Business leaders have renewed calls for the immediate election of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), warning that the prolonged absence of elected leadership is weakening the private sector’s ability to address mounting economic challenges.
Government-appointed administrators are currently overseeing the FBCCI and 35 affiliated trade organisations, including 12 chambers and 23 sectoral associations, while the remaining organisations continue to operate under elected committees.
Business leaders say representative leadership is essential at a time when industries are grappling with rising production costs, sluggish private investment, foreign exchange constraints, energy shortages and declining export orders.
The FBCCI, Bangladesh’s apex trade body, represents 535 affiliated organisations, including 88 chambers, 19 joint chambers and 428 sectoral associations.
The organisation has remained under administrative management since September 2024, following the resignation of then-president Mahbubul Alam amid political changes after the fall of the previous government.
Reform Council Calls for Election
Seeking to end the prolonged impasse, the FBCCI Reform Council has written to the Ministry of Commerce, urging it to complete the election process and restore the apex business body as an effective representative institution.
The council recommended retaining the existing system under which the FBCCI president, vice-presidents and executive committee members are directly elected by the General Council. It also called for maintaining the rule requiring office-bearers to observe a one-term break after serving two consecutive terms.
The council further urged the government to preserve the autonomy of chambers and associations by allowing them to operate under their respective constitutions and to restore annual membership fees to previous levels.
According to the council, significant progress had already been made in reforming the Trade Organisations Rules 2025 under former administrator Hafizur Rahman. An Election Board and an Appeal Board were formed, and an election schedule was announced before the process was suspended following a writ petition challenging both the election and implementation of the revised rules.
Business Community Seeks Stronger Representation
FBCCI Reform Council Member Secretary Md Zakir Hossain said elections could be held promptly if the Ministry of Commerce takes the necessary initiative.
“The FBCCI has remained inactive for nearly two years. We are trying our best to facilitate the election, but we are not receiving the required cooperation from the ministry,” he said.
He also suggested appointing an administrator from the private sector rather than the government if an interim arrangement is required before elections.
Immediate past FBCCI administrator Md Abdur Rahim Khan said his tenure ended on 26 June and that a new administrator is expected to be appointed soon. He noted that elections across several trade organisations have been delayed due to legal disputes and court cases.
Former FBCCI Vice-President Nizamuddin Rajesh said the prolonged absence of elected leadership has particularly affected small and medium-sized businesses, limiting their ability to engage with policymakers on pressing business concerns.
He warned that achieving the government’s ambitious revenue targets for FY2026-27 would be difficult without a vibrant private sector and called for immediate elections across all business organisations.
Business leaders believe restoring elected leadership at the FBCCI would strengthen policy dialogue, improve coordination between the government and private sector, and support investment, industrial growth and economic recovery.
