In order to guarantee that representatives are free from political influence, a group of businesspeople claimed on Monday that elections for all trade platforms affiliated with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) should take place before elections for the FBCCI itself.
At a press conference held at the capital’s Dhaka Reporters Unity Building and sponsored by the Boishamma Birodhi Songskar Parishad (Anti-Discrimination Reform Council), this demand was made.
The demand stems from the recent nomination of Md. Hafizur Rahman, a former additional secretary and member of the Bangladesh Competition Commission, as the FBCCI’s administrator following the resignation of Mahbubul Alam, the organisation’s president. After the widespread protests that followed the 5th August overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina-led administration, Alam resigned on 11th September, citing illness. Alam was earlier chosen to serve as president in August 2023, with a 2023–2025 term in mind.
The newly appointed administrator has been given instructions by the trade ministry to hold impartial and fair elections within the next 120 days.
Boishamma Birodhi Songskar Parishad coordinator Abul Kashem Haider pointed out during the news conference that many business chambers and associations have become embroiled in party politics during the last 15 years. He emphasised that there is a leadership void because many of the existing leaders are dealing with legal issues, and some are even avoiding arrest.
Haider stressed how important it is to elect representatives who are impartial, capable, and unaffected by politics. Another coordinator, Giasuddin Chowdhury Khokon, condemned the practice of exploiting the contentious “nominated director” provision to put inept people to the FBCCI’s board of directors through political channels.
Proponents of the group contend that the effective representation of the business community in Bangladesh depends on the FBCCI’s leadership regaining honesty and professionalism.
