Cabinet okays wider scopes for dual citizenship
The government yesterday gave final approval to the draft Bangladesh Citizenship Bill, 2016, containing a provision that those holding constitutional posts like Supreme Court judges, MPs, members of armed forces and public services will not be allowed to possess dual citizenship. The new law expanding scope for dual citizenship for Bangladeshis was approved at a weekly cabinet meeting held at the Prime Ministers Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. Cabinet Secretary
Mohammad Shafiul Alam told reporters after the meeting, The law also has provision for a fine up to Tk. 1 lakh or five years imprisonment or both for persons taking citizenship by submitting false and distorted information and keeping facts hidden.
Shafiul said that the new law widens scope for dual citizenship and added that it only allows dual citizenship for Bangladeshis in the US and UK. He said that the draft law has provision to provide and reinstate citizenships of Bangladesh to foreign nationals but those nationals will not be able to contest - any parliament election or election to the post of President or local government polls; form a political party; become a Supreme Court judge; or get appointed to any post of the republic.
According to the draft law, Bangladeshis can take dual citizenship in countries which have diplomatic ties with Bangladesh except for SAARC countries and Myanmar where dual citizenship is prohibited through gazette notification. Shafiul also said that if a Bangladeshi pledges allegiance to a foreign state directly or indirectly, he or she will lose citizenship.
Further, any foreign national can be given honorary Bangladeshi citizenship for his or her special qualifications in social science, science, literature, world peace, human development and culture, or important contributions towards Bangladeshs development.
Besides, foreign nationals, married to Bangladeshis, will have to reside in Bangladesh for at least five years to qualify for citizenship, said Shafiul. Till now, the period of residence has been four years.
The Cabinet Secretary said that the proposed law has been rearranged after addressing backdated issues and the incompleteness of two existing laws, namely, the Citizenship Act 1951 and the Bangladesh Citizenship Temporary Provisions Order 1972.
He informed that the law has six chapters and 28 sections which highlight the process of getting citizenship, disqualification of citizenship and renouncement and dissolution of citizenship.
Shafiul was quick to add that if anyone shows allegiance directly or indirectly to other countries, participates in any force in any country, and supports that force in any war against Bangladesh, he or she will not get Bangladeshi citizenship. Also, illegal migrants living in Bangladesh and those who show allegiance to other countries except Bangladesh will not get Bangladeshi citizenship.
It was also decided at the cabinet meeting that March 10 every year will be observed as National Disaster Preparedness Day. Ministers, State Ministers and Secretaries concerned attended the cabinet meeting.
