CHATTOGRAM, Sept 20: The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), the country's oldest trade body, is gearing up for the election to its Board of Directors, scheduled for November 1, CCCI official said.
According to the election schedule, today (Sunday) is the last day for submitting nomination papers, with the deadline set for 4:00pm.
The aspiring candidates collected nomination papers during the period from September 14 to 20.
Candidates will contest a total of 24 director posts across four categories: 12 from the Ordinary Member category, six from the Associate Member category, three from the Trade Group, and three from the Town Association Group.
Voting will take place from 9:00am to 4:00pm on November 1 without any break, according to the election schedule released by the ministry-appointed election board.
The election board, formed by the Ministry of Commerce (Trade Organisation-1), is chaired by the Director of the Local Government Division under the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner's Office. Other members of the board include the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) and a Senior Assistant Commissioner from the divisional commissioner's office.
The upcoming election follows a period of significant leadership changes at CCCI.
On September 2, 2024, the entire 24-member committee of the CCCI, including President Omar Hajjaj, son of former Chattogram MP MA Latif, resigned in the wake of July-August mass uprising.
Hajjaj had succeeded Mahbubul Alam as president in August 2023, following Alam's decade-long leadership of the chamber.
Alam, considered a close ally of Latif, had led CCCI for five consecutive terms after first winning the presidency in 2013.
The CCCI elections were notably unopposed in the previous five terms. Over the years, this lack of competition has led to frustration among many business leaders in Chattogram, who have called for reform and more transparent, competitive elections.
The upcoming election is expected to be a pivotal moment for CCCI, with local business circles closely watching how the changing political and economic landscape will influence the outcome.
nazimuddinshyamol@gmail.com
