Ctg chamber election set for 1 Nov, membership renewal deadline 1 Sept

The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), a century-old trade body, will hold its board of directors election for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 terms on 1 November.

In line with the chamber's constitution, only members who renew their membership at least 60 days before the election will be eligible to contest or cast votes. This means renewal must be completed by 1 September.

Although membership renewal will remain open until 30 September for organisations whose membership is valid until 30 June, those renewing after 1 September will not qualify to take part in the election, according to a press release sent from the CCCI today (30 August).

According to the election schedule announced by the ministry-appointed election board on 12 August, voting will take place from 9am to 4pm without interruption on 1 November. A total of 24 director posts across four categories will be contested — 12 from the Ordinary Member category, six from the Associate Member category, three from the Trade Group, and three from the Town Association Group.

The election board, formed by the Ministry of Commerce (Trade Organisation–1), is chaired by the director of the Local Government Division under the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner's Office. Its other members are the additional deputy commissioner (general) and a senior assistant commissioner from the divisional commissioner's office, according to a CCCI press release.

Nomination papers can be collected between 14 and 20 September and must be submitted by 4pm on 21 September. The detailed schedule has been published on the chamber's notice board and website.

The CCCI election comes after a turbulent period of leadership changes. On 9 September last year, the Ministry of Commerce appointed Muhammad Anowar Pasha, additional divisional commissioner (general) of Chattogram, as administrator under Section 17 of the Trade Organizations Ordinance 2022. He was tasked with holding a fair election within 120 days, handing over charge to the newly elected committee, and reporting to the ministry. His tenure was later extended by 60 days in July this year.

The intervention followed the abrupt resignation of President Omar Hajjaj — son of former Chattogram MP MA Latif — along with the senior vice-president, vice-president, and 21 directors on 3 September, in the wake of political changes on 5 August.

Hajjaj and his council had been elected on 6 August 2023, succeeding Mahbubul Alam, who led the chamber for a decade. Alam, also president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), was considered a close ally of Latif and held the CCCI presidency for five consecutive terms after first winning in 2013.

For years, many business leaders had expressed frustration over the lack of competitive elections at the chamber. Following the fall of the Awami League government, calls grew stronger for the dissolution of the existing committee and fresh polls, eventually leading to the ministry's decision to install an administrator.

The upcoming election is expected to reshape the chamber's leadership, with business circles in Chattogram closely watching how the shifting political and economic climate will influence the outcome.