BAISHIMAS Election Postponed Just Five Days Before Voting; Candidates and Voters Angry as No Reason Given

The election of the board of directors of the Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BAISHIMAS) for the 2026-2028 term has been abruptly postponed. Voting in the election was scheduled to take place on 24 October.

But just five days before the vote, the authorities suspended all election activities without citing any specific reason. The last-minute halt to the election process of this important trade body has sparked anger and dissatisfaction among ordinary voters and rival candidates.

It is learnt that the notice postponing the election was issued at night on the last working day just before the start of the government holiday for Durga Puja. The notice offered no clear explanation or logical reason for stopping the election.

Stakeholders and candidates allege that after a long process, this suspension order was given unilaterally at the final moment of voting without following any rules. In their view, it runs counter to the trade organisations law and is a clear attempt to disrupt a democratic process.

Members and candidates of the association immediately protested strongly against the decision to suspend the election activities. They have already submitted a written letter of protest on the matter.

The protesting candidates and members have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the suspension order. They say the crisis can only be resolved if the order is withdrawn and the election is held through the scheduled process.

According to the candidates, the decision to stop the election at the very last moment, after long preparation and campaigning, has severely damaged the image of this business organisation, one of the largest and most traditional in the country.

The light engineering industry is one of the main driving forces of the country's economy and manufacturing sector. As the organisation of entrepreneurs in this sector, BAISHIMAS's role is therefore not limited to the election of a single association.

Entrepreneurs in the sector say that the postponement of the election of an important national trade body like BAISHIMAS in this way has pushed the organisation's good governance, institutional continuity and leadership selection into great uncertainty.

In this situation, stakeholders have demanded swift intervention by the commerce ministry and the regulatory authorities concerned to resolve the crisis. They have also demanded a transparent and impartial election without delay.

All eyes are now on the authorities' next step. How soon BAISHIMAS's election uncertainty ends will depend on whether the suspension order is withdrawn, whether a new voting date is announced, and whether the commerce ministry or the regulatory authority takes any role in the matter.