Dhaka, Dec. 30 -- The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled nine of its top leaders for carrying out organisational activities in direct defiance of the party's decisions.

Their suspension was announced in a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi this evening.

The rusticated party members includes: BNP Assistant International Affairs Secretary Barrister Rumeen Farhana, National Executive Committee members Muhammad Gias Uddin, Mohammad Shah Alam, Hasan Mamun and Abdul Khaleq.

Others include former vice-president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and secretary general of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Welfare Front Tarun Dey, former convener of Dhaka North City BNP Saiful Alam Nirob, Sylhet di...