All but 2 dual-citizenship candidates cleared

The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday cleared the way for nearly all candidates facing dual-citizenship issues to contest the upcoming national election on 12 February, except for two BNP candidates from Cumilla-3 and Cumilla-10. 

The decisions came on the final day of appeal hearings over nominations.

BNP candidate Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan of Cumilla-10 had his candidacy cancelled after failing to attend the hearing concerning his dual citizenship. 

Meanwhile, Sarwar Alamgir of Chattogram-2 was disqualified over allegations of loan default. 

The fate of BNP candidate Kazi Shah Mofazzel Hossain Kaikobad in Cumilla-3 remains pending as the Commission examines documents related to his renunciation of Turkish citizenship, though sources suggest his candidacy is likely to be upheld.

Earlier, the EC revoked BNP’s Monzurul Ahsan Munshi’s candidacy in Cumilla-4 due to loan default, while confirming that of National Citizen Party’s Abul Hasnat, also known as Hasnat Abdullah.

The candidates whose nominations were ultimately confirmed despite dual-citizenship concerns include BNP’s Abdul Awal Mintoo (Feni-3), Afroza Khanam (Manikganj-3), AKM Kamruzzaman (Dinajpur-5), Shama Obaid (Faridpur-2), Shawkatul Islam (Moulvibazar-2), Mushfiqur Rahman (Brahmanbaria-4) and Fahim Chowdhury (Sherpur-2); Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nazrul Islam (Dhaka-1), Zunaid Hasan (Brahmanbaria-3), AKM Fazlul Haqaue (Chattogram-9) and Mahbubul Alam (Kurigram-3); NCP’s Ehteshamul Haque (Sylhet-1); independent candidates Anwar Hossain (Sunamganj-3) and Sujat Miah (Habiganj-1); and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Zahirul Islam (Noakhali-1). The Commission also confirmed BNP’s Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury (Chattogram-4) and reinstated Jamaat’s Mohammad Mosleh Uddin Farid (Jashore-2).

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin emphasised that the EC conducted hearings without bias and relaxed the one per cent voter-signature requirement for independent candidates to encourage wider participation. 

Speaking at the EC building, he said, “We want a credible election with full participation. Without cooperation, this will not be possible. I assure you no decision was taken with bias.”

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah added that some loan defaulters were allowed to contest reluctantly, in accordance with the law.

On Sunday, the final day of the nine-day appeal process, the EC heard 63 appeals, approving 23 – 21 against cancellation and two against acceptance of nominations. Thirty-five appeals were rejected, three withdrawn, one appellant absent, and two appeals remain pending.

In line with Supreme Court directives, Sunday was also the last day for submitting nominations for the Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies, with seven papers submitted for Pabna-1 and five for Pabna-2.