A writ petition has been filed with the High Court challenging the legality of the candidacy of BNP-nominated contender MA Quayum for Dhaka-11 constituency, alleging concealment of dual citizenship information.
Nahid Islam, convener of National Citizen Party (NCP) and 11-party alliance candidate for Dhaka-11, filed the writ on Monday.
The petition asks the court to suspend Quayum’s candidacy in the Dhaka-11 constituency, claiming that his failure to disclose the information makes his nomination invalid.
Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) had declared the nomination papers of Nahid Islam, 11-party alliance candidate and convener of the NCP, and BNP-nominated candidate Quayum valid after scrutiny in the constituency.
Meanwhile, allegations spread on social media claiming that Quayum had obtained citizenship of the The Republic of Vanuatu and owned property there. He, however, described the allegations as completely false, fabricated and a motivated smear campaign.
In a statement issued on 19 January, he said rumours had been circulated across social media claiming that he was a citizen of a country called Vanuatu and owned a house or investments there. He said the claims were full of false. He added that he had never set foot in Vanuatu and had never harboured any intention of holding dual citizenship of any other country.
Earlier, on Sunday, the Appellate Division did not restore the candidacy of BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi in the Cumilla-4 constituency.
As a result, he will not be able to contest the election. His rival in that constituency was NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah.
Although the returning officer had initially declared his nomination valid, the EC cancelled Manjurul Ahsan’s nomination on 17 January following allegations of loan default raised by Hasnat Abdullah.
