Concerns have been raised by civil society platform Nagorik Coalition over the participation of alleged dual citizens in the 12 February parliamentary election, with a call for strict enforcement of electoral laws to protect the country’s democratic transition.
In a statement, the coalition said people across the country are looking to the election as a decisive step towards restoring democracy and that a credible poll depends on the proper, impartial and rigorous application of electoral laws.
Civil society, it said, has observed with deep concern that in some cases the Election Commission (EC) failed to follow due process while approving candidates under existing electoral regulations.
The coalition referred to a press conference held on 22 January, where Transparency International disclosed information alleging that several candidates concealed foreign citizenship and overseas assets in affidavits submitted to the EC.
Such concealment, according to the coalition, constitutes a clear violation of electoral law and renders the candidacy legally voidable, yet the EC declared the candidacies valid, allowing those facing the allegations to contest the election.
Nagorik Coalition said the opportunity to re-establish democracy, achieved at the cost of thousands of lives, must not be undermined by erroneous decisions involving a small number of candidates.
It said any such decisions would amount to an insult to the sacrifices of those who lost their lives during the July movement.
Nagorik Coalition functions as an umbrella civil society platform bringing together several citizen-led initiatives advocating democratic reform, including Voice for Reform, Bangladesh Resource and Advocacy Initiative (BRAIN) and Citizens for Good Governance.
The platform includes prominent rights activists and civic leaders such as Shahidul Alam, Irene Khan, Fahim Mashrur, Shafiq Rahman and Hasib Hossain, who have been vocal in demanding institutional accountability and democratic reform.
As a remedy, the coalition demanded that elections be suspended in constituencies where fresh and credible allegations of dual citizenship have surfaced and that the allegations be investigated thoroughly.
It said if the allegations are not proven, the EC can announce new election dates for those seats as soon as possible.
Where the allegations are proven, the coalition said the nomination papers of the concerned candidates must be cancelled, describing this as both the moral and legal duty of the EC.
