Dhaka, Jan 19 (V7N) — The Election Commission (EC) has granted flexibility to candidates with dual citizenship for the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections. Candidates who have paid fees and formally applied to renounce their foreign citizenship have been allowed to contest, according to an EC announcement on Sunday, January 18.

Out of 23 candidates facing dual citizenship issues, the EC canceled the nominations of two, suspended the decision on one, and approved the participation of 20 candidates.

The nomination of Abdul Gafur Bhuiya, BNP candidate for Comilla-10, was canceled due to his absence at the hearing. Meanwhile, Kazi Shah Mofazzel Hossain Kaykobad, BNP candidate for Comilla-3, had his case regarding renunciation of Turkish citizenship suspended for verification, with a high likelihood that his nomination will remain valid.

Candidates cleared to contest despite dual citizenship issues include Mohammad Nazrul Islam (Jamaat, Dhaka-1), AKM Kamruzzaman (BNP, Dinajpur-5), Moniruzzaman (BNP, Satkhira-4), Shama Obaid (BNP, Faridpur-2), Tahir Raihan (BNP, Sunamganj-2), Shawkatul Islam (BNP, Moulvibazar-2), Sujat Mia (Independent, Habiganj-1), Junaid Hasan (Jamaat, Brahmanbaria-3), Kabir Ahmed Bhuiya (BNP, Brahmanbaria-4), Abdul Awal Mintu (BNP, Feni-3), Zahidul Islam (Independent, Noakhali-1), Md Manjum Ali (JP, Rangpur-1), Khorshed Alam (Jamaat, Chapainawabganj-1), Azadul Haq (Khelafat Majlis, Natore-1), Moslem Uddin Farid (Jamaat, Jessore-2), AK Fazlul Haq (Jamaat, Chattogram-9), Fahim (BNP, Sherpur-2), Amjad Hossain (Islami Andolon, Chattogram-3), Mahbub Alam Saleh (Jamaat, Kurigram-3), Afroza Khanam Rita (BNP, Manikganj-3), and an independent candidate for Sunamganj-3.

In addition, the nomination of Sarwar Alomgir, BNP candidate for Chattogram-2, was canceled on Sunday over allegations of loan default.

On the final day of hearings, 63 candidates appeared in two sessions. Of these, 23 nominations were approved, 21 rejected against cancellation, two rejected against acceptance, and 35 appeals were denied. Among them, 16 were disqualified against acceptance of nominations.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin emphasized after the hearing that neither he nor his team displayed any bias in their judgments, assuring impartiality in all decisions.

This move by the EC is seen as a significant step to accommodate candidates navigating dual citizenship complexities, while maintaining legal compliance and electoral integrity ahead of the national vote.

END/RKB/SMA/