57 candidates found valid for FBCCI polls

Fifty-seven candidates have been selected for directorship of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
The Election Board of the apex trade body yesterday published the official list of candidates for the biennial election scheduled to be held on March 17.
The deadline for withdrawal of nominations for directorships is February 28. On the same day, the election board will publish the final list of the candidates.
The board declared 28 candidates legal from Association Group and 29 from Chamber Group to run for the election.
The board also declared the nominations by each of the seven selected leading chambers and associations legal. These 14 nominated directors are selected and then inducted in the executive committee as director without election.
Earlier, the election board primarily legitimised 52 candidates -- 24 from Association Group and 28 from Chamber Group -- for the election.
The board also rejected nominations of seven contenders earlier. Of the seven, six candidates filed appeal petition and the appeal board gave them nod to go ahead accepting their plea.
Meanwhile, the FBCCI Election Board cancelled voting power of five members from the Association Group following orders from the court and commerce ministry. But, the appeal board declared the five voters legal and requested the election board to keep them in the voter list and following the request the election board decided to keep the five voters in the list.
According to the FBCCI constitution, 24 directors --12 from Chamber Group and 12 Association Group -- are elected through direct voting. The elected and nominated 38 directors enjoy voting rights and also become eligible to contest for the posts of president and vice-presidents of the apex trade body.