HC bars trade, town association groups from Ctg chamber’s polls

The High Court on Wednesday issued an order restraining trade group and town association representatives from taking part in the upcoming biennial election of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

The order came just a week before the Chittagong Chamber's election, which will be held on November 1 to elect 24 directors in four categories.

In the election, three directors each were scheduled to be elected from the trade group and town association groups, and six in total were set to be elected uncontested as there were no additional candidates for those posts.

In the polls, 12 other directors will be elected from the ordinary member group and six from the associate member group.

The bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan issued the HC order after hearing a writ petition filed by Mohammed Belal, managing director of Harbis Converting Limited, petitioner's lawyer Md Ramzan Ali Sikder told The Daily Star.

The writ was filed challenging the commerce ministry's decision to allow 'controversial' and 'inactive' trade group and town associations to participate in the chamber polls, said Sikder.

Earlier, on July 15 and August 20 respectively, investigation reports from the Chittagong Chamber and the Trade Organization Wing of the commerce ministry recommended barring the trade group and town associations from the election.

However, on September 4, the Trade Organization Wing gave the go-ahead to the trade and town associations for the election.

After hearing the petition, the HC bench issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the ministry's action to allow the trade and town associations should not be declared illegal.

However, the court clarified that the overall election process will continue, excluding those individuals or associations found ineligible under the inquiry, the lawyer said.

The commerce secretary, the Chittagong Chamber administrator, and its election board have been directed to comply with the HC order.

This year, there will be 6,780 voters. Of them, 4,001 are general members, 2,764 associate members, 10 trade group representatives, and 5 town association representatives.

After experiencing non-participatory elections for five consecutive terms until 2023, this will be the first time the Chittagong Chamber poll is going to be participatory.

United Business Forum and Sammilito Byabsayee Parishad are campaigning for 18 posts in the ordinary member and associate member categories.

The six candidates in the trade group and town association categories are known to be backed by the United Business Forum.

Sammilito Byabsayee Parishad, led by former CCCI Senior Vice President SM Nurul Hoque, is not contesting in the trade group and town association categories, terming the representative groups and associations as inactive and controversial.

Hoque also filed a complaint with the arbitration tribunal of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, challenging the permission granted to the two groups to participate in the poll.