September marks my 80th birthday (03/09/1945)—a milestone I have waited for through 29,200 days, finally earning the title of octogenarian. You may dispute the date on my high school matriculation certificate, but you cannot deny that every one of those 29,200 days I have lived and breathed with Bangladeshi DNA in my veins, no matter my dual citizenship.
Ever since the installation of the interim government led by Dr. Mohammad Yunus, some television talk shows often feature a familiar refrain: that those with dual citizenship should be barred from positions of influence in governance and reforms. Some senior journalists argue that their loyalty is divided, making their participation unwelcome. At times, the language has turned openly hostile, as if Bangladesh-born citizens abroad have forfeited the right to care about or contribute to the nation. Let us be clear: this dual citizenship controversy is sheer nonsense.
Such resentment is not only intellectually lazy; it is historically blind. Bangladesh cannot belittle or ignore the contribution of its diaspora during the Liberation War of 1971. From lobbying global leaders to sending remittances that keep the economy afloat, Bangladeshis abroad have carried the nation’s burdens. To suggest that commitment is measured by the colour of one’s passport disregards the countless lives transformed by diaspora advocacy, expertise, and financial support.
During the Liberation War, Bangladeshis abroad mobilised tirelessly in London, New York, Washington, and beyond—organising rallies, publishing newsletters, and lobbying policymakers. This was not merely symbolic; it decisively shaped global opinion and pressured foreign governments to act against atrocities in East Pakistan. Without it, Bangladesh’s international legitimacy would have been delayed, if not jeopardised.
The political impact of the diaspora has not been confined to 1971. During the July 5 ouster of a fascist ruler, Bangladeshis abroad declared a remittance moratorium that destabilised the regime’s grip on power. By cutting off a vital source of foreign exchange, they demonstrated that economic leverage could be converted into political change. Far from being bystanders, they were active participants in shaping Bangladesh’s democratic trajectory.
THE HYPOCRISY OF EXCLUSION: The irony of these talk show attacks is hard to miss. During the same broadcasts, other participants often remind these self-styled guardians of nationalism that they have no hesitancy in accepting remittances, gifts, and foreign medical treatment made possible by the diaspora they disparage. Journalists who mock dual nationals for being “outsiders” rarely refuse the remittances that sustain Bangladesh’s foreign reserves. Politicians who castigate them for being “less than Bangladeshi” are happy to court diaspora donations during elections. Entire families thrive because sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters abroad send money every month. If loyalty is measured by material commitment, dual citizens have already proven themselves.
Consider figures like Ali Riaz, a respected political scientist, and Badiul Alam Majumder, who sacrificed the comfort of an American academic career to dedicate themselves to democracy and good governance in Bangladesh. Both hold or have held foreign citizenship, yet neither has engaged in sensitive military or national security matters. Their lifelong engagement with Bangladesh, despite opportunities elsewhere, exposes the hollowness of the claim that dual citizens cannot be trusted.
Add the contributions of economists such as Rehman Sobhan, who has long collaborated with diaspora scholars, and younger-generation experts like Ishrat Husain, whose policy work abroad continues to inspire reforms at home. Similarly, global health professionals of Bangladeshi origin—at the World Bank, WHO, and major universities—consistently bring knowledge, networks, and resources back to Bangladesh. These examples show that diaspora voices are not a threat but a lifeline, connecting the country to the wider world.
COMMITMENT, NOT PASSPORTS: The real measure of belonging is not paperwork but purpose. Does an individual stand for democracy, transparency, and the dignity of citizens? Does one act to build institutions rather than plunder them? These are the questions worth asking, not whether a person resides in New York, London, or Toronto. Many of the fiercest advocates for democratic reforms in Bangladesh are people who left for higher education or safety but never severed emotional or political ties to the homeland.
This commitment is not abstract; it manifests in concrete actions and measurable impact across Bangladesh and the global diaspora. Dual citizens contribute far beyond symbolic support. Remittances, exceeding $22 billion in 2022 and over 8 percent of GDP, help stabilise the taka, fund education, support families, and sustain local economies. Their engagement extends beyond financial support; diaspora members bring knowledge, skills, innovation, and global networks. Entrepreneurs like Kamal Quadir (bKash), Iqbal Ahmed, and Imaad Ah, as well as scientists such as Dr. Maqsudul Alam, show how expertise abroad translates into nation-building outcomes, from job creation to globally recognised research.
