A large number of BNP leaders and activists are actively engaged in the election activities and carrying out campaigns for different candidates across the country defying party decision to boycott the parliamentary polls scheduled for 7 January.
The BNP has expelled 500 of its central and grassroots-level leaders since October 28 for breaching party discipline and joining the election process in violation of the party’s decision.
The punitive actions were taken against the party leaders by issuing press releases, signed by BNP Senior Joint General Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, on various occasions.
Not only in this parliament election, earlier BNP leaders and activists also took part in various city corporation elections violating the party’s decision.
At that time BNP expelled over 100 of its leaders and activists as per the BNP central command’s decision to take stern actions against those who disobeyed their directives regarding not taking part in the elections.
Sources said by taking stern actions against its leaders and activists BNP central command failed to stop them from joining the polls.
BNP insiders said most of the leaders and activists of BNP were disheartened as the BNP would boycott the upcoming parliamentary polls. Meanwhile, many BNP leaders and activists are eager to join the polls.
Seeking anonymity, a number of BNP leaders and activists said “It is one of the worst decisions of the BNP to not take part in the national election. To invigorate party leaders and activists there is no alternative to taking part in the election.”
Earlier, on Sunday, BNP expelled seven of its leaders and activists for attending the Awami League election campaign and seeking vote for the party’s candidates in Gazipur and other districts.
On Saturday, it expelled 23 leaders of its units in Chattogram, Rangamati, Sherpur, Patuakhali, Narayanganj, Dinajpur, Moulvibazar, Tangail and Gazipur districts on allegation of violating the party discipline.
On December 1, the BNP expelled 15 of its central and grassroots-level leaders after the announcement of the schedule for the 12th parliamentary polls for breaching party discipline and joining the election in violation of the party’s decision.
According to the release, the 15 leaders -- eight central and seven district-level ones -- violated the party discipline by taking a stand against the party. All these leaders were expelled from all posts of the BNP, including its primary membership.
Sources said all the expelled leaders of the BNP were involved in the election process and carrying out campaigns for different candidates in their respective constituencies.
Local leaders and activists of the BNP are involved in the election campaigns, because either their relatives are participating in the election process or their friends or well-wishers are contesting the polls, according to sources.
