Chattogram Chamber extends deadline to update membership information until 15 Jan

The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has extended deadline for updating and correcting membership information until 15 January 2026.

In a notice issued on 20 December and signed by CCCI Joint Secretary Nurul Absar Chowdhury, the chamber said the updated facility applies to new and renewed member firms whose memberships were valid up to 30 September 2025. However, the provision will not apply to registered voters already listed under the announced election schedule for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 terms.

According to the notice, interested member organisations must apply using a prescribed form and ensure that the updated information matches their valid trade licence. Applicants will also be required to present the chamber's original membership certificate at the time of submission.

The application forms can be collected directly from the CCCI office and are also available on the chamber's official website.

The chamber said the initiative aims to ensure accurate and updated member records ahead of its upcoming activities and electoral processes.

The CCCI election scheduled for 1 November was postponed after the High Court imposed a 2-week stay following a writ petition filed by a member named Md Belal.

On 11 December, the High Court cleared the way for holding the CCCI election, affirming that six candidates from the trade group and town association categories are legally eligible to contest.

A High Court bench led by Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Md Ashik Hasan discharged Writ Petition No. 16976/2025 filed by businessman Md Belal, who had challenged a Ministry of Commerce directive allowing the two categories to participate in the election. With the order, the court lifted its earlier stay and restored full legal effect to the ministry's memo issued on 4 September.

According to a certification issued by Advocate Farzana Khan, the 4 September directive now stands in force, removing any legal obstacles to holding the 2025–26 and 2026–27 chamber elections and allowing the two categories to vote and contest.

Belal, managing director of Harbis Converting Ltd., had argued that several trade and town associations were inactive and should not be included in the election. An internal inquiry had also flagged eight such groups. Based on those findings, he first approached the FBCCI's Alternative Dispute Settlement Tribunal and later filed the writ seeking their exclusion.

The High Court initially allowed polling to proceed without the disputed categories. The ministry appealed the decision, bringing the matter before the Appellate Division.

On 30 October, the Appellate Division suspended the election for 2 weeks and directed the High Court to dispose of the writ within that time. CCCI subsequently confirmed that polling scheduled for 1 November had been halted in compliance with the order.

The chamber's last contested election was held in 2013. Since then, top posts have largely been settled through consensus among business groups, a practice that has drawn criticism from members calling for a return to competitive voting.

This year's election gained traction as two major panels—the United Business Forum and the Chattogram Business Alliance—prepared for a rare face-off.

With the High Court's latest order, the chamber has resumed preparations for the election, including all eligible member categories as allowed by the ministry.