An arbitration court yesterday urged the commerce ministry to hold a fresh election to Dinajpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a new voter list as the court found flaws in the voter roll.
A letter sent to the director of the commerce ministry's Trade Organisation recommended that an administrator should lead the chamber through the 2011-13 election to its executive committee.
The court consisting of five members led by MA Kashem, chairman of the arbitration court of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, wrote the letter on July 13 following a petition filed by Md Rafiqul Islam, former president of the Dinajpur chamber.
Two hearings on the petition were held on July 2-14 where the members of the arbitration court were present.
The court ruled the membership of Mirza Ashfaq Hossain illegal as he was included on the voter list to contest the election without official approval.
But lawyers for Hossain argued that his post is political and temporary and he is a well-known businessman in the district and an executive member of the chamber.
In 2009, the chamber listed 1,319 voters which now rose to 2,169.
But many voters were found with the same TIN numbers, a clear sign of breaching the order of the commerce ministry, according to the court.
The election is scheduled to be held on July 29.
Nurul Moeen Minu, president of Dinajpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, could not be contacted for comment.