Last Change:
05/26/2024
The Bangladesh Citizenship (Temporary Provisions) Rules
Year: 1978
Type: Domestic law
Rights Category: Nationality, Integration & Public Affairs, Social protection, Documentation
Description
The Rules of 1978 prescribe the procedures for applying for Bangladeshi citizenship. As per section 3 of the Rules, anyone temporarily living in Bangladesh and wishing to apply for Bangladeshi citizenship under Article 2B of the Citizenship Order of 1972, may do it by directly applying to the Government.
As per Article 4 (1), an application of citizenship under this rule may not be entertained unless, the applicant has by an affidavit, renounced his status as a citizen of another country and has abandoned his domicile of origin.
Article 4 (1) (a) of the Rule indicates that a foreign woman married to a Bangladeshi man can apply for Bangladeshi citizenship provided that she has resided in Bangladesh for a period of two years. For others, those applying for citizenship have to reside in Bangladesh ordinarily for a period of five years.
The Rule also prescribes the specific requirements for applying for the citizenship.
The ultimate authority is with the Government of Bangladesh to grant someone Bangladeshi citizenship. [article-7]
The government also holds the power for the cancellation of the given citizenship. [Article 9]
Selected provisions
(1)Any person seeking citizenship of Bangladesh under Article 4 shall apply in Form B, in duplicate, and in the same manner as provided in clause (a) and (b) of sub-rule (1) of rule 3:
Provided that an application under this rule may not be entertained unless the applicant has. by an affidavit. renounced his status as a citizen of another country and has abandoned his domicile of origin [1]1[:
Provided further that an application shall be considered for grant of citizenship -
(A) If the applicant is a foreign woman and married to a Bangladeshi and has resided in Bangladesh ordinarily for a period of 2 years ; or
(B) If the applicant does not fall within clause (a) has resided in Bangladesh, ordinarily for a period of 5 years.]
(2) The Government or a Mission or Consulate to which an application has been submitted under sub-rule (1) may call for such further information as may be deemed n including the following :
(A) the national status of the applicant;
(B) his knowledge of Bengali language;
(C) his special qualifications, if any;
(D) his income and its source; and
(E) any disabilities to which citizens of Bangladesh are subject in the country of the applicant.
(3) In case the applicant under sub-rule (1) is a foreign national and wife of a citizen of Bangladesh, the application shall be accompanied by the following additional documents, namely:
(I) documentary evidence to the effect that her husband is a citizen of Bangladesh;
(II) her marriage certificate;
(III) if her husband is a person in the service of the People's Republic of Bangladesh or of any local authority or nationalized enterprise in Bangladesh, a "No Objection Certificate" from his employer to his marriage with a foreign national
The Government may, after being satisfied about the correctness of the statements and information furnished by the applicant as required under these rules and also after being satisfied that the applicant is not disqualified for being a citizen of Bangladesh by or under any law for the time being in force, grant citizenship of Bangladesh to the applicant and issue a certificate of citizenship in Form C or, as the case may be, in Form D.
The Government, if it has reasons to believe that an applicant for citizenship has knowingly furnished any false information or suppressed any material fact or abetted the commission of any such offense with a view to obtaining a certificate of citizenship or without lawful authority alters or causes to alter the entries made therein, may, at any time, after making such inquiry as it deems fit and giving the person affected an opportunity of being heard, cancel his citizenship granted under rule 7 and punish him with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to Taka two thousand or with both.