Barvida elections to be held today (Saturday)

Barvida leaders addressing a press conference at Nayapaltan in Dhaka City on Friday.

After a long wait, the elections of Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (Barvida) are going to be held on Saturday, December 21. The organization's top leader Abdul Haque confirmed that the elections will be held as per the pre-determined schedule.

At a brief press conference in Nayapaltan on Friday afternoon, Abdul Haque said that the Ministry of Commerce has settled the hearings of both parties and withdrawn the letter issued as an obstacle to the elections. This withdrawal was confirmed in a letter signed by Pulak Kumar Mandal, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce. It said, "The letter of memorandum number 26.00.0000.157.33.041.92.815 has been withdrawn by order."

Abdul Haque said, "A group tried to disrupt the democratic process of the organization with malicious intentions. However, we have overcome all obstacles through the correct decision of the Ministry of Commerce and the settlement of the hearings. "The election will be held smoothly on Saturday."

Addressing the journalists present, business leader Abdul Haque said, "You are aware that the reconditioned car sector has investments worth thousands of crores of taka and has provided employment to a large number of people. After all, this sector plays an important role in the national economy by providing revenue worth several thousand crores of taka every year. The government also takes the advice of this sector in formulating the national budget. As a result, it is important to establish efficient and competent leadership in this sector. The government administration and the Honorable High Court have kindly understood the matter and have taken decisions based on that. We are grateful to them.

Some circles have made malicious attempts to sabotage the election path by creating obstacles and obstacles. Their plot included many strategies, conspiracies, malicious propaganda, slander, resorting to lies, insulting and humiliating leading candidates, declaring them disqualified from the election by involving them in false cases, etc. An anti-election evil force has filed one case after another.

You will be surprised to know that my colleague Candidate Mr. Riaz Rahman has been accused in a murder case. Alhamdulillah, he has now returned home free from the case. The current committee of Barvida, the Election Management Board, the Election Appeal Board, have all been labeled as collaborators of the fallen dictator Sheikh Hasina-fascism. An application was made to the government to cancel the current committee of Barvida, cancel the Election Board and appoint an administrator. 5 writ cases have been filed in the High Court. We have won in all of them. There was a plan to declare me and another colleague Anis Saheb ineligible to participate in the election by making false allegations. However, these were long-standing settled issues. This evil group, not having the courage to compete with us through democratic elections in Barvida, withdrew from the candidacy and continued its multi-faceted efforts with a syndicate with their supporters and donors to sabotage the election. The terrible far-sighted goal of this criminal group is to occupy Barvida by leaving the leadersless.

With the infinite mercy of Allah, the prayers of thousands of businessmen, and your spontaneous cooperation and united efforts, we have been able to break the web of this terrible conspiracy, and when the government lifts the last ban imposed by the Ministry of Commerce, all obstacles to holding the elections on December 21 as per the previously announced schedule will end. Insha Allah, the Barvida elections will be held tomorrow, December 21.

The leaders of the organization welcomed this decision and said that Barvida will continue its progress in accordance with democratic norms. They expressed their gratitude to the Ministry of Commerce and all concerned.

Hundreds of members gathered at the Haq’s Bay Center in Nayapaltan to express their joy after receiving the news of the elections. The members present expressed their hope that they will attend the polling stations on the scheduled day and elect their representatives through the democratic process.

Enthusiasm and inspiration are being observed among the members of the organization surrounding Saturday's elections, which is being seen as an example of democratic practice.