FBCCI polls to be held on May 14 after Supreme Court order

The top court has cleared the way for the FBCCI polls to be held on May 14.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 30 March 2017, 05:26 AM
Updated : 30 March 2017, 05:54 AM

On Wednesday, the Appellate Division scrapped the High Court's two-month stay on the biennial election to the country's top trade body, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI).

On Mar 22, the High Court stayed the polls following a petition by Mymensingh Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Aminul Haque Shamim.

FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad moved the appeals court challenging the decision and secured a verdict in his favour.

The court has also ordered the inclusion of Aminul Haque Shamim as a divisional director by May 30.

“As a result of this order there are no more roadblocks to conducting the election on May 14,” said FBCCI lawyer Barrister Moinul Islam.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state during the hearing. Barristers Rokon Uddin Mahmud and Badruddoza Badol represented the petitioner.

Aminul Hoque Shamim filed a petition on Feb 6, saying that while a director must be elected from every division, Mymensingh had not been included in the board.

Mymensingh became a division in 2015 and the Mymensingh Chamber petitioned for inclusion on the FBCCI board in 2016.

The High Court heard the petition on Mar 22 and ordered a stay on the elections. It also issued a rule asking why an order would not be passed to include a director from Mymensingh.

The commerce secretary, FBCCI president and election board members were made the respondents in the rule.

The commerce secretary stated that there was no scope for including a director from Mymensingh because schedule for the polls had already been announced.  The commerce ministry offered the same explanation.

FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad moved the Supreme Court to appeal against the High Court order on Mar 23. On Mar 27 the appeal hearing was set for Mar 30.