FBCCI election likely in January as rules amendment remains pending

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the country’s apex trade body, has been operating without elected representatives for more than two years because the election process remains stalled pending amendments to the Trade Organisation Rules.

The Ministry of Commerce has finalised the draft amendment and sent it to the Ministry of Law for vetting. Although the vetting is expected to be completed this month, the FBCCI election is unlikely to take place during the tenure of the current administrator. The law requires a 90-day process after the amended rules are published, meaning the election is more likely to be held in January next year.

Following the political change on 5 August 2024, the interim government amended the Trade Organisation Rules. In response to demands from the business community, the BNP-led government recently published a fresh draft of the Trade Organisation Rules, 2025 on the ministry’s website for stakeholder feedback. After collecting opinions from all concerned parties, including detailed proposals submitted by the FBCCI after consultations with apex bodies across the country, the ministry prepared the final draft and forwarded it to the Ministry of Law.

Director General (Joint Secretary) of the Trade Organisation Wing of the Ministry of Commerce, Mohammad Mostafa Jamal Haider, said the ministry had reviewed the FBCCI’s proposals and finalised the draft, which is now under legal vetting.

“Some queries have already been raised by the Ministry of Law, and meetings have been held to discuss them. We hope the Ministry of Law will complete the vetting and return the draft within this month. The Commerce Minister is also in touch with the Law Ministry to expedite the process,” he said.

At the request of the business community, the government appointed former BKMEA president Mohammad Fazlul Haque as FBCCI administrator. He assumed office on 2 August and is required under the terms of his appointment to hand over charge to elected representatives within 120 days. He had earlier said organising the election within that period would be his top priority.

However, the delay in finalising the rules has made it difficult to hold the election within his stipulated tenure, which ends around 30 November or 1 December.

“The Ministry of Law will examine whether the draft conflicts with any other law or the Constitution before giving its vetting. Once the rules are published, the election process requires 90 days. There is little possibility of holding the election during my tenure. I believe it may take place in the first or second week of January next year,” Fazlul Haque said.

He added that the election process would continue regardless of whether his tenure is extended or a new administrator is appointed. “That is a decision for the government. There is no legal restriction preventing it from appointing anyone it considers suitable,” he said.