DHAKA – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has removed the final legal hurdle for MA Quayum, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate for Dhaka-11, allowing him to contest the upcoming national election.
In an order passed today, Tuesday, February 10, the court decided to defer the hearing on his candidacy legality until after the election is concluded.
The Vanuatu Allegation
The legal challenge was initiated by Nahid Islam, the convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), who filed an appeal seeking to cancel MA Quayum’s candidacy. The petition alleged that MA Quayum holds dual citizenship in Vanuatu, a small island nation in the South Pacific. Under Bangladeshi law, any citizen who owes allegiance to a foreign state or holds foreign citizenship is disqualified from serving in Parliament.
Legal Limbo Until Post-Election
A bench led by Chief Justice Jubayer Rahman Chowdhury heard the appeal today. By ordering the hearing to take place after the election, the court has effectively granted MA Quayum a legal “green light” to remain on the ballot.
Lawyers representing the BNP candidate confirmed that there are now no remaining obstacles to his participation in the February 12 polls.
A Campaign in Full Swing
Despite the looming legal cloud, MA Quayum has been actively campaigning across the Dhaka-11 constituency. This latest court ruling ensures that his supporters can head to the polls without the immediate fear of their candidate being disqualified at the eleventh hour.
However, the decision leaves a significant question mark over the future: if MA Quayum wins the seat, his stay in Parliament will remain contingent on the outcome of the post-election citizenship hearing.
