The Election Appeal Board has upheld the cancellation of former acting president Amjad Hossain Chowdhury’s candidacy for the post of president in the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSBRA), effectively excluding him from the election scheduled for 3 June.
The verdict was delivered on Sunday by the appeal board headed by Mohammad Aftab Uddin Chowdhury.
The board, however, allowed executive member candidates Abdullah Jaber Siddiqui and Mohammad Ilyas to retain their candidacies on condition that they submit original police clearance certificates by 20 May.
According to the ruling, Amjad Chowdhury’s appeal was rejected in light of observations in CPL Nos 61 and 62 of 2026 filed before the Appellate Division against a stay order related to Civil Rule No 525 (FM)/2025 of the High Court Division.
The board also considered a Bangladesh Bank Credit Information Bureau report dated 30 April 2026 identifying him as a loan defaulter.
Reacting to the decision, Amjad Chowdhury said he had received the appeal board’s letter but was yet to understand the grounds for cancellation of his nomination, adding that he would decide on next steps later.
A total of 17 candidates, including two for the president’s post, submitted nomination papers for the election, while 15 contested executive member positions. The Election Board cancelled three nominations on 30 April, prompting appeals on 3 May.
The dispute adds to prolonged instability in the shipbreaking industry’s main trade body, which has faced repeated electoral controversy, internal divisions and allegations of procedural violations.
Earlier, the Ministry of Commerce dissolved the BSBRA executive committee and appointed an administrator after months of disputes over the election process.
An office order issued on 5 February said the committee’s tenure had expired on 9 November 2025 and that the organisation was not operating in line with its constitution and the Trade Organisations Act, 2022.
