The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bogura Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Md. Masud Rana, has been relieved of all election-related responsibilities after allegations of bias and irregularities surfaced ahead of the chamber's biennial election scheduled for July 5.
The decision was communicated in an official letter signed by the Chairman of the Election Management Committee and Additional District Election Officer, Mosammat Asiya Khatun. The letter also asked Masud Rana to explain the allegations brought against him through a show-cause notice.
The action came a day after the Selim-Ershad Panel held a press conference at the Bogura Press Club, alleging widespread irregularities in the election process and demanding the immediate dissolution of the existing Election Management Committee.
Addressing the press, panel president candidate Md. Selim Reza alleged that the committee had acted in a partisan manner from the very beginning of the election process.
He claimed that one contesting panel repeatedly violated the election code of conduct by publishing campaign advertisements in newspapers and organizing banquets for voters, but no action was taken despite written complaints submitted to the Election Management Committee.
The most serious allegation involved the distribution of voter identity cards. According to Selim Reza, although the official notice required each voter to collect the ID card in person, nearly 600 voter ID cards were released against the signatures of only two individuals representing a rival panel.
He further alleged that voters later received mobile phone messages asking them to collect their ID cards from representatives of that panel instead of from the chamber office.
Selim Reza said that when the issue was initially raised, election officials denied the allegation. However, after reviewing the distribution register, they allegedly found that the cards had been collected by the manager and another employee of the business establishment of presidential candidate Atikur Rahman Badal.
He also alleged that Chamber CEO Md. Masud Rana behaved discourteously when questioned about the matter.
"The conduct of the Election Management Committee and chamber officials indicates that they are working to ensure the victory of a particular panel. Under the current committee, it is impossible to hold a free, fair and credible election," Selim Reza told reporters while demanding the formation of a new Election Management Committee.
Following the allegations, the Election Management Committee issued a show-cause notice to Masud Rana and relieved him of election duties pending further proceedings.
Vice-presidential candidates Ershadul Bari Ershad and Mamunur Rashid, along with director candidates Mahfuzul Haque, Abdul Bassed, Rony, Moharram Ali and Georgis Hossain, were present at the press conference.
The Election Management Committee has not yet publicly disclosed the findings of any inquiry into the allegations, while no official response from Masud Rana or the panel accused of receiving undue advantage was immediately available.
The biennial election of the Bogura Chamber of Commerce and Industry is scheduled to be held on Sunday amid growing concern among candidates over the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
