The BNP on Thursday expelled Cumilla city Mayor Monirul Haque Sakku for life as he is contesting the upcoming city polls defying the party's decision to boycott all polls under the incumbent government.   Sakku, a former joint secretary of Cumilla south district unit of the BNP, was expelled for life from all posts, including primary membership, of the party for his involvement in anti-party activities that went against the party discipline, according to a press release. The press release, signed by party Assistant Office Secretary Taiful Islam Tipu, asked BNP leaders and activists to sever all contacts with Sakku. Sakku, a two-time mayor of the Cumilla city, is contesting the election billed for June for a straight third term as an independent candidate. Earlier on December 14, 2021, Sakku was relieved from the BNP's national executive committee. A party senior leader said the action was taken as Sakku has long been maintaining a distance from the BNP and indulging in anti-party activities. He said BNP leaders and activists were critical of Sakku as he sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's blessings touching her feet after taking oath as the Cumilla city mayor for the second time in May 2017. He later became inactive in BNP's politics and reportedly developed good relations with the local ruling party leaders, the BNP leader said. He also said local BNP leaders made complaints to the central leaders against Sakku as he was not participating in BNP's programmes and ignoring the party's leaders and activists. Also Read: Cumilla city mayor Sakku relieved from BNP’s executive committee Meanwhile, Sakku said he resigned from his post to contest the upcoming Cumilla city polls.  The mayoral candidate told the media that he submitted his resignation to BNP Cumilla south unit chief Rabeya Chowdhury. "Earlier, the Election Commission cleared me to contest the mayoral polls after scrutinising my nomination," Sakku said. Swechchasebak Dal ousts Nizamuddin Kaisar Meanwhile, BNP's associate body Swechchasebak Dal expelled its Central Assistant Organising Secretary and Cumilla city unit President Nizamuddin Kaisar for life. Kaisar has been expelled for life from all posts, including primary membership, of the organisation as he is contesting the Cumilla city polls breaching the party discipline, according to a press release signed by Swechchasebak Dal Office Secretary Rafiqul Islam. At the same time, Swechchasebak Dal leaders and activists have been instructed not to carry out any campaign in the Cumilla city elections and participate in the election activities directly or indirectly. Besides, Monir Hossain Parvez, senior vice-president of Cumilla city unit Swechchasebak Dal, has been appointed acting president of the unit. Earlier, the BNP also expelled its leader Taimur Alam Khandaker for contesting the Narayanganj City Corporation polls as an independent candidate.

Comilla City Corporation Mayor Monirul Haque Sakku BNP has been relieved from BNP’s national executive committee. BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhuk Kabir Rizvi said he was a member of the party’s national executive committee and he was relieved from it on Monday night. Rizvi, however, did not elaborate the reasons behind the party’s decision. A party senior leader said the action was taken against the BNP-backed Cumilla city mayor in October last, but it was out of the discussion as the party did not disclose it to the media. He said BNP leaders and activists were critical of Sakku as he sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s blessings touching her feet after taking oath as the Cumilla city mayor for the second time in May, 2017. READ: Sacrifices of martyrs to go in vain without democracy: BNP  He later became inactive in BNP’s politics and reportedly developed good relations with the local ruling party leaders, the BNP leader said. Besides, he said, their party acting chairman Tarique Rahman exchanged views with the BNP national executive committee members under the Cumilla division on September 22 last. “Though Sakku was invited to join the meeting, he skipped it.” Later, the BNP central office sent a letter to Sakku seeking explanation over his absence in that meeting. “As his reply was not satisfactory, the party high-command decided to relieve him from its national executive committee,” the BNP leader said. READ: It’s inevitable consequence of HR violations, BNP about US sanctions He said local BNP leaders also lodged various complaints with the central leaders against Sakku as he was not participating in BNP’s programmes and ignoring the party’s leaders and activists.