Conspiracy by associates to prevent e-CAB elections, anger among members

A group of allies and beneficiaries of a defunct dictatorship has become active in stopping the much-anticipated 2025-2027 elections of the E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (E-CAB), aimed at developing discipline, transparency, and leadership in the e-commerce sector. . They are now trying to prevent the elections out of fear that they will not have dominance if the elections are held. It is known that since the fall of the dictatorship after August 5, certain individuals have been trying to influence the E-CAB in various ways. First, they tried to run the E-CAB through a supporting committee and then for a long time through a supporting committee without elections. Their plan did not succeed due to the efforts of ordinary members and the election schedule was announced due to the insistence of the administrator. After that, this group has been trying to postpone and postpone the elections in various ways through political lobbying, threats, and letters to the administrator and the Ministry of Commerce on various fabricated issues.

The ordinary members of the e-CAB are aware of these conspiracies and are very angry. Investigations reveal that those who are trying to delay the elections are very unpopular and disliked by the ordinary members of the e-CAB. Knowing that they will be defeated miserably if they participate in the elections, they are repeatedly conspiring to delay the elections. If the elections are fair, the position of the old 'syndicate' and the allies of the dictatorship will be threatened. That is why they have resorted to various tactics to obstruct the election process - fake letters, spreading misleading information, creating political pressure on the courts and administration - and are trying to sabotage a democratic process.

Investigation revealed that the list of those involved in the conspiracy includes sensational names. One of them is Biplob Ghosh Rahul, who is currently the 2025 Secretary General of the “Entrepreneur Club of Bangladesh (E-Club)” and was the Director of BASIS during the dictatorship. He is one of the top accused in the case filed in connection with the student killings that took place during the 2024 ‘July Revolution’. The case is pending in the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, Dhaka (C.R. Case No.: 620/2024, Mohammadpur Administrative Court). The case has been framed under Sections 302/34 of the Penal Code, where the main accused include Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, Fazle Noor Taposh, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and other top leaders of the then dictatorship government. It is learnt that Biplob Ghosh Rahul is trying to postpone the elections so that he and his B-Team can prepare and participate in the elections during this period. Biplob Ghosh is another Awami League associate and beneficiary of Rahul, a controversial person named Sohel Mridha, who is the main face of this conspiracy. Awami League associate Sohel Mridha is a confidant and very close to former E-CAB president Shomi Kaiser and controversial joint secretary Nasima Akhter Nisha. Investigations have found that Sohel Mridha regularly campaigned for the development of the Awami League. According to sources, he is trying to obstruct the election process by lobbying, spreading false information on social media and sending fake letters. However, the reality is that Sohel Mridha does not have any active e-commerce business of his own. According to those close to him, he cannot even afford to buy nomination forms. Biplob Ghosh's associate and Entrepreneur's Club (E-Club) president Khairul Karim Antu (Antu Karim) is another controversial character. He was the cashier of former State Minister for Energy Bipu and a close associate of Bipu's wife. This Antu Karim is known as one of the beneficiaries of the autocratic government. He is the partner and associate of the warranted accused police officer ADC Nazmul Islam Sumon, against whom there are multiple allegations of torture, embezzlement, torture of women and blackmail. After this information came to light, the general members have become more worried.

Most of the members have raised questions on the issue of postponing or postponing the elections—those who have used e-CAB like their own property for years are now terrified of the vote. An e-CAB member who did not want to be named said, “On what basis are those who do not have their own business in e-commerce, seeking the leadership of e-CAB?” Another member joked about this— “How can someone who cannot even run his own business decide the future of e-commerce?” Another angry member said, "The conspirators and accomplices are repeatedly trying to postpone the elections to preserve their interests. Due to their filth, the e-CAB is now without a guardian." Another member said, "The e-CAB is lagging behind and becoming ineffective due to some vested interests. 15% VAT has been imposed on e-commerce in this budget. If the e-CAB members do not unite and throw mud, this sector and small entrepreneurs will be completely destroyed."

Another member, who did not want to be named, directly said, "If the e-CAB falls into the hands of these accomplices, murderers, murder case accused and criminals, then it will be akin to suicide for our digital sector." On the other hand, e-CAB administrator Sayeed Ali and members of the Election Commission want the elections to be completed on time. In this situation, conscious members are getting better organized. They say - e-CAB is not anyone's private property. This election must be held at the right time. They have said that they are ready to provide all cooperation to organize the elections at the right time.