Dhaka: BNP has withdrawn the expulsion orders on its former standing committee member and minister Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui and seven other reformist and dissident leaders.

Besides, the party has restored the membership of its former Chandpur MP and the district BNP president SA Sultan Titu who quit the party a few years back, reports the UNB.

Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Monday.

The expulsion orders have been withdrawn under section 5(C) of BNP charter following their applications to BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

The seven other leaders are former BNP minister and BNP education affairs secretary Alamgir Kabir, former whip and party chairperson’s adviser Shahidul Haque Jamal, former whip and party executive committee member Abu Yusuf Mohammad Khalilur Rahman, party’s ex-office secretary Mafiqul Hasan Tripti, Tangail’s Bashail upzila unit BNP ex-president Enamul Karim Atol, former Chandpur’s Faridganj upazila BNP ex-president Abdul Mannan, Feni’s Sonagazi upazila unit BNP ex-joint general secretary Habib Ullah Parvej.

Of them, Alamgir Kabir, Shahidul Haque Jamal, Abu Yusuf and Mafiqul Hasan Tripti are known as ‘reformists’ for their role during the 1/11 government in 2007.

They were expelled from the party as they together with party’s then secretary general Abdul Manna Bhuiyan took position against the party seeking its vigorous reforms.

Earlier on Oct 25, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir held a meeting with 12 ‘reformist ex-MPs at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office as part of the party’s move to take them back for making the party stronger ahead of the election.

In 2011, Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui was expelled from BNP as his one of sons made derogatory remarks against party chairperson Khaleda Zia.