CCI polls: Businessmen’s Council files 3 cases

CHITTAGONG: One rebel panel styled ‘Chittagong Businessmen’s Council’ who boycotted Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) polls Tuesday announced their decision to file three cases.

At a press conference at Ctg Press Club, the leaders of Chittagong Businessmen’s Council termed CCCI polls a “drama” and announced their decision to take shelter of the rule of law.
They would file three cases on “violation” of High Court order, for cancellation of the election and asking order for making a transparent voter list.

Amirul Haque Chowdhury, top leader of the council, said they would file three cases soon.

Chittagong Businessmen Council’s leader and former president of Chittagong Chamber Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed said, “The Election Commission violated the order of the High Court in terms of proxy and nominee voters.”

Javed claimed the chairman of the election board was ‘biased’.

Panel leader of the council and BNP leader Ershad Ullah, Syed Jamal Hossain and Mainuddin Mintu were among others present.

Earlier, the Businessmen’s Council claimed casting of fake votes in the name of nominee voter and boycotted the polls within half an hour of the start of voting.

Meanwhile, incumbent chamber president and chief coordinator of Chittagong Chamber Council and Awami League MP MA Latif requested the voters to cast their votes without fear.

The voters will elect 18 directors among 24 who will later elect the president. Six directors have been elected uncontested.

Earlier, the Commerce Ministry had postponed the election and asked the Chittagong Divisional Commissioner to investigate the allegations regarding inclusion of fake voters.

Later, the High Court stayed the decision of the Ministry of Commerce and ordered holding the election as scheduled. The High Court also issued a rule asking the government to show cause as to why the decision “shouldn’t be declared illegal”.

BDST: 1234 HRS, DEC 07, 2010