Kanchan new Shilpi Samity president, Zayed gen secy

Celebrated actor Ilias Kanchan has been elected president of Bangladesh Chalachhitra Shilpi Samity for the 2022-2024 term, defeating outgoing president Misha Sawdagar by 43 votes in the biennale polls to the artistes’ body on Friday.

Ilias bagged 191 votes while his opponent received 148 votes.

The balloting took place on the premises of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) from 9am to 5pm with actor Pirzada Harun as the election commissioner.

Actress Nipun Akter, who contested from the Ilias-Nipun panel, lost to her rival candidate Zayed Khan from Misha-Zayed panel by 13 votes making him general secretary for the third consecutive term.

Zayed bagged 176 votes while Nipun got 163 votes as the election results were announced by election commissioner Pirzada Harun early on Saturday. Later in the day, Nipun challenged the result and filed an appeal to have the ballots counted again.

Actors Monowar Hossain Dipjol and Masum Parvez Rubel bagged 219 and 191 votes respectively to retain their positions as vice-presidents from the Misha-Zayed panel, defeating actors Riaz Ahmed and DA Tayed who got 156 and 112 votes respectively.

Actor Mamnun Emon, who contested the polls from Ilias-Nipun panel, has been elected secretary for cultural and sports affairs with 203 votes. Earlier, Emon was elected secretary for international affairs in the association’s 2019 polls from the panel led by Misha Sawdagar and Zayed Khan.

Symon Sadik bagged 212 votes to become joint secretary by defeating Subrata (127 votes) while actress Shahnoor has been elected organising secretary with 184 votes defeating rival candidate Alexandar Bo who got 155 votes. Joy Chowdhury has become the new secretary for international affairs with 205 votes by defeating Nirab Hossain who received 134 votes.

The newly elected executive members from Misha-Zayed panel are – Anjana, Rozina, Moushumi, Aruna Biswas, Sucharita, Ali Raj and Chunnu.

Winners from the Ilias-Nipun panel for the executive committee are – Keya, Amit Hasan, Jasmine, and Ferdous Ahmed, who received highest 240 votes.

A total of 428 members of the Shilpi Samity were eligible to cast their votes this time. Of them, 365 votes were cast.