Talking to UNB, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they sent the show-cause notice to Shawkat Mahmud in the evening asking him to give a reply within 72 hours.

“He (Shawkat) acted against the party discipline and misguided our leaders and activists,” the BNP leader said.

Rizvi, however, declined to elaborate how Shawkat breached their party discipline.

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Party insiders said Shawkat Mahmud prompted some BNP leaders to stage a demonstration in the city against the government without informing the party high-ups.

Shawkat arranged a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club in the morning under the banner of Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad where Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, BNP vice-chairman Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Kalyan Party chief Syed Muhammad Ibrahim and Gonoforum general secretary Dr Reza Kibria were present.

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After the programme, several hundred people, including BNP leaders and activists, took out a position from Old Platan crossing to Zero Point around 2pm by putting up a barricade on the road demanding resignation of the government.

Shawkat Mahmud and Syed Ibrahim were seen staying at Muktangan during the demonstration. 

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At one stage, police dispersed the demonstrators by charging batons and brought the situation under control.

Meanwhile, BNP also sent a show-cause notice to party’s another vice-chairman Hafizuddin Ahmed for violating party discipline.

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Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said Hafiz has been given five-days to come up with a written explanation about some remarks on party senior leaders.