The same day ex-secretary Colonel (retired) Sarwar Molla and former upazila chairman of Kalkini of Madaripur Habibur Rahman Azad also joined the party formally.

Awrangajeb, a former independent lawmaker [in the eighth parliament], won a by-election in 1991 as an Awami League (AL) candidate but did not contest the general election of 1996.

He did not get the nomination from the AL for 'involvement in crimes' but won the 2001 polls as an independent candidate from Shariatpur.

His two closest aides--Liaqat and Hannan--were on the top criminals' list announced by the immediate past BNP-led government. They achieved notoriety for terrorist activities on the Dhaka University campus and adjacent areas during the 80s. Liaqat is now behind bars while the Hannan gang is still in operation in the city's Eskaton area.

Hailing the new arrivals as members of the "BNP family", BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia said their joining will further strengthen the party and yield better election results for the party in greater Faridpur, usually an AL stronghold.

"Awami League and its allies are trying to destroy the country but by ballot the people will give them a reply befitting their misdeeds," she told a joining ceremony at Hawa Bhaban in Banani.

She said the young blood and the old guard must work together for the alliance to do even better in the upcoming election.

Criticising the AL for enforcing blockade, she said, "They are causing irreparable harm to the nation by destroying the economy. They have closed down the Chittagong port, which we never did while in movements for democracy in the past."

Hinting at AL President Sheikh Hasina, Awrangajeb said he has joined the BNP solely for "her vindictiveness".

It takes a party or a platform to serve the nation, observed the former lawmaker who had been caught with firearms during the "operation clean heart" in 2002.

BNP Standing Committee Member KM Obaidur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.