Date: 9 August 2025

In an earlier blog, I made the case for expatriate Bangladeshi’s voting rights – click here. This piece raises three further long-standing calls for action, that too can be met if there is a political will.

Hazards at Hazrat Shah Jalal Airport, Dhaka

On 9 May 1996, Mr Siraj Miah, who enjoyed both British and Bangladeshi nationality (Dual National) tragically died while he was in the custody of officials at the Zia International Airport, Dhaka (renamed the Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport, HSA).

Mr Miah’s death prompted an Early Day Motion and a debate in the House of Commons, so the following information is important for us to understand the background to the tragedy.

Following the tragic death of Mr Miah, on 03 July 1996 the Labour MP for Blyth Valley, Mr Ronnie Campbell tabled an Early Day Motion, ‘Death of Mr Siraj Miah’. The Motion “calls upon the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to demand an explanation from the Government of Bangladesh following the death of Mr Siraj Miah, a British resident who died in extremely suspicious circumstances whilst in Dhaka Airport [. . .] and urges the Secretary of State to take immediate action to ensure the protection of British citizens and British residents whilst they are abroad.” [1]. This early day motion was signed by 46 MPs including Jeremy Corbyn, MP and Mr Ken Livingstone – former MP for Brent East.

This motion was debated in House of Commons on 09 July 1996. In his opening speech of this Adjustment Debate Mr Ronnie Campbell made the following points: “It gives me no pleasure to raise this matter tonight, as it is a sad case. A constituent of mine who had lived in Britain for more than 20 years returned to Bangladesh in early May to see his family. At the airport, it would appear that a bribe was not paid to customs officers, whereupon my constituent was seized and beaten up. He died as a result of his injuries [. . .] I have written to the Foreign Office about the matter and raised it on the Floor of the House. I have received one letter since the death of this unfortunate person. The Foreign Office is burying its head in the sand, as if it was someone else’s problem. It is not someone else’s problem, but the problem of our Government. It is the problem of the Foreign Office, which should sort it out with the people in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. The harassment goes on throughout the region. In this day and age, it should stop.”

The then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr David Davis, in his detailed reply to the Motion and debate said the following: “I am glad that the hon. Member has raised the subject, and I congratulate him on using the Adjournment debate to bring to the attention of the House some of the problems faced by British citizens travelling to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. From time to time, we have received reports of harassment of British citizens in those three countries—they have come mainly from Bangladesh [. . .] We are deeply concerned by this incident and have expressed our concern to the Bangladeshi authorities. They are conducting a murder inquiry. We have urged them to complete the inquiry as soon as possible, and to let us know the result [. . .] Mr. Siraj Miah, who, we understand, enjoyed both British and Bangladeshi nationality, reportedly died while in the custody of officials at Zia international airport on 9 May.”[1]

This author has no information about the outcome of the “murder inquiry” or was there any follow up from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on Mr. Siraj Miah’s death.  Though, regrettably, it appears that there are no changes in the circumstances at HSA in Dhaka: harassment towards expatriates, customs officers’ demands for bribes and mishandling luggage. It is reported that recently four Bangladesh-origin Norwegian citizens and a Bangladesh national have faced harassment at this airport. One of the Norwegian citizens was physically assaulted [2]. It is also reported that the High Court has questioned the failure, negligence, and inaction of the airport’s authorities and others in preventing incidents of theft, damage, and loss of passengers’ luggage at the airport [3].

The following actions are therefore needed now,

  • Stop harassment towards expatriates going back home, such as the demand of bribes by customs officers, luggage mishandling, physical assault and even death as highlighted above. Luggage mishandling at HSA is a recurring issue, with passengers reporting delays, theft, and damage to their belongings.
  • Sylhet Osmani International airport to be a fully functional international airport, including expanded cargo facilities. This demand primarily revolves around transforming it into a truly international airport, with enhanced cargo facilities and direct cargo flights, not just in name.

Visa Fees

There is need to reduce the fees associated with obtaining a “No Visa Required” (NVR) endorsement for dual Bangladeshi citizens and their dependents seeking to travel to Bangladesh. As of July 2025, the current fee is £70, raised from £46 – many British Bangladeshis feel that the newly fixed fee is unreasonably high. This is a point of contention for some who feel it should be lower. It is reported that Apsana Begum MP (the Independent MP for Poplar and Limehouse) has “requested the Bangladesh High Commission to reassess the decision on raising the NVR fees”.[4]

Dual Nationality

According to the Citizenship Act, 1951 [An Act to provide for Bangladesh citizenship, dual citizenship or nationality is not permitted. The Act initially stipulated that a Bangladeshi citizen who became a citizen of another country would automatically lose their Bangladeshi citizenship unless they renounced the other citizenship. 

Section 14 (1) of the Act provides that: “Subject to the provisions of this section if any person is a citizen of Bangladesh under the provisions of this Act, and is at the same time a citizen or national of any other country, he shall, unless he makes a declaration according to the laws of that other country renouncing his status as citizen or national thereof, cease to be a citizen of Bangladesh.” However, there are some exceptions to this rules, and dual citizenship is permitted under certain circumstances where the person is a citizen of selected  countries. An individual of Bangladeshi origins who is a citizen of the UK, USA, Australia, Canada or Europe may apply for a Dual Citizenship Certificate as per the regulations of Bangladesh. Although, a Dual Nationality Certificate in Bangladesh is not “mandatory” for individuals of Bangladeshi origin who have acquired foreign citizenship, but they may need to provide proof of their Bangladeshi origin.

According to the Bangladesh High Commission London: “As per the regulations of Bangladesh, a Dual Nationality Certificate is not mandatory for individuals who have acquired UK citizenship but previously held a Bangladeshi passport. It is also not required for second- or third-generation UK citizens of Bangladeshi origin.” [5]

While dual citizenship is permitted for civilians in Bangladesh, the individual can then not  stand as a Member of Parliament (MP) in Bangladesh. The Constitution specifies that MPs must be solely citizens of Bangladesh. Article 66 of the Bangladesh Constitution sets out provisions for the qualifications to be elected as a member of Parliament and disqualifications for election in the following terms: “66. (1) A person shall subject to the provisions of clause (2), be qualified to be elected as, and to be, a member of Parliament if he is a citizen of Bangladesh and has attained the age of twenty-five years.” As per the disqualification, the Constitution stipulates that: “A person shall be disqualified for election as, or for being, a member of Parliament who –(c) acquires the citizenship of, or affirms or acknowledges allegiance to, a foreign state”, [Article 66. (1)(2)].

In his recent televised address to the nation on 5th August 2025, the interim leader Muhammad Yunus announced that the parliamentary election will be in February and said he would request the Election Commission to organize the election before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. It would be interesting to see whether the interim government headed by Professor Yunus takes a reform initiative to amend the existing legal provisions to allow expatriate Bangladeshis to be elected as a Member of Parliament, such as through reserved seats. This would be in keeping with his administration’s decision to ensure voting rights for expatriates for the first time.

As stated at the outset, where there is a will, there will be a way.

Khaled Noor, 9 August 2025, London

Khaled Noor’s blogs click here

[1] https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/12249

[2] Daily Observer, Thursday, 9 January 2025

[3] The Financial Express,  February 18, 2025 

[4] Dhaka Tribune,: 14 Dec 2024

[5] https://bhclondon.org.uk/dual-nationality-certificate