e-CAB Election Eclipsed: 2025 Polls Postponed Amidst Sudden Shock
The much-anticipated 2025-27 biennial election of the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) has been suspended just 17 days ahead of the scheduled voting date, sparking surprise and discontent among candidates and voters alike.
The abrupt announcement came on Wednesday through an official notice signed by Sohel Rahman, a member of the election board. The notice cited "unavoidable circumstances" as the reason for the suspension. While board member Shahadat Hossain also signed the notice, the designated space for fellow board member Md. Rezaul Karim remained blank due to his absence on official duty.
The vote was originally scheduled for May 31. In preparation, two electoral panels had submitted nominations for the election of 11 executive committee directors. Altogether, 36 candidates—including independents—were in the fray, competing for the votes of 502 registered voters out of a total of 2,842 e-CAB members.
Muhammad Saeed Ali, the administrator of e-CAB and Deputy Secretary of the Central Digital Cell under the Ministry of Commerce, remarked, “We had nearly completed all preparations, but the election has now been postponed. Earlier, a few members who failed to qualify as voters appealed for a delay, citing the low number of eligible voters. We did not accept their appeal initially due to the small number. However, they later petitioned the Ministry of Commerce, prompting the postponement. We will announce a new date and organize the election as soon as possible.”
The sudden halt has triggered mixed reactions. Some stakeholders argue that the Ministry of Commerce is trivializing trade body elections. “The business climate is already dire, and we have no representation. Now even the elections are being mishandled,” said one frustrated member. Others speculate political interference, alleging that politicians are manipulating the process from behind the scenes to delay or derail the vote.
Some voices suggest that holding trade body elections before the national polls may not yield worthwhile results and could expose political affiliations too soon. As one observer noted, “Rushing things could make it obvious who is changing sides, which some would rather conceal until after the national elections.
