Foreign Affairs State Minister Responds to ‘Dual Citizenship’ Question: ‘Who Is Reporting This? Why Are They So Bothered?’

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humayun Kabir, has questioned media reports and social media discussions about whether he has renounced his British citizenship.

He made the remarks on Monday while responding to questions from journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Journalists told the state minister that questions had been raised about his British citizenship, with discussions appearing on social media and reports published by some media outlets.

Asked whether he had anything to say about the issue, Kabir did not give a direct yes-or-no answer. Instead, he questioned who was reporting the matter and why they were concerned about it.

“Which newspaper? Why are they so bothered that I should not be allowed to work?” he said, also making references to political developments surrounding the 2008 period.

Kabir said he and other patriotic citizens would continue to work for Bangladesh and take a strong position in the country’s interests.

“I am Bangladeshi,” he said, adding that he did not believe anyone could question his commitment to Bangladesh or his position as a minister.

He also said that people working for Bangladesh should not be motivated by personal interests.

During the briefing, Kabir also addressed Bangladesh’s possible participation in a proposed joint defence pact involving Muslim-majority countries based around Makkah.

He said Makkah holds a special place in the hearts of Bangladeshis and suggested that Bangladesh’s participation in a security arrangement among Islamic nations in the Middle East would not necessarily be unusual.

“We will see what happens. It is being viewed positively,” he said.