Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The biennial election of the country’s apex trade body, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), is due to be held on Saturday.
A total of 63 candidates are contesting in the election for the 30 posts of directors for the 2012-14 term. Of the 63 candidates, 60 are contesting under the two panels of Ganatantrik Parishad and Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed and three independently.
 
Of the available 30 directorial positions, 15 will be filled from the chamber group and 15 from the association group.
 
The 30 elected directors, along with the 18 nominated directors (nine from association group and as many from chamber group) would choose the president.
 
The number of valid voters, according to the three-member election board, is 1,998: 1,608 from the association group and 390 from the chamber group.
 
While introducing the chamber group’s contestants yesterday at the FBCCI headquarters, Prof Ali Ashraf, chairman of the election board, urged the contestants to follow the rules of the election strictly.
 
At the panel introduction, contestants promised to work towards lowering the bank interest rates to single digit from the current 17-18 percent and creation of a better business environment in the country.
 
BBN/SSR/AD-23Nov12-10:50 am (BST)