The Anti-Corruption Commission has written to the Election Commission and the home ministry urging action against 24 former ministers and lawmakers who held foreign citizenship while serving in office.

Of the 24, five hold British citizenship: AHM Mustafa Kamal, former finance minister, Md Tazul Islam, ex-LGRD minister; Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, former land minister; Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, former state minister for shipping; and Md Mahbub Ali, ex-state minister for civil aviation and tourism.

Seven hold US citizenship or green cards: Abdus Shahid, ex-agriculture minister; Nasrul Hamid, former state minister for power; Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former state minister for ICT; Mohammad Ali Arafat, ex-state minister for information; Abdus Sobhan Mia Golap, special assistant to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina; and ex-lawmakers Mahfuzur Rahman, and Salahuddin Mahmud Zahid.

Six have Canadian citizenship: Abdur Rahman, former fisheries and livestock minister; ex-MP Mahbubul Alam Hanif, also Awami League joint general secretary; and former lawmakers Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury Nasim, Shamim Osman, Shafiqul Islam Shimul, and Habib Hasan.

Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, former LGRD minister, has Swiss citizenship, and Zillul Hakim, ex-railways minister, has a Japanese residency card.

Former MPs Tanvir Hasan and MA Wahid are citizens of Germany and Papua New Guinea, respectively.

The commission is probing allegations of corruption against the 24 former ministers and lawmakers, said a senior ACC official involved in the proceedings.

During the investigation, their dual citizenship was discovered, he said.

Besides, the ACC also found that Salman F Rahman, private industry affairs adviser to former PM Hasina, holds Cypriot citizenship and Hasan Mahmud, ex-foreign minister, a Belgian residency card.

"The home ministry is responsible for addressing the citizenship issue. So, a letter has been sent to them for appropriate action," the ACC official said.

"The commission has decided to request necessary legal actions regarding dual citizenship or residency cards held by 24 ministers and MPs, and to inform the commission of the results of these actions," said the letters sent by ACC Director Md Rafiquzzaman to the secretaries of the EC and home ministry on Monday.

According to article 66 of the constitution, individuals who acquire foreign citizenship or pledge allegiance to a foreign state cannot serve as MPs or ministers.

Following the political changeover in the country due to a mass uprising, the ACC launched investigations into multiple influential ministers and MPs of the AL government. The anti-graft body has already filed cases against some of them.

Of the 24 ministers and lawmakers, five are now in prison, while others have gone into hiding or fled the country after August 5.