HC rule about stopping FBCCI elections amid pandemic
The commerce secretary and the FBCCI were asked to respond to the rule within a week
The High Court (HC) issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why it should not be directed to stop the election process of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) amid the ongoing lockdown.
The court also asked the authorities to explain why its inaction to stop the election process should not be declared illegal.
On Tuesday, a virtual bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir, issued the rule following a writ petition filed by a member of the General Body of the FBCCI.
The rule also asked why the notice issued by the Commerce Ministry on 7 April to continue the election process should not be declared illegal.
The commerce secretary and the FBCCI were asked to respond to the rule within a week.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan and Barrister HM Sanjid Siddiqui moved for the writ petition.
Barrister HM Sanjid Siddiqui told reporters, according to the notice issued by the Ministry of Commerce, commercial organizations that have announced their election schedules can continue with their elections.
Amir Uddin Dipu, a member of the General Body of the FBCCI, filed the writ petition with the High Court, challenging the validity of the notice issued to continue the election process amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the writ, he also appealed to the HC to stop the election process during the Covid-19 pandemic. After hearing the writ petition, the court issued the rule today.
According to the announced polls schedule, voting for the upcoming FBCCI Board of Directors elections for the 2021-2023 term was scheduled for May 5.