FBCCI polls unlikely as directors elected uncontested

The biennial election of the country's apex trade body might not take place on May 5 as candidates have been elected uncontested after four hopefuls withdrew their candidature.

As per the election schedule, yesterday was the last day to withdraw names from the polls of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) for 2021-23.

On the final day, two candidates from the chamber group and two from the association group withdrew their candidature, said a member of the election board.

"We have scrutinised the validity of the candidature and found that four have proposed to withdraw their candidacy," he said, asking not to be named.

Md Ali Zaman, president of the SME Owners Association of Bangladesh and one of the four hopefuls, however, said he did not take any decision to withdraw his candidature until now.

"We will have to wait until May 5," he said, without elaborating.

However, the member of the election board said it verified the signature of the candidates who applied to pull out their candidacy from the polls.

Ali Ashraf, chairman of the election board, declined to comment on the issue.

"We can't say anything until May 5 as per the election schedule," he said.

In the FBCCI election, candidates contest from two groups: chambers and associations.

Chambers and associations from across the country send in their representatives to contest the election.

In the election, 23 directors are chosen from the chamber group and another 23 from the association group.

After the final scrutiny, all 23 posts of directors from each group have been finalised, the election board member said. So, a total of 46 candidates have almost been found by the board, he said.

Another 34 nominated directors -- 17 each from the association group and the chamber group -- will join the elected directors. The total number of the post of directors is 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.

The chamber group and the association group hold the post of the president alternately.

For the next two years, the president will be elected from the association group as per the rules of the FBCCI election. Sheikh Fazle Fahim, the outgoing president, was elected from the chamber group.

As the apex trade body, the FBCCI plays an important role in negotiation with the government and other agencies at national and international levels to protect the business community's interests.

The body also assists the government in formulating policies and guidelines in the areas such as customs, banking, import, export, and tax.