The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) is set to hold its biennial election for the 2023-25 term at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) Monday.
This election marks a significant event as it is being held after a gap of six years, with the last election taking place in 2017. The polling is scheduled to run uninterrupted from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Out of the total 80 directors of the FBCCI, 34 have already been chosen, with 17 directors each from the chamber and association groups, in accordance with the trade body's charter.
Initially, elections were supposed to be held for 23 directors from the chamber group and 23 from sector-based associations. However, the candidates for the chamber group appear to have been elected unopposed as there were 23 candidates against 23 posts though the FBCCI election board is yet to officially announce them elected.
The focus now shifts to the elections for the 23 directors from the sector-based associations. A total of 49 candidates are vying for these positions, contesting under two panels, namely, Sammilita Babasayi Parishad and Babasayi Oikya Parishad, along with three independent candidates. There are 1,980 voters in the election.
The directors elected through this process will elect the FBCCI president, the senior vice-president, and six vice-presidents on August 2.
Polls must to ensure voting rights
One of the primary aims of this election is to ensure voters' rights, which were compromised in previous years.
Mir Nizam Uddin Ahmed, the panel leader of Sammilita Babasayi Parishad, said “It is an election to ensure voters’ rights because of voters of the apex trade body could not cast their votes for the past three terms. So, we are fighting to ensure their rights. We refused to go for the so called selection process despite having many offers and facing pressure.”
“From our association group, we have taken 100 per cent preparation for the election,” he said.
Mohammad Abul Hasem, a candidate representing the Bangladesh Wholesale Edible Oil Traders Association, expressed the hope that members would be able to cast their votes freely after a prolonged absence since the 2017 election.
Selection was crucial to deal challenges
Babasayi Oikya Parishad Panel leader Mahbubul Alam, also representative of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the former FBCCI presidents earlier preferred selection to election as they felt it important to run the apex trade body. So they picked dynamic business leaders to deal with the challenges confronting the economy.
“This time voters will cast their votes on Monday and select their real leaders,” he told The Business Post. Mahbubul hoped that they will sweep the polls with full panel and lead the apex trade body for next tenure.
Vow to hold fair election
FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin emphasised the importance of private sector representation in developing the economy and achieving the goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy. The current FBCCI board is committed to ensuring a fair and participatory election and hand over the charges to right leadership through democratic process to achieve the goal, he said adding that an independent election board has been constituted to oversee the process.
Election Board chairman A Matin Chowdhury stated that all the preparations for the election have been completed.
“Necessary measures have been taken so that everyone can cast vote properly. We will try our best to conduct this election in a fair and pleasant atmosphere,” he added.
He called upon the voters to cast their votes by following the rules and maintaining discipline.
According to the election schedule notice of FBCCI, any candidate can file appeal to the Election Appeal Board against the result of election of directors and office bearers, if any, on August 4. The final result of the election will be announced on August 7.
