BNP expels Zahid

BNP today expelled its lawmaker-elect Zahidur Rahman for taking oath as the member of the 11th parliament, violating the party’s decision.

The party took the decision in a meeting of its highest policy making body, National Standing Committee, at Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office in Dhaka this evening.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the announcement at a press conference after the meeting.

In a surprise move, Zahid, the BNP lawmaker from Thakurgaon-3, took oath as MP on Thursday against the party’s decision of not joining parliament.

“Zahid did it violating our decision. And thus, we in principle expelled him from the party and revoked his primary membership of the party,” Fakhrul said.

The BNP leader also reiterated his allegation that his party is under the government pressure in taking part in the parliament.

Yesterday, Fakhrul said his party was not worried over Zahid’s oath-taking as he did it “under pressure from the government.”

Hours after Fakhrul’s comments, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a media briefing said there was no pressure from the government on the elected MPs to take oath.

Zahid is the first among the six BNP-MPs elect to have taken oath. Party insiders say Zahid’s decision has put the BNP in an awkward position as it rejected the December 30 polls results alleging widespread irregularities. Some BNP leaders said Zahid’s move might encourage others to take oath.