The Bangladesh Constitution and the Representation of the People Order (RPO) disqualify persons who ‘acquire the citizenship of, or affirm allegiance to, a foreign state’ from being elected to Parliament. Article 66 bans dual citizens, but the RPO enforces this ban through affidavits rather than verification – creating a system where dual citizenship is illegal in theory but largely undetectable in practice. Here’s what is publicly known about Bangladesh Members of Parliament (MPs) who have held or allegedly held dual citizenship (i.e., citizenship of Bangladesh and another country), noting that holding dual citizenship technically disqualifies someone from being an MP under Article 66 of the Bangladesh Constitution and the Representation of the People Order, 1972.
Article 66(2)(c) of the Constitution disqualifies persons who owe allegiance to a foreign state, while the Representation of the People Order (RPO) and election rules empower the EC to investigate and act in this regard. However, the Election Commission severely lacks treaty-based data access, statutory power to compel foreign verification, and political sensitivity discourages strict enforcement.)
Historically, Dr. A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon, who served as the state minister for Education, had set a rare example in Bangladeshi politics. He was the first Bangladeshi to renounce his American citizenship and pave his way to contest the national polls. On the contrary, although not a parliamentary seat removal after election, candidatures have been invalidated because of dual citizenship. For example: Shammi Ahmed’s nomination for Barisal-4 was declared invalid by the Election Commission because she held both Bangladeshi and Australian citizenship, and courts upheld this decision.
System failure in 2018 Election – Affidavit-Based Clearance: Hundreds of candidates declared they were ‘not foreign citizens’. EC accepted affidavits without cross-checking immigration databases. Some candidates later admitted holding foreign residency, arguing: ‘Permanent residency is not citizenship’. The Constitution bars foreign citizenship, not PR/green cards, which creates scope for misleading but technically legal declarations.
ACC Crackdown on Former Awami League MPs/Ministers Identified with Dual Citizenship: In late 2024 and early 2025, the Anti-Corruption Commission actively pursued information from ministries about government employees with dual citizenship. They argue that undisclosed dual citizenship facilitates corruption and money laundering. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has also supported scrutiny of dual citizenship among public servants, calling undisclosed dual status a violation. In 2021, the High Court sought a list of nearly 14,000 Bangladeshis holding dual passports, linked to inquiries into money laundering and overseas property purchases.
The ACC of Bangladesh reportedly investigated and identified multiple former ministers and MPs who held foreign citizenship or residency status while serving. The ACC investigation found these cases after the fact, and the individuals served while holding foreign citizenship. Under present constitutional rules, acquiring foreign citizenship should disqualify someone from being an MP or minister, and such matters are subject to ongoing scrutiny and potential legal action in Bangladesh. This list reflects individuals the ACC found to have held foreign citizenship or resident status (which for many would equate to dual citizenship) at the time of their service:
Held British Citizenship: AHM Mustafa Kamal (former Finance Minister), Md Tajul Islam (former LGRD Minister), Saifuzzaman Chowdhury (former Land Minister), Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury (former State Minister for Shipping), Md Mahbub Ali (former State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism)
Held U.S. Citizenship / Green Card: Abdus Shahid (former Agriculture Minister), Nasrul Hamid (former State Minister for Power), Zunaid Ahmed Palak (former State Minister for ICT), Mohammad Ali Arafat (former State Minister for Information), Abdus Sobhan Mia Golap (former lawmaker and adviser to the PM), Mahfuzur Rahman (former lawmaker), Salahuddin Mahmud Zahid (former lawmaker)
Held Canadian Citizenship: Abdur Rahman (former Fisheries & Livestock Minister), Mahbubul Alam Hanif (former MP and AL joint general secretary), Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury Nasim (former MP), Shamim Osman (former MP), Shafiqul Islam Shimul (former MP), Habib Hasan (former MP)
Held Other Foreign Nationality/Status: Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain (Swiss citizenship), Zillul Hakim (Japanese residency card), Tanvir Hasan (German citizenship), M.A. Wahid (Papua New Guinea citizenship), Salman F Rahman (Cypriot citizenship – adviser to former PM), Hasan Mahmud (Belgian residency card)
Based on reports surrounding the transition and political landscape in Bangladesh leading up to early 2026, the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus has faced scrutiny regarding the composition of its advisors, including questions about dual citizenship. The Yunus-led interim government took office in August 2024 following a student-led uprising that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee the country. The role of individuals with dual citizenship has become a flashpoint in the political discourse as the country approached scheduled elections in February 2026. Critics, particularly from ousted political factions, have raised concerns about the loyalty and long-term stake of such officials in the country’s affairs.
