High Court halts FBCCI elections for two months

The High Court has halted the polls of the country's top trade body FBCCI for two months.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) had scheduled it biennial election for May 14.

The bench of justices   and   gave the order on Wednesday following a petition filed by Mymensingh Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Aminul Haque. 

Petitioner's counsel M Badruddoza Badal told bdnews24.com after the hearing that according to the regulations, a director has to be nominated from each division.

"Mymensingh was a made a division in 2015 and the local chamber of commerce and industry pleaded to the FBCCI in 2016 for its inclusion, but the process has not forwarded in the last one year," he said.

The FBCCI announced the schedule for the polls on Feb 14.

Earlier on Feb 6, Mymensingh Chamber President Haque filed petition with the High Court seeking an order for inclusion.

The court heard the matter the same day and issued a rule asking why it would not issue an order.

Commerce secretary, FBCCI members, including the president and the trade body's election board had been told to come up with explanations.

The hearing over the rule was held earlier this month, when the secretary told the court that there's no option to include a director from Mymensingh as the schedule has been already announced.

Following that, the petitioner once brought the court's attention to the matter, when it asked the FBCCI to consider the matter. But on Mar 14, the commerce ministry informed the court that there was nothing to do on it.

Mymensingh Chamber President Haque filed a supplementary petition seeking a halt on the polls, which was heard on Wednesday.