The BNP on Monday expelled three more of its grassroots leaders for participating in the second phase of upcoming upazila elections by violating the party's decision.

With this latest action, the party has so far expelled 143 leaders for contesting the upazila polls in violation of its directives.

Earlier on Saturday, the party expelled 61 grassroots leaders for joining the second phase of upazila elections slated for May 21.

Previously, BNP had expelled 79 leaders of the party and its associated bodies who had filed nominations for chairman, vice-chairman, and female vice-chairman positions in the first phase of upazila polls scheduled for May 8.
A press release issued on Monday said Jamalpur’s Dewanganj upazila BNP member Noor Salam Sarkar, Narayanganj’s Sonargaon upazila BNP member M Jahangir Hossain Bhuiyan and Gaibandha district unit Jubo Dal assistant organizing secretary Towhidul Alam Mondal were expelled from all party positions, including its primary membership, for participating in the second phase of upazila polls.
A total of 152 upazilas across the country are set to go to polls in the first phase on May 8 as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission. The elections for 492 upazilas will be held in four phases, with the second phase scheduled for May 23, the third on May 29, and the fourth on June 5.

BNP remains steadfast in its decision not to participate in the upazila elections, mirroring its stance on the last national election, asserting that fair elections are impossible under the Awami League government.

Earlier on Friday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi criticised their party leaders for participating in the upcoming Upazila Parishad (UP) polls against the party's decisions, describing them as misguided.