Commerce ministry dissolves ship breakers association board, appoints administrator amid election deadlock

The Ministry of Commerce has dissolved the executive committee of the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSBRA) and appointed an administrator, as prolonged deadlock over the association's election laid bare internal discord and repeated breaches of election rules.

In an office order issued on 5 February, the ministry said the tenure of the existing BSBRA committee expired on 9 November 2025 and that the organisation was no longer being run in accordance with its constitution or the Trade Organisations Act, 2022.

The order cited serious coordination failures within the board and said the association was not being properly managed in the interest of business, industry and trade, as stipulated under Section 17(1) of the law.

The ministry also pointed to leadership irregularities within the association. In the absence of the elected president, senior vice-president Liaqat Ali Chowdhury assumed the president's responsibilities. However, at a meeting held on 3 November 2025, Amzad Hossain Chowdhury was appointed acting president, a move the ministry said violated the organisation's memorandum and bylaws.

Under the circumstances, the government dissolved the BSBRA board and appointed Abu Safayat Muhammad Shahe Dul Islam, Secretary of the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, as administrator. He has been instructed to organise a fair and neutral election within 120 days and hand over charge to an elected committee, while keeping the ministry informed of the process.

Election crisis in background

The move follows months of turmoil surrounding the BSBRA election, which was scheduled for 25 October last year, but never took place.

The process fell into uncertainty after two of the three election commissioners resigned, while the remaining member indicated he was also considering stepping down. With the commission effectively non-functional, the election stalled indefinitely.

Under the election schedule, 13 October was the deadline for verifying candidates' documents. Several candidates failed to submit mandatory papers, while documents submitted by others were not verified by the Ministry of Commerce in time.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Mahmud Imam Billu resigned on 14 October, citing the absence of a suitable environment to conduct a fair election. A day earlier, commission member Zahirul Islam Chowdhury had also stepped down. The remaining commissioner, Khairul Alam Sujon, later told The Business Standard that continuing alone served no purpose.

Election commissioners also alleged that some candidates exerted unethical pressure on the commission to declare a committee elected without completing the required procedures.

Rule violations and disputed 'uncontested' committee

This election was the first to be held under new guidelines issued by the Directorate of Trade Organisations (DTO) of the Ministry of Commerce, which made submission of updated income tax returns, VAT certificates, police verification reports and Bangladesh Bank CIB reports mandatory for both candidates and voters.

Sources said most candidates ignored the rules, while some submitted documents of questionable authenticity. The election board sent the documents to the DTO for verification, but no response was received before the commissioners resigned.

Amid the chaos, a group of candidates on 16 September declared themselves elected uncontested to all 11 posts and announced Amzad Hossain Chowdhury as president, along with other office bearers. The election board, however, did not recognise the committee as valid.

In his resignation letter, Chief Election Commissioner Billu cited repeated violations of the election code, failure to submit documents on time and open defiance of the commission's instructions, including unauthorised media statements.

Longstanding dominance, limited competition

BSBRA sources said the episode has once again highlighted the association's long history of leadership selection through internal arrangements rather than open, competitive elections.

Since its formation in 1982, the association has held only one genuinely participatory election, in 2008. Industry insiders said a small group of influential shipbreakers has traditionally dominated the organisation.

With only around 30 shipbreaking yards currently operational, including 17 green yards, identifying eligible candidates under the new DTO rules proved difficult, further complicating the election process.

Against this backdrop of administrative paralysis and unresolved disputes, the commerce ministry stepped in, dissolving the board and placing the association under an administrator in an effort to restore order and ensure a credible election within the stipulated time frame.