The first-ever executive committee election of the Grameenphone Employees Union (GPEU), scheduled for December 9, has been unexpectedly postponed. The election, set to feature two panels and five independent candidates competing for 17 positions, was to allow 969 union members nationwide to cast their votes. However, the GPEU Election Commission issued a postponement notice on Thursday, citing instructions from the Department of Labour.
The decision to delay stemmed from objections raised by Grameenphone’s management and some union members, alleging discrepancies in the finalized voter list. Following a meeting chaired by the director of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Election Commission was instructed to address these concerns by obtaining certified copies of court rulings related to ongoing union-related cases. Only after updating the voter list based on these findings can the election proceed.
Chief Election Commissioner Muhammad Noor E Alam explained, “The director of the Labour Department informed us of allegations regarding the membership status of individuals involved in ongoing cases. The voter list must reflect the court’s decisions before the election can take place.”
The postponement has disappointed union members, who had eagerly anticipated the opportunity to vote directly for their leaders for the first time since the union’s registration five years ago. Voters expressed hope that the election would soon be rescheduled to restore confidence and democracy within the union. They want that the Grameenphone Employees Union will return to its glory very soon through the elected members of direct vote in the new Bangladesh.
This development has cast uncertainty over the leadership battle between the two prominent panels. Founding President Omer Faruk heads one panel, which includes candidates for key positions such as general secretary and vice president. Meanwhile, Fazlul Haque, who has been holding the post of acting president (VP-1) for a decade leads the opposing panel.
Omar Faruk paneel candidates are Imrul Quais, Murad Rasulul and Atiquzzaman Mirza for the post of vice-president; Shakhawat Hossain for general secretary, Akhter Hossain and Bulbul Ahmed for 3 assistant general secretaries post; Bobby Sharmin for joint general secretary-2; Ziaur Rahman for the post of organizing secretary; Ramzan Hossain for treasurer; Adeeba Zarin, Suhel Mia and Sayeed Ahmed for 3 Communication secretery post and Saiful Alam Masuk & Shahjahan Shah are for the two executive members post.
On the other paneel candidates are Khondker Hasan Shahriar, A. N. M. Al Farabi & Mst. Ruksana Parveen for vice president post; Matuz Ali Quadri for secretery; ASM Saleh for Joint General Secretary-1; Md. Belal Hossain, Raju Singh for assistant genaral secretery; Mahmudul Hasan for organizing secretery; Mohammad Ali Bhuiyan for treasurer; Mazharul Islam, Mohi Uddin and Ismail Hossain Siddiki for Communication secretery and A S M Sayem, Ujjal Kumar Nandi and Dilruba Hossain for Exicutive member post.
Meanwhile, Walid Al Emdad (Joint General Secretary-2), Ziaur Rahman Milton (Publicity Secretary-2), Mahfuzur Rahman (Executive Member-2), Kazi Abdur Rahim (Executive Member-2) and Abid Hasan (Executive Member-3) has been participated as an Independent candidates.
Further details on the reasons behind the election postponement are expected in the upcoming report, titled “The Mystery Behind the GPEU Election Suspension.”
