Bagerhat Correspondent
Allegations of irregularities have emerged surrounding the biennial election of the trade union representing workers and employees of Mongla Port Authority.
A section of the organisation’s members has questioned the classification of workers, preparation of the voter list, formation of the election committee and the process of convening a requisition meeting.
The complainants said they had sought information from the management on workers’ classification, organogram, nature of employment and number of workers to ensure their voting rights. However, they alleged that no effective steps had been taken by the management executive level.
They claimed that the absence of proper worker classification and an organogram had made it impossible to determine the genuine members and voters of the trade union.
According to the complainants, although Mongla Port Authority’s service rules were formulated in 1991, no necessary changes or amendments had been made. This had created complications over the identification and classification of workers, employees and officers, they said.
They further alleged that several individuals from the management side had entered the trade union’s executive committee and were obstructing its lawful activities. Although the organisation was registered in 2009, regular elections had not been held due to the classification dispute, they claimed.
Serious questions have also been raised over the 2026 election. The complainants said an election committee was formed through a requisition meeting on 13 July. Although the committee was cancelled by a letter signed by Nasir Uddin Chowdhury on 9 August, the same committee was allegedly continuing the election process.
The committee is headed by municipal BNP president and former mayor Zulfikar Ali, while Sohag, deputy traffic manager of the Traffic Department of Mongla Port Authority, is its member secretary. Niamur Rahman, a committee member and senior accounting officer of the port authority, has already resigned. Despite this, the committee is allegedly continuing the election process.
The complainants also alleged that the organisation’s constitution requires seven days’ notice for a requisition meeting, but only four days’ notice was given. Only 44 employees attended the meeting, they claimed.
An application has been submitted to the relevant authorities seeking cancellation of the meeting’s resolution and the election committee. Several cases concerning the validity of the ad hoc committee are also pending before the tribunal and the High Court Division, it is learnt.
Meanwhile, general member Md Shah Alam has reportedly sent a legal notice to the relevant departments over the election process.
Ad hoc committee member Naim and other employees alleged that holding the election through a disputed process could cause financial and organisational losses to ordinary members.
The complainants warned that conducting the election without ensuring workers’ actual identities and classification could question the validity of the entire voting process and create complications over the approval and certification of the newly elected committee. #EK
