Tension escalates over Shipping Agents' Assoc polls amid demo for 'selection'

Tension has mounted centring on the upcoming biennial polls to the Bangladesh Shipping Agents' Association amid alleged demands from a quarter to postpone or cancel the polls and formation of the committee through selection.

Under the banner of "Baboshayi Forum," they demonstrated in front of the association's Agrabad office today (6 April), and put up banners against the polls the previous night.

Meanwhile, owing to security concerns given the situation, the venue of the polls scheduled for 13 April, has been shifted from Hotel Agrabad to Radisson Blu, said leaders of the Shipping Agents' Association. 

They said the group, "Baboshayi Forum", went to the association's office several times with the demand of poll postponement and formation of a new committee through selection.

"A section is exerting pressure on us to form the committee with their chosen individuals. They are threatening me and the leaders of the association in various ways," Shipping Agents' Association Chairman Syed Mohammad Arif told The Business Standard.

He said the association and its board's members are in favour of holding the polls in a systematic manner. 

Its leaders alleged that the current President of the C&F Agents Association Saiful Islam, and a ship handling operator Mashiul Alam Swapan, who is a leader of the "Baboshayi Forum", proposed forming a shadow committee through selection, instead of polls.

Mashiul Alam Swapan, also the proprietor of ship handling operator KM Agency at Chattogram port, said they held the demonstration to press for an updating of the voter list.

"Despite being in the shipping business, many have yet to get the association's membership, thereby not being eligible to vote. So, we have proposed postponing the elections, preparing a new voter list, and forming a committee through election or selection."

According to the Election Commission of the Shipping Agents' Association, polls for the years 2025-27 will be held for a total of 24 director posts, including eight in the "associate" category and 16 in the "general" category.

A total of 37 candidates are expected to contest the polls. Of them, 24 are from the "Sammilito Parishad" panel, while 13 others are independent candidates.

This year, there are 226 voters to exercise their franchise.

Chief Election Commissioner Tarek Kamal said he believes there are no scenarios that would justify either the cancellation or postponement of the polls. 

"The elections are being organised systematically and in line with the schedule."