A legal challenge has been filed with the High Court questioning the eligibility of National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam to contest the upcoming general election, amid allegations of undisclosed dual citizenship.
Shamim Ahmed, the Jatiya Party candidate for the Dhaka-11 constituency, filed the writ petition on Monday. The petitioner is seeking a formal stay on the candidacy of Nahid Islam, alleging that the NCP leader holds citizenship of Dominica, a Caribbean nation. The petition names the Chief Election Commissioner, the Election Commission Secretary, the Returning Officer, and Nahid Islam as respondents.
According to the legal filing presented by Advocate Majnu Mollah, Nahid Islam reportedly obtained Dominican citizenship on 20 April 2025. This occurred less than a year after he assumed a role as an adviser in the interim council following the political transition in August 2024. The petitioner contends that this status violates Article 66(2)(ga) of the Bangladesh Constitution, which disqualifies individuals holding foreign citizenship from being elected to Parliament.
The petition further alleges that Nahid Islam concealed his dual nationality in the official election affidavit submitted to the Election Commission. Under the revised regulatory framework for the 13th parliamentary polls, the commission holds enhanced authority to disqualify candidates for false declarations or the omission of material financial and personal information.
Advocate Majnu Mollah confirmed that the matter is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before a High Court division bench on Tuesday. The timing of the challenge is critical, as official electioneering for the 12 February polls is set to conclude on Tuesday morning, 48 hours before voting begins.
The Dhaka-11 seat, covering prominent areas such as Gulshan, Badda, and Sabujbagh, has emerged as one of the most closely watched contests in the capital. The constituency includes over 439,000 eligible voters and features a competitive field, including BNP candidate MA Quayum and the Jatiya Party’s Shamim Ahmed.
Nahid Islam, who is running as part of the 11-party alliance, recently addressed supporters in Merul Badda, where he pledged to eliminate land-grabbing and extortion in the area if elected. The High Court’s decision on Tuesday will determine whether his name remains on the ballot for Thursday’s historic vote, which is taking place alongside a national referendum on constitutional reform.
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