Chattogram Chamber steps to hold election following High Court verdict

The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has formally requested steps to proceed with the chamber's long-stalled election, citing a High Court verdict that cleared key legal obstacles to holding the vote.

In a letter issued on Sunday (11 January), the CCCI administrator said the High Court Division delivered its judgment on 11 December in connection with writ petition No 16976 of 2015, while a copy of the order reached the chamber on 7 January.

Following the verdict, the chamber sought a legal opinion from Advocate Mohammad Kasem Chowdhury, the government pleader at the Chattogram Judge Court. According to the opinion, there is no legal barrier to conducting the CCCI election for all 24 director posts while keeping six positions under the town association and trade group categories intact.

Based on this legal interpretation, the election board urged the relevant authorities to take the necessary measures to organise the chamber election.

The letter was signed by the administrator Mohammad Nurullah Noori of the CCCI  and addressed to the chairman of the election board.

The move comes against the backdrop of prolonged uncertainty surrounding the CCCI election, which has remained stalled due to legal disputes and administrative changes.

The crisis began following political upheaval after the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August in 2024. Subsequently, the elected CCCI board resigned on 2 September, and the Ministry of Commerce appointed an administrator to run the chamber.

Business leaders had hoped the election would restore direct voting after more than a decade. The last contested CCCI election was held in 2013, while subsequent boards were formed uncontested.

This time, two panels entered the race — the Sammilito Business Parishad led by former BGMEA first vice-president SM Nurul Haque, and the United Business Forum led by former FBCCI director Mohammad Amirul Haque. Following the publication of the final candidate list, both panels actively campaigned, engaging with trade bodies and organising programmes, including discussions on Chattogram port-related issues.

However, once the matter moved to court over disputes related to voter categories, campaign activities came to a halt.

Under CCCI rules, 12 directors are elected from the general category, six from the associate category, and three each from the town association and trade group categories. Ahead of the election, the chamber sought to exclude eight organisations from the town association and trade group categories, a move that triggered legal challenges.

On 4 September, the Ministry of Commerce allowed those organisations to participate. This decision was challenged by businessman Mohammad Belal, general secretary of the Chattogram Garments Accessories Group, who filed a writ petition. A series of court orders and appeals followed, effectively freezing the election process.

Business representatives from several trade bodies have since expressed frustration, warning that nearly a year without an elected board has weakened Chattogram's ability to influence national policy decisions.

With the election board now formally seeking to move forward based on the latest High Court verdict, business leaders say clarity from the chamber administration is crucial to finally end the impasse and set a fresh election schedule.