A group of business leaders in Chattogram has called for the removal of the government-appointed administrator of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), accusing him of bias and incompetence.
Around 100 entrepreneurs, under the banner of Baisommo Birodhi Byabosayee Forum (Anti-Discrimination Businesses Forum), held a protest rally in front of the chamber office at the World Trade Centre. They alleged that Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Muhammad Anowar Pasha, appointed on 8th September last year to conduct the CCCI elections within 120 days, failed to hold timely elections and violated the chamber’s regulations in announcing the schedule.
The CCCI election board announced the biennial election for 1st November, more than 11 months after the administrator took charge. Forum leaders claimed that Pasha set 1st September as the deadline for membership renewal instead of the constitutionally stipulated 30th September, limiting the number of eligible voters to 6,765, less than half of the total 13,700 members. They also accused him of not reducing membership and renewal fees despite objections from the business community.
The forum further alleged that Pasha’s actions continued a trend from the previous administration that excluded general traders from chamber activities and the electoral process. The protesters demanded that the commerce ministry remove the administrator, extend the membership renewal deadline to 30th September 2025, and announce a fresh election schedule allowing all members to vote.
Shahidul Islam Chowdhury, director of the Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association, chaired the rally. Other speakers included Mashiul Alam Swapan and Didarul Alam Chowdhury of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents’ Association, former Bangladesh Footwear Manufacturers Association president Ershadul Haque Qureshi, and Bangladesh Brickfield Association Vice President Jahangir Alam. Leaders of the Chattogram Customs Agents Association, women entrepreneurs, and other business figures also attended.
Contacted, former administrator Anwar Pasha denied violating CCCI rules, stating that members who renewed their membership 60 days before polling were eligible to vote. He added that his tenure had ended on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Trade Organisation Wing of the Commerce Ministry appointed Additional Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Nurullah Nuri as the new CCCI administrator. According to a circular signed by Deputy Secretary Chowdhury Samia Yasmin, Nuri will oversee the chamber until the completion of the electoral process.
