THE FBCCI is all set to assemble a Board of Directors for 2017-19 terms without any elections this year. In an unprecedented move, the country’s apex trade body is going to deny the electorate to make their choice by directly voting for their candidates. Since 2002, elections of the posts of President and the First Vice-President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) have gone under government control due to a change in the rules.
Shattering all the hopes of FBCCI members; who wanted reforms in the trade body and direct elections the government policy makers have already finalized the names of persons for the post of President and the First Vice-President. The trade body members have no alternative but to accept the leadership chosen by the government. They said the incumbent First Vice-President of the FBCCI, Md Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin and its Director Sheikh Fazle Fahim have got green signals from the government for the two coveted posts. In 2002, the rules have been changed paving the way for government’s intervention.
Under the changed system, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Mir Nasir Hossain, Annisul Huq, A K Azad, Kazi Akram Uddin and Abdul Matlub Ahmad were elected unopposed Presidents of the apex trade body with the blessings of BNP and then the Awami League-led governments. They all made commitment that they would restore direct voting in election but avoided when they came to office. It is almost clear that the posts of the President and the Vice-Presidents have become political and the government is taking advantage of controlling the trade body in its favour.
Like most things the apex trade body has become politicized. The government wants to have direct control over the trade body to ensure that they have a say in the final decision making of the body. But is such thing really necessary? In most developed countries -and even in our neighbouring country India there is no scope of such direct involvement of the government in business organizations.
The question is why does our government want to interfere in the FBCCI – in effect making it a government organ in business sector. The apex trade body for business people should not be in the hands of the government. It should be free to nominate and express its views without fear, as has been done in the past. Capacity building of trade bodies, governance and corruption should be key issues which could be explored by the FBCCI – but in such situation raising voice against corruption and mismanagement will not be possible. It will only toe the government line. In our view such politicization of the apex trade body will prove seriously counter-productive for the development of private sector at the end.
Shattering all the hopes of FBCCI members; who wanted reforms in the trade body and direct elections the government policy makers have already finalized the names of persons for the post of President and the First Vice-President. The trade body members have no alternative but to accept the leadership chosen by the government. They said the incumbent First Vice-President of the FBCCI, Md Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin and its Director Sheikh Fazle Fahim have got green signals from the government for the two coveted posts. In 2002, the rules have been changed paving the way for government’s intervention.
Under the changed system, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Mir Nasir Hossain, Annisul Huq, A K Azad, Kazi Akram Uddin and Abdul Matlub Ahmad were elected unopposed Presidents of the apex trade body with the blessings of BNP and then the Awami League-led governments. They all made commitment that they would restore direct voting in election but avoided when they came to office. It is almost clear that the posts of the President and the Vice-Presidents have become political and the government is taking advantage of controlling the trade body in its favour.
Like most things the apex trade body has become politicized. The government wants to have direct control over the trade body to ensure that they have a say in the final decision making of the body. But is such thing really necessary? In most developed countries -and even in our neighbouring country India there is no scope of such direct involvement of the government in business organizations.
The question is why does our government want to interfere in the FBCCI – in effect making it a government organ in business sector. The apex trade body for business people should not be in the hands of the government. It should be free to nominate and express its views without fear, as has been done in the past. Capacity building of trade bodies, governance and corruption should be key issues which could be explored by the FBCCI – but in such situation raising voice against corruption and mismanagement will not be possible. It will only toe the government line. In our view such politicization of the apex trade body will prove seriously counter-productive for the development of private sector at the end.
