The Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) on Friday relieved its Secretary General Zakir Hossain Riaz of his duties, citing anti-party activities.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the party's National Executive Council, chaired by JAGPA President and freedom fighter Khandaker Lutfor Rahman.

According to a party press release, those present at the meeting included Vice Presidents MA Wahab, Dr Awlad Hossain Shilpi and Advocate Shahidul Islam; Joint Secretary General Dewan Mohammad Rokon Uddin Hazari; Organising Secretaries Mohammad Hossain Mobarak and Abul Hossain; Publicity Secretary Kamrul Hasan; and Finance Secretary Md Mahfuzar, among other leaders.

The meeting appointed Joint Secretary General Dewan Mohammad Rokon Uddin Hazari as acting secretary general.

The party also instructed its leaders and activists not to maintain contact with Zakir Hossain Riaz.

It decided to convene an extended meeting within the next month to fix the date for the party's next council.

The meeting further decided that JAGPA's organisational activities would resume on July 10 with a visit to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) in Sylhet.

It also resolved that JAGPA would stand alongside Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in building the future of Bangladesh.

At the end of the meeting, special prayers were offered for the speedy recovery of BNP Standing Committee member and Prime Minister's Political Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan.