Bangladesh Packaging Association Election Halted Days Before Vote
The Ministry of Commerce has suspended the election for the Bangladesh Packaging and Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPAMEA), formerly BGAPMEA, due to alleged violations of trade organization laws and regulations. The decision was issued by the ministry's Trade Organization-2 branch on Tuesday. Prior to the suspension, six vice presidents and fifteen directors for the 27-member governing body had already been elected unopposed. Voting was scheduled for Saturday to elect a president and five directors for the Chittagong region. The current president and Managing Director of Adji Trims, Md. Shahriar, representing the Oikya Parishad, was running for president against an independent candidate, Jamil Ahmed, MD of Britannia Label BD Limited. Other candidates were aligned with Oikya Parishad. Allegations surfaced on July 7 when presidential candidate Jamil Ahmed and director Mohammad Belal filed separate complaints with the Directorate of Trade Organizations. They claimed that two individuals, Md. Shahriar for president and Md. Moniruzzaman Molla for second vice president, were declared eligible despite allegedly violating a rule stating that no person can serve on the governing body for two consecutive terms without a break before participating in an election again. The complaints also alleged that loan defaulters were included in the candidate list, contravening trade organization laws. These complaints were initially made to the BPAMEA election and appeal boards, which upheld the candidacies of Md. Shahriar and Md. Moniruzzaman Molla. The appeal board chairman stated that the new regulations, effective since May of the previous year, did not retroactively apply, thus validating their participation. The Ministry of Commerce, following a hearing on Monday, has advised the applicants to file their complaints with the Arbitration Tribunal of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). The BPAMEA election for the 2026-2028 term will remain suspended until the Arbitration Tribunal resolves the complaint. Md. Shahriar expressed concern that some parties are attempting to disrupt the election during a critical economic period, noting that those accused were not summoned to the ministry's hearing.
The Ministry of Commerce's intervention in the BPAMEA election, citing regulatory violations, highlights the complexities of governance in trade associations. While the ministry aims to ensure adherence to established laws, the timing of the suspension raises questions about the electoral process's integrity and potential for external influence. The dispute over the interpretation of term limits and loan default clauses suggests a need for clearer, more consistently applied regulations within trade bodies. This situation underscores the tension between established business interests, regulatory oversight, and the principle of fair electoral competition. The resolution through an arbitration tribunal indicates a preference for established dispute resolution mechanisms, but the underlying issues of transparency and adherence to rules will likely persist if not addressed systemically, potentially impacting the predictability of business operations and governance within such associations in the future.
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