Writ filed seeking cancellation of Nahid Islam’s candidacy over dual citizenship allegation

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking the cancellation of the candidacy of Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party, NCP, and nominee of the 11-party alliance from the Dhaka-11 constituency, over allegations of dual citizenship.

The writ was filed on Monday, February 9, by Shamim Ahmed, a Jatiya Party candidate from Dhaka-11. The chief election commissioner, election commission secretary, the concerned returning officer and Md Nahid Islam have been made respondents in the petition.

According to the writ application, Md Nahid Islam obtained citizenship of the Caribbean island state of Dominica on April 20, 2025, which constitutes disqualification for contesting parliamentary elections under the Constitution of Bangladesh and existing electoral laws. The petition seeks a declaration of his nomination as illegal and the cancellation of his candidacy.

The writ is likely to be placed for hearing before a High Court bench comprising Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Md Asif Hassan.

Dhaka-11 parliamentary constituency consists of wards 21, 22, 23, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 of Dhaka North City Corporation and has a total of 439,078 voters.