Tension has flared up again centring the upcoming biennial election of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) as several aspirants reportedly failed to submit their nomination papers on the last day of submission on Sunday after facing resistance from outsiders.
Candidates and association members alleged that a group of local youths took position at the entrance of the BSAA office at Mekkah Madina Tower in Chattogram's Agrabad from morning and blocked representatives of some aspirants.
The outsiders also hung banners in the name of Baisommer Shikar Byabosayee Forum, calling for resisting "associates of autocrat Awami League" in the election.
It is alleged that the protesters were backed by Shafiqul Alam Swapan, a candidate and a BSAA member, who is aligned with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Swapan, however, denied the allegation, saying some locals who had disputes with BSAA members might have hung the banners.
He also rejected the claim that any aspirants had failed to submit nomination papers.
One member of the election board, Captain Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, confirmed that office executives had complained to him about outsiders' presence during nomination submission.
Bhuiyan also said aspirant Junaid Ahmed informed him that his staff had been obstructed and his nomination paper snatched.
"I asked the office secretary to investigate and ensure acceptance. Later the document was returned and accepted," he told The Daily Star.
Bhuiyan termed the incident "unacceptable when the country is on a journey to restore the democratic process in every sector".
The election for the 24-member BSAA board was originally scheduled for April 13 but postponed following protests by a group of businessmen.
Swapan was among them.
In March, they demanded cancellation of the election and selection of an unelected committee, branding rival candidates as "cohorts of the ousted fascist regime".
On July 14, the newly formed election board rescheduled the poll for October 9. Though no panel has been formally declared, two groups are preparing separately for the contest.
Ahsan Iqbal Chowdhury, chairman of Continental Group and a chairman aspirant, alleged that at least 27 like-minded members from his group had planned to contest but only 10 to 12 could submit nomination papers.
The rest were resisted, he said.
Zahur Ahmed, director of Seacom Shipping and senior vice chairman aspirant, echoed the allegation.
Several other aspirants claimed to have faced similar obstacles but declined to be named.