Appeal filed with HC to overturn candidacy of BNP’s Quayum for Dhaka-11 election

The petition says he concealed his Vanuatu citizenship in his election affidavit

An appeal has been filed with the High Court seeking to stay the order validating the candidacy of MA Quayum, who is contesting the parliamentary polls on the BNP ticket from the Dhaka-11 constituency.

The validity of the candidacy was challenged on Monday by Nahid Islam, a candidate of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, on the grounds that Quayum concealed information about his citizenship in the island country of Vanuatu in his election affidavit.

Zahirul Islam Musa, Nahid’s counsel, said that a person who acquires the citizenship of a foreign state or pledges allegiance to a foreign state is not eligible to contest parliamentary elections.

“In the petition, we have sought the issuance of a rule and have also requested a stay on the validity of his candidacy as upheld by the returning officer,” said Zahir.

He expects the appeal hearing to be held on Tuesday.

He said they went to the High Court as the deadline to challenge the candidacy at the Election Commission had expired. He noted that he did not have information on Quayum’s dual citizenship within the EC’s objection period.