Bangladesh&rsquo;s upcoming national election has been thrown into uncertainty as a growing dispute over dual citizenship intensifies political tensions, sparking protests and accusations of bias against the Election Commission just weeks before voting day.
Demonstrations erupted outside the Bangladesh Election Commission headquarters in Dhaka as student activists linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party demanded that candidates holding dual citizenship be allowed to contest in the February 12 elections. Police and border security forces were deployed to maintain order as slogans echoed through the streets.
Hours later, the commission came under fire from the opposite side of the political spectrum. Leaders of the National Citizen Party accused the election authority of favouring the BNP and warned they could reconsider participating in the polls if the issue was not resolved fairly.
At the heart of the controversy is Bangladesh&rsquo;s constitutional rule barring foreign citizens from standing for parliament, while at the same time permitting citizens to hold a second nationality. The conflict lies in how the law should be interpreted when candidates apply to renounce foreign citizenship but have not completed the process.
During scrutiny of nomination papers, the Election Commission examined objections against 25 candidates accused of holding dual nationality. It ultimately approved 23 of them and rejected two. Many of those cleared submitted documents or affidavits stating they had applied to give up their foreign citizenship.
The approvals cut across party lines, but the BNP emerged as the biggest beneficiary. Several candidates from Jamaat-e-Islami and allied parties were also cleared, along with an NCP nominee. The NCP later withdrew its own candidate after claiming it had not been informed about his citizenship status.
Critics say allowing candidates to rely on future commitments rather than completed renunciations weakens constitutional safeguards and opens the door to selective enforcement. They argue that in countries such as the United Kingdom, citizenship renunciation only becomes valid after official registration, meaning applicants remain foreign citizens until formal approval is granted.
The Election Commission has defended its actions, saying its decisions aim to encourage broad participation and that no rulings were made with political bias. The chief election commissioner insisted the commission was committed to neutrality and fairness.
The dispute soon reached the interim government. Senior leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party met interim leader Muhammad Yunus, accusing the commission of bowing to political pressure and deviating from established legal principles. Both parties warned that continued bias could undermine public confidence in the election.
Legal experts and political analysts have raised concerns that allowing dual citizens to contest is not only unconstitutional but ethically troubling, questioning whether candidates with allegiances to another country can genuinely represent Bangladeshi voters.
They warned that if the Election Commission&rsquo;s credibility is damaged, the legitimacy of the election and the government formed afterward could be called into question.
With court challenges likely and street protests looming, the dual citizenship debate has emerged as a major flashpoint that could threaten the stability and credibility of Bangladesh&rsquo;s most anticipated election in years.

Dual Citizenship Row Clouds Bangladesh Elections

Dispute over candidate eligibility fuels protests and raises fears over fairness

Dual Citizenship Row Clouds Bangladesh Elections

Dispute over candidate eligibility fuels protests and raises fears over fairness

January 20, 2026 | 16:09 IST