Diaspora engagement also spans civic, cultural, and humanitarian efforts. Writers, journalists, and activists defend secularism, expose corruption, and champion human rights, often at personal risk. Communities mobilise swiftly during cyclones, floods, and pandemics, and cultural organisations sustain language, literature, and heritage. Patriotism, therefore, is measured by sacrifice, commitment, and positive action, not geography.
GLOBAL EXPERTISE, NATIONAL VALUE: Bangladesh today faces challenges that demand global knowledge—climate adaptation, digital economy integration, monetary policy, and sustainable industrialisation. Who better to advise than those who straddle worlds, who understand both the international system and the local context? To exclude dual citizens is to deliberately handicap the country at the very moment it most needs globally literate voices.
Other nations provide lessons: India leverages its non-resident citizens as strategic investors and lobbyists. China mobilises overseas Chinese to drive trade and innovation. Israel and Ireland treat their diasporas as pillars of development and diplomacy. Bangladesh has begun acknowledging this potential with programmes like the National Diaspora Policy (2023) and the Global Pravasi Business Shyamalan. However, these initiatives will falter if local media and political actors continue to demean expatriates.
A NATION BUILT WITH MANY HANDS: The hostility toward dual citizens betrays a fear of accountability. Those who deride them as “outsiders” often do so because diaspora voices speak independently. They are not entangled in local patronage networks, nor are they easily silenced by threats
Beyond policy and advocacy, dual citizens sustain families through education, livelihood, and well-being, and often establish foundations supporting the schools and colleges that shaped them. They invest in family businesses, purchase property, and provide immediate relief during disasters. In the United States, they participate in civic life, run for office, join political parties, and highlight Bangladesh’s interests while advancing their communities’ broader concerns. Their contributions bridge nations, showing commitment, is deepened, not divided, by living abroad.
My own experience illustrates this lifelong dedication. Since arriving in the United States in December 1976, I have supported education for siblings, nieces, and nephews, contributed to disaster relief as recently as in the recent flood in Feni, Cumilla, and other areas, covered medical expenses, and published over 550 op-eds on political economy, banking, geopolitics, and geoeconomics. My polymath background allowed me to write a 400-page book, Politiconomy of Bangladesh, advancing knowledge domestically and globally.
During the liberation war, I was stranded in Pakistan, where life as a Bangladeshi was perilous: salaries were withheld, schools and universities closed, and movement strictly restricted. Amid these conditions, I volunteered to teach physics to high school students barred from formal education, asserting in every lesson that knowledge and resilience cannot be extinguished. After receiving my Ph.D in economics in 1985, I devoted nearly four decades to economics and education, publishing research, mentoring students, conducting workshops at Bangladesh Bank, all while holding dual citizenship. These contributions demonstrate that meaningful service to the nation does not require relinquishing other national ties—it requires commitment, expertise, and action.
CONCLUDING REMARKS: The narrative of “dual citizenship nonsense” must be rejected for what it is: a diversion from real issues, a smokescreen to protect vested interests, and a betrayal of the very history of Bangladesh. Loyalty cannot be stamped on a passport. It is lived through sacrifice, contribution, and enduring commitment. The diaspora has more than earned its place at the table. From 1971 to the July 5 ouster, and through decades of civic, cultural, and economic engagement, their advocacy, remittances, and moral pressure have repeatedly shaped Bangladesh’s destiny. To deny them now is not just folly, it is to ignore the very hands that have held the nation together in its most critical times. Geography may separate us, but the love of country unites us, and the measure of patriotism lies in action, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment, not hollow slogans or studio applause.
Dual citizens are not seeking to make money in Bangladesh; rather, they are looking for opportunities to volunteer and apply their expertise, with some even considering spending their retirement years and eventually passing away on Bangladeshi soil.
Dr Abdullah A Dewan is a former physicist and nuclear engineer at the BAEC and Professor Emeritus of Economics at Eastern Michigan University, USA. aadeone@gmail.com
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