Dual citizenship: Bangladesh’s latest political flashpoint before elections
Estimated reading time: 8 mins
Key takeaways
- Dual citizenship disputes are shaping who can run in the upcoming vote, as the Election Commission (BEC) reviews candidates.
- The debate hinges on constitutional language versus affidavits and renunciation timelines for foreign citizenship.
- Allegations of bias echo from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and NCP, highlighting a deeply polarized process.
- Numbers matter: 25 candidates faced scrutiny; 23 were approved and 2 were cancelled; 10 BNP, 4 Jamaat, 1 NCP, 1 Khelafat Majlis among the approved.
- The legitimacy of the February 12 vote could hinge on how neutrality and constitutional safeguards are perceived.
Table of contents
The dispute
Under Bangladeshi law, foreign citizens are barred from contesting parliamentary elections. During scrutiny of nomination papers and a nine-day appeal process that ended on Sunday, the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) reviewed dozens of objections related to the alleged dual citizenship of 25 candidates. Ultimately, the commission upheld the candidacy of 23 candidates and cancelled the nominations of the remaining two.
In several instances, the BEC cleared nominations after candidates submitted documents or affidavits stating that they had renounced, or applied to renounce, foreign citizenship. Ten of the approved cadidates are from the BNP. Four candidates from Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist group and an alliance partner, were also approved, as well as an NCP candidate, and another from the Khelafat Majlis, allied with Jamaat and NCP. The remaining seven candidates belong to smaller parties or are contesting as independents.
The NCP claims that its candidate, whose nomination was under scrutiny, had not informed it about his dual citizenship, and the party has decided to withdraw his candidacy in the election. Mahabub Alam, an NCP leader, argued that requiring renunciation while accepting future commitments constitutes selective and unconstitutional treatment, suggesting the process favors certain parties.
Past track record
Bangladesh currently allows its citizens to obtain a second citizenship from a list of 103 countries. However, Article 66(2) of its Constitution disqualifies a person who acquires foreign citizenship. The debate centers on whether formal renunciation must be completed before submitting nomination papers or if applying to relinquish that citizenship is sufficient. In January 2024, Shammi Ahmed, a nominee for Barishal-4, had a dual citizenship issue that led to a cancellation of her candidacy — a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.
Political pressure intensifies
The dispute moved beyond the Election Commission when a Jamaat-e-Islami delegation met interim government head Muhammad Yunus. Jamaat’s deputy chief claimed that pressure was being exerted on the commission to prevent the cancellation of nominations that should have been invalid. A day later, an NCP delegation led by Nahid Islam accused the commission of operating under pressure from the BNP and warned that continued bias could damage the credibility of the vote.
Ethically problematic too
Political analysts describe allowing dual citizens to run as not only unconstitutional but also ethically problematic, given potential conflicts between allegiance to a foreign state and representing Bangladeshi voters. One expert warned that ignoring constitutional safeguards could undermine the election’s legitimacy and erode public trust.
Related reads:
- Bangladesh election: Why BNP leader Tarique Rahman’s return matters
- All the big elections to look out for in 2026
- Video: What do Rohingya refugees think about Myanmar’s election?
- BNP leader Tarique Rahman returns: Who is Bangladesh’s potential next PM?
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/1/20/dual-citizenship-bangladeshs-latest-political-flashpoint-before-elections
Leave a Reply