BNP Standing Committee has expelled its member Chowdhury Tanbir Ahmed Siddiky from the party for his son's "derogatory remarks" about party chief Khaleda Zia and some other leaders in his presence.
The committee at a meeting last night decided to oust Tanbir from all party posts and take away his primary membership after reviewing his reply to the show-cause notice issued by the party on March 10.
Asked about the party decision, Tanbir told The Daily Star, "They [the standing committee members] have driven me out."
Leader of the Opposition and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia presided over the committee meeting held at her Gulshan office. The meeting started around 7:30pm and was going on till the filing of this report at 10:30pm.
Around 10:00pm, Rizvi Ahmed, party's office secretary, came out of the meeting and told reporters about the standing committee decision on Tanbir.
"The standing committee has decided to relieve Tanbir Siddiky of all posts in the party, and its primary membership as per clause 5 (c) of the party constitution," he said.
"The party issued a show-cause notice on Tanbir Siddiky on March 10 following objectionable remarks about the chairperson and some other party leaders made by his son Irad Siddiky in his presence on March 9,” Rizvi said.
Tanbir however at a March 10 press briefing at his Gulshan residence condemned the statement made by his son. He received the show-cause notice that very day. It asked for his response within 72 hours.
Irad, at a press conference on March 9 in presence of his father at his Gulshan house, alleged that the BNP chairperson sought Tk 5 crore from him in return for party backing for his candidacy in Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) mayoral election.
He also termed corrupt DCC Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, and former mayors Mirza Abbas of BNP and Mohammad Hanif of Awami League.
A responsible political party cannot back Khoka, Abbas, Hannan Shah (BNP chairperson's adviser) or former FBCCI chief Abdul Awal Mintoo in the mayoral election, Irad said.
Hannan Shah on Sunday filed a Tk 50-crore defamation suit against him.