The BNP, one of the major opposition parties, has boycotted the upcoming parliamentary polls slated for 7 January, but a large number of its grassroots leaders and activists have become involved in the election process and are carrying out campaigns for different candidates, said sources.

As per the BNP central command’s decision to take stern actions against those who would disobey their directives regarding the upcoming elections, the opposition party has expelled over 500 of its leaders and activists since 28 October for their involvement in the election process and carrying out campaigns for candidates in different places across the country, said sources.

However, BNP Vice Chairman Mohammad Shahjahan told the Daily Sun, “A small number of our party men have gotten involved in election activities as the Awami League and the government are putting pressure on our leaders and activists to get involved in the elections.”

The BNP leader also alleged that the government is threatening the voters to go to the polling centres, while people do not want to cast votes in this farcical and lopsided election.

According to a press release issued by the BNP on Sunday, it expelled eight leaders of Sirajganj, Faridpur and Moulvibazar districtcs.

Earlier, on Saturday, it expelled

22 leaders of its units in Chattogram, Rangamati, Sherpur, Patuakhali, Narayanganj, Dinajpur, Moulvibazar, Tangail and Gazipur districts in allegation of violating the party discipline.

Sources at the party said all the expelled leaders of the BNP were involved in the election process and carrying out campaigns for different candidates in their respective constituencies.

The BNP insiders said many of their members got involved in the election under various pressures, but at the same time, some others joined the activities related to the polls in exchange of benefits offered by different candidates.

“A number of local BNP leaders and activists, particularly at the union level, have become involved in the election process to avoid the wrath of the local influential people, while some others have joined campaigns for making financial gains,” a leader of BNP’s Santhia upazila unit in Pabna told the Daily Sun, wishing not to be named.

Another BNP leader in Barishal said some local leaders and activists of the opposition party are involved in the election campaigns, because either their relatives are participating in the election process or their friends or well-wishers are contesting the polls.

A number of the BNP leaders told the Daily Sun that they have managed to prevent a possible split in the party ahead of the elections, as only an insignificant number of its leaders have deserted. Now it is a major challenge for them to keep their leaders and activists across the country away from the election activities.