KHULNA, July 7: The Election Board of the Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Tuesday published the final voter list for its biennial election, retaining 1,705 eligible voters after excluding 697 members from the preliminary list following objections and an appeal process.
The preliminary voter list, published on July 1, contained 2,402 voters.
Several chamber members lodged objections on July 3, alleging that 697 new members had been included in violation of the relevant laws and the chamber's constitution.
Following a hearing held on Monday at the office of the Divisional Commissioner, the Election Appeal Board accepted the objections and submitted its decision to the Election Board.
Election Board Chairman Md. Shahinuzzaman said the names of the 697 members had been removed from the voter list after the appeal was upheld.
He added that the final voter list would be published on the chamber's official website.
According to the objections, a total of 697 new members, including 581 general members and 116 associate members admitted between January 2025 and April 2026, were allegedly enrolled in breach of legal provisions and therefore were not eligible to be included in the voter list.
Sources concerned said that after the political changeover on August 5, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce appointed three administrators to oversee the chamber, directing them to complete elections within 120 days and hand over responsibilities to an elected committee. The administrators were not authorised to admit new members, they added.
They also cited the Trade Organizations Act, 2022, and the chamber's constitution, arguing that only the elected board of directors has the authority to approve new memberships.
Following the change in administration, the government appointed administrators to run the chamber.
On April 30, 2026, Additional Divisional Commissioner Abu Sayeed Md. Monjur Alam was appointed administrator with instructions to hold elections within four months.
The election schedule was announced on May 22, with voting set for August 22.
Voters will directly elect 28 office-bearers, including the president, one senior vice-president, two vice-presidents,15 directors from the general member category, six directors from the associate member category and three directors representing the trade group category.
