4 withdraw candidacy
Candidates of the biennial election of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) for 2021-23 to be held on May 5, have been elected uncontested, yet again, prior to the actual election date.
On the last day of candidature withdrawal date, two candidates from the chamber group, and two from the association group withdrew their candidature; leaving 46 candidates to be elected unopposed, for the post of FBCCI director.
Azizul Haque of Brahmanbaria Chamber, Abul Khair Morsalin of Gaibandha Chamber, Akkas Mahmud of Flexible Packaging Industries Association and Md. Ali Zaman, President of the Small and Medium Enterprise Owners Association, withdrew their nomination on the basis of an agreement.
Following the candidate withdrawal, the election board have already finalized a total 46 of candidates, and another 34 nominated directors- 17 each from both association and chamber group- who will join the elected directors; making the total number of the post of directors to be 80.
However, for the 2021-23 tenure, the board would consist of 78 directors as the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies and the Gopalganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry did not put forward their directors.
It has been reported 32 businessmen applied for 34 posts of directors -of 17 members from each of the chamber and association groups. On the other hand, 25 candidates applied for 23 posts of directors from the chamber group, while 26 candidates applied for 23 posts of directors from the association group; in the hopes of getting elected directly.
Similarly, FBCCI had a total of 72 posts in the 2019-21 term. Of these, 42 directors were to be elected. However, an equal number of nomination papers were submitted against the post.
As a result, the election was largely uncontested having no opposition.
In the FBCCI election, candidates contest from two groups: chambers and associations, sending in their representatives to contest for the election; of which 23 candidates for the post of Director are chosen from each group, who then select Presidents and Vice-Presidents.
It is being reported that Jasim Uddin, vice-chairman of Bengal Group of Industries, is most likely to become the uncontested new president of FBCCI.
Earlier, the bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir issued a rule seeking explanation after hearing a writ petition filed by one of the FBCCI committee members.
The writ was filed as the FBCCI election process was directed to continue amid the surge of coronavirus deaths and infections.
The rule also asked why a notice of the commerce ministry issued on April 7 directing to continue the FBCCI election process would not be declared illegal.
The Supreme Court has stayed a High Court ruling that halted the FBCCI biennial election, clearing the way for the election to be held on Saturday.
A three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain issued the order after hearing a petition filed by the FBCCI seeking a stay on the High Court order.
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