Living abroad doesn't mean I am a foreign citizen: Khalilur
If I'm being labelled a foreign citizen simply for living in the US, then the same logic could be applied to BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, he says
National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman has firmly denied allegations suggesting he holds foreign citizenship, stating unequivocally that he is a Bangladeshi citizen and holds no other nationality.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka today (21 May), Dr Rahman said, "I have only one citizenship — Bangladeshi. I have no passport from any other country. I just lived in the United States for a while with my family, but that does not make me a foreign citizen.
"If I'm being labelled a foreign citizen simply for living in the US, then the same logic could be applied to BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, who has been living in the UK for years," he added, reports UNB.
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"If you throw a stone at me, it might end up hitting someone else," he said, urging them (who raised questions about his citizenship) to make comments judiciously.
At one stage he got emotional and said, "Please don't label me with something that I really do not deserve. If you can, prove it in court."
Dr Rahman said he holds some rights as a citizen of this country and it would be very unfortunate if they do not respect the rights that he holds.
Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir were present at the briefing.
On Sunday, Khalilur Rahman said he remains prepared to exercise his rights as a Bangladeshi citizen to the fullest extent.
"I remain prepared to exercise my rights as a Bangladeshi citizen to the fullest extent," the National Security Adviser told UNB when his attention was drawn to a recent allegation by BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed that Dr Rahman is a foreign citizen.
Dr Rahman also said the burden of proof of the allegation rests on the individual who made it and, if necessary, it would have to be proven before a court of law.
BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday claimed that the National Security Adviser is a foreign citizen.
"Has the government lost all sense?" he questioned. "How can the Bangladesh Army submit security-related reports to a foreign citizen? He wants to turn Bangladesh into a battlefield under the pretext of a humanitarian corridor for the Rohingyas. This national security adviser must be removed."
