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Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said the appointment of Humayun Kabir as State Minister for Foreign Affairs under the technocrat quota is unconstitutional, citing concerns over his alleged dual citizenship.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said a person who is not a member of parliament can be appointed as a minister or state minister only if they are eligible to be elected to parliament.
He referred to Article 56(2) of the Constitution, which sets the eligibility requirement, and Article 66(2)(c), which disqualifies a person who acquires citizenship of a foreign state or acknowledges allegiance to it from being elected to parliament.
Article 66(2A) also addresses dual citizenship and the requirement to relinquish foreign citizenship.
TIB therefore said Kabir’s appointment would conflict with the Constitution if he retained his foreign citizenship when he assumed office.
The anti-corruption watchdog also criticised Kabir for not directly answering journalists’ questions about his citizenship status.
Instead, it said, he responded with counter-questions, which TIB described as resembling a “shoot the messenger” approach.
TIB urged the state minister to clarify whether he held foreign citizenship when he took office and called on the government to disclose authoritative information on the matter in the interests of transparency and accountability.
The organisation also warned that hostile responses to legitimate questions could undermine press freedom, independent journalism and the public’s right to information.
