"Joynal Hazari has been expelled from the party for his involvement in anti-organisational activities. We issued a letter in this regard today (Monday)," Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil told The Daily Star yesterday.

Earlier in April 2002, Hazari was removed from the post of general secretary of Feni district Awami League. Hazari has been absconding since 2001.

Jalil said more actions are on the cards against the persons responsible for a "bad image" of the main opposition party.

Sources said the disciplinary action against Hazari has been taken following a probe report, which was submitted to AL chief Sheikh Hasina a year ago.

Hazari has been fired as the policymakers of the main opposition party are trying to enhance its image before the next general election by erasing the "black spots," party insiders said.

"We have to get rid of godfathers within our party if we want to campaign against criminals of BNP-Jamaat alliance," said an AL leader.

Hazari, accused in 40 cases since 1968, is currently awaiting trial in 16 criminal cases. He was awarded life imprisonment in an arms case on August 10, 2003.

The joint forces of army and police raided Hazari's house in Feni in his absence on August 17, 2001 during the caretaker government and seized huge arms and ammunition. Since then, police could not trace him.

"The party high-command has enough reasons to take action against him," a senior AL leader said in his reaction to Hazari's expulsion.

Referring to media coverage of the godfathers' activities during the Awami League rule (1996-2001), he said, "We cannot allow such troublemakers to take a rebirth."

In June 2003, the AL had formed a three-member committee to enquire the criminal activities of Hazari. The committee examined all the previous allegations against him.

A number of victims of Hazari and his men's torture that included journalist Tipu Sultan also submitted statements to the committee.

The Amnesty International and French Embassy in Dhaka voluntarily provided reports, accusing Hazari of torturing Tipu, said a committee member.

He said the committee had prepared a 500-page document against Hazari.

A meeting of AL secretariat on March 28, 2003 discussed how the 'godfather' image of Hazari of Feni, Shamim Osman of Narayanganj, Abu Taher of Laxmipur and Abul Hasnat Abdullah of Barisal eroded AL's votes in 2001 election. The meeting had also decided to rid the party of such leaders.