The election to the Board of Directors of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce of Industry (FBCCI) for the 2023-2025 term was held today in a festive manner with a high voter turnout at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital. The voting started from 9:30 a.m. continued till 4:30 p.m. without any break at the BICC. "The election was held in a free, fair manner and festive mood much to the satisfaction of the election board. The voters maintained their discipline and thus cast their votes while there were no complain and grievances," said election board chairman A Matin Chowdhury at a media briefing after the election. Two other election board members Md Shamsul Alam and KMN Manjurul Hoque were present at the briefing.
Matin said out of the total valid voters of 1,954, some 1,746 voters cast their votes with a turnout of 89.35 percent. "On behalf of our election board, our efforts were to hold the election in a free, fair and proper manner. We didn't receive any complain from the voters or candidates regarding the election," he added.
Asked when the results will be published, Matin said that they would count the votes manually and then reveal the results adding that it might take some hours.
The Election Board Chairman also informed that the voters this time were allowed to cast their votes subject to matching of their NID cards, pics and signatures in line with the voter list. "So, there was no incident of fake vote."
He also informed that the FBCCI election started 30 minutes after the scheduled time at 9:30 a.m. following a higher court order on five voters.
During the day-long voting, FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin while talking to media said that the election to the country's apex trade body was held in a free, fair manner and festive mood. He said since there were no voting in the last couple of FBCCI elections due to the pandemic, Jashim said the FBCCI voters were very happy to cast their votes this time.
Expressing satisfaction at the huge voter turnout, the FBCCI president said during his tenure, he tried to deliver his best to serve the country's business community.
Former FBCCI director Humayun Rashid Khan Pathan Rumen said that the election was held peacefully much to the joy of the FBCCI members as they were able to cast their votes after some years. He also hoped that the new FBCCI leadership would be able to uphold the interest of the country's business community.
Director aspirant candidate from Sammilito Baboshayi Parishad Md Rakibul Alam Dipu said since there were no voting at the FBCCI over the last few years, the voters were very much eager this time to cast their votes to choose the new leadership. He said that the general members of the FBCCI wants that the election process to continue.
Renowned businessman and Managing Director of Diamond World Ltd Dilip Kumar Agarwala said that the voters were able to cast their votes at the FBCCI after a long time. He also expressed his satisfaction at the environment of the polling center.
After casting his vote, Bangladesh Outbound Tour Operators Association (BOTOA) President Iqbal Mahmood Bablu said they expect such leadership at the FBCCI which would supplement the government's vision for building 'Smart Bangladesh'.
According to the FBCCI, a total of 34 directors – 17 from the chamber group and 17 from the association group – have already been selected as directors for the fresh term out of the total director posts of 80 as per the organogram of the country's apex trade body.
Some 23 director aspirants from the chamber group has already been elected unanimously as some 23 nominations were submitted against the post of 23 directors from the chamber group.
On the other hand, some 49 candidates from the association group vied for the post of 23 directors in the FBCCI polls. Out of the total aspirant candidates, some 23 candidates contested for the post of directors from the Baboshayi Oikya Parishad Panel, 23 candidates from the Sammilito Baboshayi Parishad Panel and three aspirants as independent candidates.
The election took place only in the association group to elect 23 directors.
In the election, Mahbubul Alam, the representative of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, contested from the panel named Sammilito Oikko Parishad and Mir Nizam Uddin Ahmed, a representative of the Bangladesh Electrical Association, contested from a panel named Sammilito Baboshayee Parishad.
As per the rules of the FBCCI, the next president will come from the chamber group. Mahbubul Alam is representing from the chamber group.
Meanwhile, the elected directors will then elect the new FBCCI president, senior Vice-President and six Vice-Presidents on Aug 2.
The transparent ballot box was unveiled 15 minutes prior to the election in presence of all the candidates and then the ballot box was sealed off.