Bangladesh’s constitution restricts dual citizens from becoming MPs, but rules around advisers (like in an interim government) are less clear or differently applied. The Yunus-led administration (formed after the 2024 political transition till February 2026) included many diaspora professionals and expatriates, which fuelled public debate about foreign citizenship.
The Election Commission (EC) had rejected 723 nomination papers out of 2,568 submitted, on multiple grounds including dual citizenship, discrepancies in voter signatures, incomplete affidavits, etc. However, authorities did not publicly break down exactly how many of those 723 were scrapped specifically because of dual citizenship in the overall total. The EC counted dual citizenship among several reasons for rejection, but the detailed tally per cause hasn’t been released. Shama Obaid, a politician from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a BNP candidate for Faridpur-2 (Saltha and Nagarkanda) constituency in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (national parliament) election. She renounced her United States citizenship – previously holding dual citizenship of Bangladesh and the US – to become eligible to contest in the national election. Shama Obaid formally renounced her US citizenship on November 20, 2025, and she submitted this in her nomination affidavit to the Election Commission.
On the contrary, the BNP candidate from Sunamganj-3 says he has never taken British citizenship. But the British government website shows that he has listed his citizenship as British in the registration of 8 companies at different times. Even if you renounce your citizenship of another country, you have to mention it in the affidavit. If you provide false information in the affidavit, it is legally invalid. But Koysar Ahmed’s nomination paper was accepted. His British citizenship was not verified even after other candidates raised questions. This is how the impartial Election Commission and administration work.
The nomination papers of two Jamaat-e-Islami candidates were cancelled due to dual citizenship. In Kurigram-3 (Ulipur), Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Debnath declared the nomination of Mahbubul Alam Salehi invalid after he failed to provide final proof of renouncing his UK citizenship. Similarly, the returning officer has rejected the nomination paper of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate AKM Fazlul Hoque for the Chattogram-9 constituency for holding dual citizenship. The nomination was cancelled during the scrutiny by the constituency’s returning officer and Divisional Commissioner Zia Uddin. However, he failed to produce any complete documentary proof of the renunciation. As a result, his nomination paper has been cancelled. Although Fazlul held US citizenship, he claimed in his affidavit that he had renounced it on Dec 28.
On the first day of the scrutiny of nomination papers of the candidates contesting in the upcoming 13th National Parliament election, the District Returning Officer had cancelled the nomination paper of Jatiya Party candidate Barrister Manjum Ali, a politician from the BNP group who recently joined the JP for Rangpur-1 constituency (Gangachara- Partial Rangpur City), on allegations of dual citizenship of USA-Bangladesh.
Normally, in Bangladesh, the Election Commission (EC) checks candidates’ dual/double citizenship through a mix of legal declarations, document verification, and inter-agency checks. In practice, every candidate must submit an affidavit with the nomination paper declaring whether they hold only Bangladeshi citizenship, do not hold foreign citizenship (or have formally renounced it, if applicable) and that giving false information is a criminal offence and can lead to cancellation of candidature, disqualification even after election, and criminal prosecution. The EC checks the candidate’s Bangladeshi passport details; if there is suspicion, they seek information about foreign passports, long-term visas, PR, or citizenship indicators. The Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) often provides this information. The EC also uses its NID database to verify Citizenship status and biographical consistency (place of birth, parents, etc.), and discrepancies can trigger deeper scrutiny. When doubts arise, the EC formally asks for verification from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Special Branch (SB) of Police, Immigration authorities, and sometimes Bangladesh missions abroad (through the Foreign Ministry). These agencies check travel history, foreign residency, and possible foreign citizenship records.
Rival candidates, voters, or civil society actors can also file objections; media reports or investigative findings often trigger EC inquiries, and if evidence of dual citizenship emerges, the EC can reject or cancel the nomination
Even after winning, a lawmaker can lose the seat if dual citizenship is proven later, the affidavit is found to be false, and courts have upheld such disqualifications in past cases. Below are case-based examples from past Bangladesh elections that are commonly cited by lawyers, the EC, and the media when discussing dual citizenship/foreign nationality issues of candidates.
During scrutiny of nomination papers, several candidates were alleged to hold foreign passports or permanent residency (UK, USA, Canada). The EC largely relied on affidavits and objections from rival candidates. No independent verification mechanism existed. Unless an objection was raised with documents, candidates were cleared. As a result, most candidates contested without further inquiry, which demonstrated how self-declaration became the de facto test as false affidavits carried little immediate risk.
Under Bangladeshi law, foreign citizens are barred from contesting parliamentary elections. However, media reports named multiple MPs allegedly holding UK and US citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the 2014 national polls. Civil society groups filed petitions asking the EC to investigate. EC stated it had no legal authority or foreign verification channel unless courts directed otherwise. No disqualifications at the nomination stage. Issues were left unresolved due to election boycott and weak judicial follow-up.
