As more business leaders are submitting nomination papers everyday to join the race for FBCCI directorship, possibility of a consensus in the polls fades away.

The biennial election of the country's apex trade body is gathering momentum each day after Friday's rescheduling.

Business leaders, who withdrew or did not submit nomination papers earlier, got the opportunity to submit nominations afresh after the polls were rescheduled for September 10 instead of August 21.

Speculations are now rife that some more panels from the chamber and the association groups will be formed to contest the polls.

Prior to the rescheduling, business leaders, eyeing the top posts of the FBCCI, reached a consensus on avoiding the contest for the

directorships.

"But, the hectic discussion among different groups at closed-door sessions to bring the election within the grip of a handful leaders will not be fruitful," said a business leader.

"As a number of candidates have submitted nomination papers and more are expected, it seems that there will be no consensus this time," he hoped.

Meanwhile, at least five new candidates, two from the chamber group and three from the association group, collected nomination papers yesterday, sources at the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) said.

According to the new schedule, the last date for submitting nomination papers is August 11 while the FBCCI election board will publish a list of primary candidates on August 18. August 22 is the last date for

withdrawing nominations.

Nomination fee for directorship of the FBCCI has been fixed at Tk 15,000 per nomination. However, those who collected and submitted nomination papers earlier but withdrew or did not submit at all can also apply afresh, depositing Tk 2,000.

On September 12, the elected directors will choose a new president and two vice presidents for a two-year term.

The FBCCI election board will announce the final results on September 15.

Among the 38 executive committee members of the FBCCI, 12 will be elected from chambers, 12 from associations, 7 from local chambers and the rest 7 from local associations. As per FBCCI constitutional provision, the president will be elected from the chamber group this time.