Ten directors of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) have collectively resigned, intensifying the ongoing unrest within the organisation. The resignations, which occurred at midnight on Sunday, follow a series of protests and growing dissatisfaction among businessmen.
CCCI President Omar Hazzaz confirmed the resignations and stated that the current board had decided to step down to prevent further disruption to services for ordinary members.
He assured that the resignation letters are being submitted to the Trade Organisations Division of the Ministry of Commerce, with the entire process expected to be completed by Monday.
The decision to resign comes in the wake of the power shift in the country on August 5, which has sparked widespread discontent among the business community. The businessmen have accused the Chamber of establishing a “family rule” and have been actively protesting and demonstrating against it.
This mass resignation is a continuation of earlier moves by the Chamber’s leadership. On August 28, Senior Vice President Torofdar Ruhul Amin and Director Zahirul Islam Chowdhury had already stepped down.
The resignation of these 10 directors follows just four days after their departure, highlighting the deepening crisis within the CCCI.
The last election held at the CCCI was on March 30, 2013, with the Mahbubul Alam-Nurun Nawaz Selim panel, supported by MA Latif, securing 20 out of 24 positions. Mahbubul Alam was elected president due to this majority. Since then, the Chamber has faced five consecutive terms without proper elections, with the most recent election in August being uncontested.
The lack of democratic processes has led to considerable frustration among the business community. The directors’ resignations are seen as a move to address these concerns and pave the way for a more democratic electoral process.
With the resignations, there is now an opportunity for a fair voting process to be implemented, as demanded by the businessmen.