As the EC cannot proactively check foreign nationality status, losing candidates or citizens filed writ petitions alleging winners had dual citizenship after elections (2014–2018). In the case of UK or US passport holders elected as MPs, the concerned court asked for passport copies, renunciation certificates, and Home Ministry verification and the terrible outcome of such cases dragged on for years; in most cases, MPs completed full terms before verdicts. So, it is a crucial job for the Bangladesh Election Commission to meticulously check the candidate’s dual citizenship issue in accordance with legal rules, statutes, and regulations, signifying compliance and adherence to what is permitted or required by legal authorities for stopping dual citizens from entering into Bangladesh’s Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has cleared 1,842 nomination papers and rejected 723 after scrutinising candidates for the 13th National Parliamentary Election as the scrutiny deadline ends on January 4. Returning officers and assistant returning officers reviewed 2,568 nomination papers across all 300 constituencies during the official scrutiny period from December 30, 2025, to January 4, 2026. According to the EC, around 3,406 nomination papers were initially filed nationwide. Of these, 2,568 were taken up for formal scrutiny by returning officers. After examination, 1,842 nominations were declared valid, while 723 were thrown out. There is no confirmed official number of dual citizens in the current (13th) Parliament of Bangladesh. Under Article 66 of the Constitution, anyone who holds foreign citizenship is disqualified from being an MP. So, legally, no sitting MP is supposed to be a dual citizen. But allegations exist, and most importantly, no final verified list for the present parliament has been publicly confirmed yet.
During scrutiny of nomination papers and a subsequent nine-day appeal process, the election commission reviewed dozens of objections related to the alleged dual citizenship of 25 candidates. Ultimately, the commission upheld the candidacy of 23 candidates to contest the polls and rejected appeals from the remaining two BNP aspirants from Comilla-3 and Comilla-10.
Though the EC kept the fate of BNP candidate Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad (Comilla-3) pending for the verification of the denouncement of his Turkish citizenship. But the Commission finally upheld his candidacy to run the election from Comilla-3, and he is now a member of the cabinet with the portfolio of Minister of Religious Affairs in Bangladesh, having taken office on February 17, 2026.
Can a dual citizen get a government job in Bangladesh? Generally, no – a dual citizen cannot take most government jobs in Bangladesh, as the country’s laws and constitution place strict conditions on allegiance to another country in this regard. So, if someone acquires or acknowledges citizenship of a foreign state, it creates legal restrictions on holding public roles. For government service (BCS, administration, police, etc.), the requirement is effectively: You must be a full Bangladeshi citizen only, with no foreign allegiance. Dual citizenship (or holding a foreign passport) is treated as a conflict of loyalty, so candidates are usually disqualified.
It is noted that retired justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik, who admitted to holding both Bangladeshi and British citizenship, have sparked concern regarding dual citizenship in high public offices. This issue is particularly significant given the constitutional and legal restrictions surrounding dual citizenship for officeholders in Bangladesh.
Apart from Judiciary, employees of state-owned enterprises (e.g., Biman, Petrobangla, WASA, Metro Rail/DMTCL) are also considered public servants under the Penal Code and are covered by this restriction. Government jobs involve state authority, access to sensitive information, so the state requires exclusive loyalty to Bangladesh.
In Bangladesh, enforcement can vary, but on paper and in official policy, dual citizenship is a strong disqualification for government employment. However, there are practical nuances: some short-term consultancy or technical roles (especially donor-funded projects) may allow dual nationals if explicitly approved. In rare cases, authorities may require the candidate to renounce foreign citizenship before appointment. Still, enforcement can vary – similar to how dual citizenship rules in elections rely on affidavits rather than strict verification.
Ministries and agencies usually impose security clearance requirements. These often exclude dual citizens, especially in sensitive sectors (administration, defense, foreign affairs, telecom, etc.). In some technical or advisory roles, exceptions can occur – but typically, the person is treated as a foreign expert/consultant, not a regular government employee and special approvals are required at a high level. There are no legal ‘carve-outs’ for state-owned enterprises or specific types of contractual appointments, meaning foreign passport holders (even if they have a Dual Nationality Certificate) are generally ineligible for public service roles.
As such, ill practices undermined the constitutional framework and created conflicts of interest that had eroded public trust in the governance system; the government should conduct a thorough review of the citizenship status of all public officeholders. This review could involve cross-referencing immigration records and legal documentation to ensure full compliance with constitutional requirements. It would reinforce the importance of national loyalty in public service and ensure that the country’s governance remains free from divided allegiances. However, the successful implementation of any such reforms will require political will and robust legal frameworks to ensure that enforcement is fair, transparent, and universally applied.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author
The writer is a senior sub-editor at The Business Standard
