Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday alleged that the government has formulated the draft of the 'Bangladesh Citizenship Bill, 2016 only to ensure the security of a family and some Awami League individuals.

"The motive behind the law is to consolidate the ruling party's power and ensure their security. It's also formulated to give protection to a specific family and some ruling party people," said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at a discussion, he further said, "It's clear Awami League has been working since it assumed office to restore the one-party rule in a planned way so that no one can raise voice and express alternative opinions, except them. They're also enacting various laws to this end."

BNP arranged the discussion at a city hotel on the draft bill attended by pro-BNP professionals, including educationists and lawyers.

The Cabinet gave the final approval to the draft of the 'Bangladesh Citizenship Bill, 2016' on February 1 last year, expanding the existing scope of having dual citizenship by expatriate Bangladeshis.

Opposing the bill, Fakhrul said the government is enacting such a law to cling to power by dividing people and society.

According to the draft bill, he said the expatriates will not be able to engage with any political party or organisation before six years of their homecoming. "Even, they won't be able to contest local body polls. It's a bizarre law. Such a law for snatching people's right can't be formulated."

The BNP leader also urged all to create a strong public opinion against the draft Citizenship Law, 2016.

“Citizenship is anybody’s basic right, and it’s also internationally recognised right. I should get the citizenship where I was born. But, the government is trying to snatch people’s citizenship by enacting such a law,” he observed.

Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said the draft of the Bangladesh Citizenship Bill, 2016 suggests that it is formulated either immaturely or with any motive. “We don’t know for what purpose they did it. Is it a trick?

As the bill is yet to be placed in parliament, he said, the government can still elicit public opinion and hold discussions on it for improving the bill and removing its flaws. “It’s now an anti-people and anti-national interest bill.” 

BNP vice chairman and Supreme Court senior lawyers Khandaker Mahbub Hossain said, “This parliament has no public representation. If any law is enacted in the current parliament, which is contradictory to constitution, won’t have any merit in the apex court.”