Dhaka:The Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) has announced the election of a new 16-member Board of Directors for the 2026-2028 term, with Kazuiki Kataoka taking the role of President.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the election process took place in two phases on September 13 and September 23. Kazuiki Kataoka, who serves as the Country Representative of JETRO Dhaka Office and is a former Joint Secretary-General of JBCCI, was elected as the President.
Rabiul Alam, the Managing Director of MKK Logistics, has been elected Secretary General, while Kenji Kimura, Chief Representative of MUFG Bank Dhaka Office, will serve as Treasurer. Both have previously served as directors on the outgoing board.
The positions of Vice President 1 and Vice President 2 have been filled by Abu Zaman Md. Tariqul Islam, Managing Director of Yusen Logistics (Bangladesh) Ltd., and Syed Samiul Huq, Director of Japan Solar-tech Bangladesh Ltd., respectively.
Oliver Kutz, Managing Director of JT International Bangladesh Ltd., was elected as Joint Secretary General, and Saumitra Kumar Mutsuddi, Head of Corporate Affairs at BSRM Ltd., was chosen as Joint Treasurer.
The remaining nine directors elected are Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), Hiroaki Oura, Kabir Ahmed, Atsushi Hirakuri, AKM Ahmedul Islam BABU, Kenichiro Kawamoto, Farzanah Chowdhury, Hironori Yamanaka, and Mudassir Murtaza Moin.
The election was overseen by a three-member Election Board led by AKM Kamrul Islam FCA, the First Banking Ombudsman of Bangladesh, with AZM Azizur Rahman serving as the Acting Chairman of the Election Board. A three-member Election Appeal Board was headed by Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid, former Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and included former JBCCI President Abdul Haque.
JBCCI, founded in 2004, is dedicated to promoting bilateral trade, encouraging Japanese investment in Bangladesh, and supporting the growth of Bangladeshi exports to Japan.