The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Bhairab Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Kishoreganj was held and turned into a festive gathering of businesspeople.
The AGM was formally inaugurated at the Bhairab Government K.B. Pilot High School ground by Bhairab Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Pourashava Administrator Shabnam Sharmin on Thursday.
The meeting was addressed by Md. Shariful Alam, Central BNP’s Organizing Secretary for Mymensingh Division, President of Kishoreganj District BNP, and Chairman of Alam Group of Industries (CIP), who attended as the chief guest.
The event was presided over by Chamber President Alhaj Zahidul Haque Zabad, while special guests included Nazmus Sakib, Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Bhairab Circle); A.H.M. Azimul Haque, Assistant Commissioner (Land); Md. Rafiqul Islam, President of Bhairab Upazila BNP; Md. Ariful Islam, General Secretary of Bhairab Upazila BNP; Khandakar Fuad Ruhani, Officer-in-Charge of Bhairab Police Station; Abdullah Al Mamun, Vice President of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA); Haji Md. Shahin, President of Bhairab Municipality BNP; and VP Md. Mujibur Rahman, General Secretary of Bhairab Municipality BNP, among others.
The program was conducted by Chamber Director Arafat Bhuiya and Priyanka, Executive Member of Prothom Alo Bondhushava Bhairab. A welcome address and proposals were presented by the Chamber President at the beginning of the meeting.
During the session, businesspeople raised various issues and prospects, highlighting the major problems of theft and mugging in Bhairab. They said not only local residents but also traders from other districts fall victim to muggings in Bhairab. They urged effective intervention by the local administration, police, and political leaders to curb such crimes. In addition, they demanded preservation of Bhairab’s footwear industry, coal port, and launch terminal to save the river port town.
In her remarks, inaugurator UNO Shabnam Sharmin said Bhairab holds great potential for businesspeople. She stressed the need for long-term, well-planned initiatives rather than short-term discussions on existing problems. She assured that the administration would address the business community’s challenges.
She further emphasized a zero-tolerance policy against mugging and drugs, stating that criminals have no political identity, and strict action must be taken against offenders regardless of their affiliation.
At the end of the discussion, the chief guest, inaugurator, and other dignitaries handed over honorary crests to the top three taxpayers of Bhairab. Women entrepreneurs were also recognized with honorary awards.
Later, the audited report of the 2024/25 fiscal year was discussed and approved. The meeting concluded with a general discussion among members, proposals for development initiatives, and distribution of honorary crests to all Chamber members.
