Dhaka, Jan. 21 -- The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled 62 leaders for running for parliament independently in defiance of party mandates.

The move was announced Wednesday night in a media statement.

Previously, 11 members faced expulsion for similar defiance, but the bans on two were revoked after they withdrew their nomination papers.

The expulsion orders were issued with immediate effect in a letter signed by the party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday night.

They were expelled for involvement in actions "contrary to party policy, ideology, and discipline", the letter said.

According to the order, these leaders have been stripped of all positions, including their primary membership in th...