The election of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been postponed again, extending uncertainty over leadership at the century-old trade body as legal disputes continue to stall the process.
The polls, scheduled for April 4, were deferred due to “unavoidable circumstances”, according to a notification issued by the Election Board, confirming the latest delay in a process already pushed back multiple times.
A press release signed by Chittagong Chamber Joint Secretary Nurul Absar Chowdhury on April 2 said the Election Board formally suspended the voting process, while a separate notice signed by Election Board Chairman Monowara Begum reiterated the decision without announcing a new date.
The repeated postponements reflect deeper instability within the chamber that began in August last year.
On August 5, the then presidium and board of directors resigned following protests by general members, who accused the leadership of autocratic and dynastic control, triggering a governance vacuum.
An administrator was later appointed to manage operations, and on August 11, the Ministry of Commerce formed an Election Board to organise polls for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 terms.
The election was initially scheduled for November 1, with two major panels submitting nominations and launching campaigns.
However, the process became entangled in lawsuits and writ petitions, forcing repeated revisions to the schedule and delaying the transition to an elected leadership.
The latest postponement, after April 4 had been set as the revised date, signals that the Chittagong Chamber remains stuck in a prolonged legal and administrative impasse, with no clear timeline yet for holding the election.
