CCCI elects 24 directors today

The biennial poll to elect the 24 directors of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) for the 2013-14 period is scheduled to be held from 9:00am to 4:00pm today without any break.
A total of 6,024 voters will cast their ballots to elect the 24 from contestants from the four membership categories: Ordinary (12), Associate (6), Town (3) and Trade (3).
The election board Chairman Jamal Uddin Ahmed told The Daily Star yesterday that they were fully prepared to hold the polls, deferred twice earlier and being contested by two panels, in a free, fair and credible manner.
The three directors from the Trade category have already been elected uncontested from the panel led by CCCI Senior Vice President Mahbubul Alam and NCC Bank Chairman Nurun Newaz Selim, he said.
CCCI President Morshed Murad Ibrahim and the first vice-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association Abdus Salam are leading the other panel.
Jamal said, unlike previous years, the provision allowing alternate nominees to cast votes in place of principal voters has been cancelled as per a recent High Court order.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Mahbubul said, “Our candidates represent all corners of trade, including readymade garment sector, CNG association, Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association and motor parts and bankers' association.”
He assured to make CCCI more inclusive, if elected.
Morshed told The Daily Star yesterday that they were fighting for the members' rights.
“The cancellation of the alternate nominee system is our primary victory. If elected, our main priority would be to make a transparent and photo-inclusive voter list and remove all irregularities there,” he said.