FE REPORT
A civic platform, 'Nagorik Coalition' has raised question about the eligibility of dual citizens to contest the 13th national parliamentary election.
The platform also demanded the cancellation of nominations of such electoral candidates if allegations of dual citizenship against them are proven through investigation.
The civic platform made the demand in a statement sent to the media on Saturday.
The statement said the country's people are eagerly waiting for the upcoming national election and the democratic recovery through this.
It also said proper, impartial and strict enforcement of the electoral law is crucial to ensuring a free and fair election.
It noted that civil society is observing with deep concern that, in some cases, the Election Commission (EC) has failed to follow due process in approving candidacies under the electoral law.
The Coalition said Transparency International Bangladesh, at a press conference on January 22, disclosed several important pieces of information.
According to those disclosures, multiple candidates concealed clear information in the affidavits submitted to the EC regarding their foreign citizenship and assets held abroad.
"This constitutes a clear violation of the electoral law, and such offences make their candidacies legally liable to cancellation," the statement said.
"Unfortunately, the EC has declared the candidacies of those facing such allegations as valid, and they are set to contest the upcoming election," it added.
The platform demanded that elections in constituencies where fresh and specific allegations of dual citizenship have emerged be suspended and the complaints investigated. If the allegations are not substantiated, the EC should announce new election dates for those constituencies at the earliest possible time.
If the allegations are proven, the candidates' nomination papers should be cancelled, the statement added.
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