The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled nine local leaders from Sylhet-5 constituency for working in favor of an expelled independent candidate. The decision was announced on Saturday through separate press releases signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Among those expelled, five are from Zakiganj upazila and municipality units, and four are from various units in Kanaighat.

According to the press release, the expelled leaders violated party discipline and ignored official directives by supporting Mamunur Rashid, also known as Chaksu Mamun, who was previously expelled from the BNP. The expelled individuals include Ismail Hossain Selim, Masuk Ahmad, Ripon Ahmad, Hasan Ahmad, Waes Ahmad, Khusruzzaman Parvez, Abul Bashar, Nazrul Islam, and Nurul Hossain Nimar.

Earlier, the BNP had supported Jamiat-e-Ulama’s central president Maulana Ubaidullah Faruq as part of an alliance agreement for the Sylhet-5 seat. Mamunur Rashid opposed this decision and filed as an independent candidate with the football symbol, leading to his expulsion on December 30. He continues to campaign with his supporters.