<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The BNP has expelled its four more grassroots leaders for participating in the first phase of upcoming upazila elections violating the party's decision.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The punitive action was taken against the party leaders as per its constitution, said a press release on Tuesday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It said Dhaka’s Keraniganj Model Thana unit BNP vice president Sabira Begum, Sunamganj's Shalla upazila unit BNP joint secretary Haziurul Islam Azhar, Swechchasebak Dal convener Abdul Majid and Jubo Dal member Saifur Rahman have been expelled from all levels of party positions, including the primary membership, for taking part in the first phase of upazila polls ignoring the party's decision.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;Earlier the party expelled 76 grassroots leaders on the same ground on April 26 and 27.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Later on April 28, the expulsion order against Romana Ahmed, organising secretary of the Meherpur district unit BNP, was revoked as she refrained from participating in the first phase of upazila elections and apologized for defying the party's decision.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A total of 152 upazilas across the country will go to polls in the first phase on May 8 as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The elections to 492 upazilas will take place in four phases. The second phase of upazila polls will be held on May 23, the third phase on May 29 and the fourth phase on June 5, reports UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BNP high command earlier decided not to join any elections under the current government and the Election Commission.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>