‘Who is so bothered?' State Minister for Foreign Affairs hits back

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir did not directly answer questions from journalists about whether he had renounced his British citizenship before taking office, as required under Bangladesh’s constitutional provisions. He instead described himself as a Bangladeshi and said there was no reason to question his Bangladesh identity.

Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Kabir, who joined the cabinet as a technocrat, responded to questions on a range of issues.

When asked about a recent media report concerning his alleged British citizenship, he initially retorted: “Which newspaper? Who is so bothered?”

Asked whether he had renounced his British citizenship, he said: “I am Bangladeshi. I am here as a Bangladeshi minister. I don’t think anyone should question my Bangladesh identity.”

Kabir was sworn in as state minister for foreign affairs on Friday. Before that, he had served as the prime minister’s foreign affairs adviser.

Following his appointment, questions emerged over whether the BNP leader, who grew up in the United Kingdom from an early age, still held British citizenship and, if so, whether he had renounced it before joining the government.

According to information available from the UK’s Companies House on Monday, Kabir is listed as a British citizen, with his address recorded in the United Kingdom.

Kabir was also a director of a company called Hamlets Community Development Initiative CIC.

Companies House records show that he became a director on January 18, 2012, and resigned from the position on February 24 of the same year.

Articles 56 and 66 of Bangladesh’s Constitution impose restrictions concerning foreign citizenship in relation to membership of parliament and appointment to the cabinet.

Article 66 states that a person who acquires the citizenship of a foreign state, or declares or acknowledges allegiance to a foreign state, is disqualified from being elected or remaining a member of parliament.

However, a person who subsequently renounces the foreign citizenship may become eligible for parliamentary membership, subject to the applicable constitutional provisions.

It is against this constitutional backdrop that questions have arisen over Kabir’s alleged British citizenship.

A report published by Prothom Alo on Sunday said Kabir was born in Sylhet but moved to the United Kingdom with his family when he was just two and a half years old. He grew up and received his higher education there. The report also said he had been involved in politics with the UK Labour Party and at one point obtained British citizenship.

His appointment as state minister has since prompted questions over whether he had renounced that citizenship.

Under UK law, holding dual citizenship does not generally prevent an individual from engaging in politics or serving as a member of parliament.

When journalists raised the reports about his citizenship and the debate surrounding the issue on social media, Kabir responded jokingly: “I am dealing with citizens; you are talking about netizens.”

When another journalist referred to the published report, Kabir said: “Why is he so bothered? Is the pain of 2008 coming back to him? Is the Moinuddin-Fakhruddin pain coming back again?”

He further said that Bangladesh would be taken forward through the collective efforts of those who take a strong stand for the country, patriotic citizens, the media, political leaders and the wider public.