'I want Ctg chamber free of politics, focused on business': Seacom founder Amirul Haque

Mohammad Amirul Haque. Sketch: TBS

The Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will hold its first competitive election in nearly 20 years on 1 November.

Seacom Group founder Mohammad Amirul Haque, a veteran business leader currently serving as the president of Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association (BCMA) and LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) is running as head of the One Team panel. In an interview with The Business Standard's Mizanur Rahman Yousuf, he pledged to free the chamber from political influence, strengthen Chattogram's role as the country's commercial hub, and turn it into a policy think tank for trade and industry.

Why should businesses and voters choose you after such a long gap in chamber elections?

Businesspeople are looking for a different kind of leadership this time. After years without an election, they finally have the chance to pick their own representatives. They want leaders who will speak for entrepreneurs and industrialists and put their problems first.

I have no political affiliation. My goal is to protect the collective interests of business. Our One Team concept is about working together – not around personalities – to build the chamber as a true institution. The support and trust I am receiving from traders is my biggest strength, and I believe they will vote for change.

Port congestion, customs harassment, and transport bottlenecks remain long-standing complaints. What will One Team do to address them?

First, we will set up a regular coordination platform with customs and port authorities so businesspeople can raise issues directly. Second, technology must replace manual processes that create room for irregularities and delays. Digital processing will speed up services and curb corruption.

Third, the chamber must push the government to upgrade Chattogram port to international standards if Bangladesh wants to improve its ease-of-doing-business ranking. We will take a firm lobbying role on this.

The Bay Terminal is often described as a game-changer for the port. How will you help move it forward?

Expanding port capacity is critical, and the Bay Terminal is central to Chattogram's future. Yet the project has stalled for years. We will use the chamber's platform to put positive pressure on the government for faster implementation.

A functioning Bay Terminal will allow larger vessels to berth directly and open the door for Chattogram to become a regional transhipment hub. This is not just a local project – it can lift the entire national economy. That's why it is at the heart of our election pledge.

Business groups often fail to deliver because of political interference. How will you keep the chamber transparent and independent?

The chamber is a business platform, not a political organisation. We have declared that all decisions will serve business interests only.

To make it real, we will keep elections open and participatory and base committee formation on competence, integrity, and experience – not political tags. With members' support, we can build a chamber free of political influence.

Chattogram contributes most of Bangladesh's trade but is often neglected in national policy. How will you ensure the city gets its due?

Chattogram handles about 90% of the country's imports and exports, yet infrastructure, policy, and investment decisions remain Dhaka-centric. A striking example is the weight-control scales on highways around Chattogram, which limit how much cargo a truck can carry and hurt businesses.

We will use data and evidence to show the government that neglecting Chattogram damages the national economy. Our push will be for coordinated infrastructure upgrades, equal opportunities, and fair allocation of resources.

What role should the chamber play in shaping national policy?

We want the chamber to act as a think tank. From budget proposals to revenue, industrial and trade policy, we will commission evidence-based research and assist the government with concrete recommendations. The chamber should not only represent traders but also guide economic policy.

How will you attract foreign investment and boost export capacity?

Chattogram's location is strategically unique. With its seaport and economic zones, it offers huge potential for foreign investors. Our roadmap includes three key actions: making the one-stop service for investors fully functional, hosting international business summits to put Chattogram on the global investment map, and ensuring a safe, transparent regulatory environment for foreign investors.

What about regional trade links with India's northeast, Myanmar, and Southeast Asia?

Chattogram sits at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia. With the right infrastructure, logistics, and regulatory environment, it can become a key hub for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technological and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) corridors. We will push for port modernisation, better rail and road links, and friendlier trade rules to strengthen regional integration.

Climate change and green energy are reshaping global trade. How should the chamber respond?

Chattogram is a coastal city and is highly vulnerable to climate change. Businesses must prepare now. We will promote awareness, training, and incentives for adopting eco-friendly technologies, waste management, and renewable energy, while seeking international support for these transitions.

You run several businesses yourself. How will you balance personal interests with the broader business community's needs?

Leadership is about collective interest, not personal gain. If elected, every decision will be made in consultation with the business community and guided by their needs — even if it goes against my own companies. True leadership requires sacrifice, and I am committed to putting the chamber's agenda first.

What is your position on LDC graduation?

The LDC graduation plan was based on flawed statistics. Our economy is not fully prepared to meet the challenges of graduation. It would be better to delay the transition by three to five years.