Shipping Agents' Association elections postponed, extension sought for current board
The biennial (2025–2027) elections of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents' Association (BSAA), scheduled for 13 April, have been postponed and the Election Board has formally requested approval from the Ministry of Commerce to extend the tenure of the current board by six months, according to BSAA officials.
Today (8 April), the Election Board sent a letter to the Director General of Trade Organisations under the Ministry of Commerce, seeking permission to extend the current board's term from 29 April onwards.
"The election will not be held on 13 April as previously scheduled. We are now awaiting instructions from the ministry to determine our next steps," Election Board Chairman Tarek Kamal told TBS.
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Officials say tensions escalated in the final stages of election preparations when a group identifying themselves as the Discrimination Victims Business Forum protested against the current council. They demanded that the election process include the addition of new members to the voter list and the formation of a new committee through selection rather than voting.
On Sunday (6 April), a demonstration was held near the BSAA office in the Agrabad commercial area under the banner of the Discrimination Victims Business Forum, led by Metropolitan BNP member and AA Shipping Service owner Moshiul Alam Swapan.
Amid growing controversy, both the Appeal Board and the Election Board convened on the afternoon of 8 April and agreed to postpone the elections.
BSAA Chairman Syed Mohammad Arif expressed concern over the recent developments. "There has never been any political interference in our non-political business organisation before," he said.
"This time, various influences have disrupted the planned election. We now await a decision from the authorities concerned at the ministry," he added.
Meanwhile, Moshiul Alam Swapan, convener of the Discrimination Victims Business Forum, welcomed the postponement of the elections. "The Election Board has taken the right decision. We hope this will create an opportunity for more shipping sector businessmen to become members and participate in the election process."
According to the BSAA Election Commission, elections were to be held for 24 director posts – 16 from the general category and eight from the associate category. A total of 37 candidates were contesting, including 24 from the Sammilito Parishad panel and 13 independents. The voter list included 226 eligible voters.
