The election commission on Saturday finalised list of eligible candidates to contest in the biennial election of the BGMEA.

So far a faction of Sammilito Parishad led by Tipu Munshi has announced its full panel while sources say backstage parleys are being held to reach a compromise to shape up two other panels.

Incumbent President Annisul Huq is expected to lead Forum panel, one of the two mainstream groups of the BGMEA.

The third panel is expected to be led by SM Fazlul Hoque.

Top leaders of the association could not reach a consensus until January 29, the last date of withdrawing nominations. As a consequence 75 candidates have decided to fight for 28 posts in the next election.

Among them, 61 candidates will vie for 20 posts in Dhaka zone and 14 for seven posts in Chittagong zone.

"Negotiations are still on and there are chances to form an alliance. There may not be two panels at the end. It is very difficult to tell the final scenario right now," said a top leader of a panel.

A total of 114 candidates from these three groups submitted their nominations but finally 75 have decided to stay in the race this year. A total of 2,227 voters will exercise their right to elect the leadership for 2005-2006 term. Of them, 1,775 members will vote for electing 20 directors in Dhaka zone and 512 for seven directors in Chittagong zone.

The fraction led by Tipu Munshi has already finalised its 27 candidates but Forum and the other fraction of Sammilito Parishad did not announce names for their panals until yesterday.

Candidates led by Tipu Munshi are Shirin Khushid Jahan, Faruque Hassan, Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), Md Atiqul Islam, Abdus Salam Murshedy, Kazi Zakir Hossain, Md Shahidullah Azim, Md Siddiqur Rahman, Md Akhtaruzzaman, A Razzak Sattar, Shawkat Ali Bhuiyan (Dilan), Shahidul Haq Sikder (Litu), Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury (Arun), Arshad Jamal (Dipu), Khondoker Jamil Uddin, Reaz-Bin-Mohmood, Khondoker Abdus Salam, Faizun Nabi Chowdhury and Md Kutubul Alam from Dhaka zone.

The members of the same panel fighting from Chittagong zone are: SM Abu Tayab, Nasir Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, ANM Saifuddin, Moinuddin Ahmed, Mohammed Musa, Khondokar Belayet Hossain and Syed Nazrul Islam.

However, according to the final candidates' list, candidates competing from Forum and the other fraction of Sammilito Parishad are Mohammed Nasir, Masud Quader Mona, Annisul Huq, Alamgir MZ Rahman, Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), Engineer Aminur Rahman Khan, Ferdous Perves Bivon, Md Shahidul Islam, Faisal Samad, Shafiqul Islam, Golam Kabir Chowdhury, ABM Shamsuddin, M Harun-Ar-Rashid, Mahmud Hasan Khan, Shahidul Haque Mukul, Md Mesbha Uddin Ali, Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, Motaharul Islam Chowdhury, Mayenuddin Biswas, M Ghulam Faruq, M Humayun Mahmood, SM Mannan (Kochi), Md Lutfor Rahman, Golam Sarwar Milon, MM Israfil Atique, Mohsin Uddin Ahmed (Niru), Mostafizur Rahman, Haroon Ar Rashid, Jahid Akbar Chowdhury, Md Fazlul Hoque, Md Sirajul Huq, M Jinnat Ali Mian, Shakhawat Hossain, Md Sirajul Islam, Jalal Uddin Ahmed, Md Ziauddin Ahmed, SM Fazlul Hoque, Md Abdullah, AKM Nurul Haq, Professor Md Aminul Islam and Iqbal Ahmed from Dhaka zone.

Candidates for these two panels from Chittagong zone are Mohammed Abdus Salam, Md Asheek Bhuiyan, Md Ferdous, Md M Mohiuddin Chowdhury, MA Nabi, AM Mahbub Chowdhury and Mohammed Atique.

Last BGMEA election was held on January 28, 2003. Forum and Sammilito Parishad, at that time, formed an alliance and fought against Oikko Jote. Just on the day before election, Oikko Jote decided to boycott the polls. The alliance jointly led by Annisul Huq and Quazi Moniruzzaman won the election and shared the power. Quazi Moniruzzaman run the BGMEA as president in the first year and Annisul Huq is now leading this largest trade body for the second year.