Contempt notice served over alleged disobedience of Supreme Court order in Chattogram Chamber election dispute

The long-running complications surrounding the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) election continue to deepen as two business leaders have been served legal notices for allegedly disobeying an Appellate Division order related to the polls.

The notices, issued on 10 November, were sent to SM Nurul Haque and Mohammad Belal, Managing Director of Harbis Converting Limited, on behalf of Akhtar Parvez, a director candidate from the United Business Forum. Advocate Mohammad Abdul Hai, counsel for Akhtar Parvez, served the notices.

According to the notice, despite the Appellate Division's 30 October directive instructing the inclusion of the Town Association and trade group representatives as defendants within 24 hours, Belal allegedly failed to comply. Advocate Hai claimed that Belal's delay and avoidance "clearly indicate his intention to obstruct a free and fair election."

The notice also accused SM Nurul Haque, a leader of the Sammilito Parishad [a panel of BGMEA-registered members], of holding meetings in Chattogram where he allegedly made false claims that the Ministry of Commerce had halted the chamber election. "In reality, it was their own series of lawsuits that disrupted the election process," the notice said, adding that Haque's actions revealed a "malicious intent."

The notice further demanded an apology from Haque, stating that his remarks amounted to interference in the judicial process and contempt of court. It alleged that Haque misrepresented the Appellate Division's decision by claiming the election could proceed without the Town Association and trade group representatives, when in fact the Supreme Court had suspended the entire election until the High Court resolves the pending writ petition.

The Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, on 30 October stayed the CCCI election in all four categories and gave the High Court 14 days to settle disputes over the inclusion of Town Association and trade group representatives. The order also required six conflicting parties to be made defendants within 24 hours.

The notice warned both recipients to withdraw their statements, offer unconditional apologies, and comply with the Appellate Division's directive within 24 hours, or face legal consequences.

In response, Mohammad Belal said he and others had acted in line with the court's order. "If anything constitutes contempt, the concerned court will deal with it," he added.

The CCCI election, initially scheduled for 1 November, has been postponed due to ongoing legal disputes between the two rival panels—Sammilito Byabosayee Parishad and United Business Forum.