Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has criticised State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir for responding with counter-questions to journalists seeking information about his alleged dual citizenship, describing the behaviour as an example of the “shoot the messenger” mindset and a threat to media freedom and the public’s right to know.

In a press release on Tuesday, TIB said the appointment of a person retaining dual citizenship as state minister under the technocrat quota was ‘unconstitutional’ and called on the government to disclose accurate and verifiable information about his citizenship status.

According to multiple media reports, the state minister holds foreign citizenship and was involved in active politics in the country concerned, TIB said.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the Constitution requires a person appointed as a minister or state minister from outside Parliament to be eligible for election as an MP.

Under Article 66(2)(c), a person who acquires citizenship of a foreign state or acknowledges allegiance to such a state is disqualified from being elected to Parliament, while Article 66(2A) addresses the requirement to renounce foreign citizenship in cases of dual citizenship, he said.

“Therefore, his appointment under the technocrat quota while retaining dual citizenship is in conflict with the Constitution,” Dr Iftekharuzzaman said.

He criticised the state minister for not directly answering journalists’ questions about whether he retained foreign citizenship when he assumed office.

Instead, the minister responded with questions such as “Who is reporting the news?” and “Why are you so bothered about it?”, according to TIB.

“Who reported the news or who raised the question is not the issue here. The fundamental question is whether he retained his foreign citizenship when he assumed office as state minister,” Dr Iftekharuzzaman said.

He said people’s right to ask questions on matters of public interest and their right to know had become more important following the political change brought about by the July uprising.

A straightforward, factual response from the state minister, along with relevant evidence, could have set an example of transparency and accountability, he said.

Instead, his “resentful and aggressive” responses to media outlets and journalists were unbecoming of a state minister and posed a threat to independent journalism, TIB said.

Such responses could place undue pressure on journalists, discourage them from asking uncomfortable questions about people in power and contribute to self-censorship or a “chilling effect”, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said.

He also warned that the controversy could have international implications and cause avoidable reputational damage to Bangladesh.

TIB called on the government to immediately disclose verifiable information about the state minister’s citizenship status and take an appropriate decision on the constitutional validity of his appointment.

The organisation also urged the government to publicly disclose the positions and official documentary evidence concerning the citizenship status of any other minister, state minister or person holding an equivalent position if questions arise over their dual citizenship.