereen (Sunamganj-4), Mamunur Rashid (Sylhet-5), Mohsin Mia Madhu (Moulvibazar-4) and Sheikh Sujat Mia (Habiganj-1).

The BNP expelled six leaders in Cumilla division. They are Kamruzzaman Mamun (Brahmanbaria-1), Kazi Nazmul Hossain Tapas (Brahmanbaria-5), Saiduzzaman Kamal (Brahmanbaria-6), Abdul Matin (Cumilla-2), Atikul Alam Shawon (Cumilla-7) and MA Hannan (Chandpur-4).

Finally, six leaders from Chattogram division were also expelled. They are Mizanul Haque Chowdhury and Shafiqul Islam Rahi (Chattogram-14), Liaquat Ali (Chattogram-16), Kazi Mofizur Rahman (Noakhali-2), Fazlul Azim and Engineer Tanbir Uddin Rajib (Noakhali-6).

Earlier, the BNP expelled nine leaders, including Rumeen Farhana, for defying party directives.