SHUJAN criticises participation of loan defaulters, dual nationals in 13th national polls

SHUJAN-Citizens for Good Governance, a non-partisan citizen’s platform, has characterised the participation of alleged loan defaulters and dual nationals in the public electoral process as the primary failure of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

The organisation stated that at least 45 loan-defaulting candidates were granted the opportunity to participate in this election, in some cases by obtaining stay orders from the High Court.

This list included 41 candidates from the BNP and four from Jamaat-e-Islami. Among the accused loan defaulters, 11 emerged victorious, all of whom are candidates from the BNP alliance.

Additionally, several candidates were allowed to contest freely despite lacking documentary evidence of renouncing their dual citizenship. Allegations have surfaced that the Election Commission facilitated their clearance by providing interpretations of the law that exceeded its jurisdiction.

These observations were shared today, Wednesday, during a press conference titled “The 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum-2026: SHUJAN’s Perspective" held at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club.

The organization presented its overall observations regarding the national election and referendum held on 12 February.

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The written statement was presented by Ekram Hossain, a member of SHUJAN’s National Committee, at the press conference chaired by Professor Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary and Chief Executive of the Board of Trustees. The event was moderated by SHUJAN’s Central Coordinator, Dilip Kumar Sarkar.

It was noted during the conference that the national election held following the mass uprising carried immense expectations and potential. On a positive note, the election was relatively peaceful. Furthermore, the act of the winning party leader meeting with defeated leaders, and the defeated parties congratulating the victors, appeared to be a harbinger of a new political culture.

However, the dispute between the winners and losers regarding the swearing-in of the Constitution Reform Council, along with the boycott of the cabinet's oath-taking ceremony by the 11-party alliance, has raised new concerns.

"Our expectation is that the crisis will be resolved soon, and we will all join the democratic journey together," the statement concluded.