Film Artistes' Association election

Ilias Kanchan new president, Zayed Khan stays as general secretary

Ilias Kanchan new president, Zayed Khan stays as general secretary

Actor Ilias Kanchan has been elected as the president of the Film Artistes' Association while Zayed Khan returned as the general secretary for a third term.

The artistes, who contested from rival panels, will now take charge of the association's duties for the 2022-2024 term.

Pirzada Harun, chief election commissioner of Friday’s polls, announced the results early on Saturday.

Kanchan got a total of 191 votes. His opponent, Misha Sawdagor, the immediate-past president, bagged 148 votes.

Representing the Misha-Zayed panel, the re-elected general secretary got 176 votes, while his opponent actress Nipun from the Kanchan-Nipun panel bagged 163 votes.

With 219 and 191 votes, Monowar Hossain Dipjol and Masum Parvez Rubel retained their positions as vice-presidents from the Misha-Zayed panel, defeating actors Riaz and DA Tayeb who received 156 and 112 votes, respectively.

Among other candidates, actress Shahnoor and actor Symon Sadik have been elected as the new joint secretary and assistant general secretary.

Former international affairs secretary Mamnun Emon was elected as the new secretary for cultural affairs and sports. He was the Kanchan-Nipun panel's candidate.

Other members of the executive panel are Ferdous, Keya, Jasmine and Amit Hasan from the Ilias-Nipun panel, and Anjana, Rozina, Aruna Biswas, Sucharita, Ali Raj, Moushumi and Chunnu from the Misha-Zayed Panel.

There were 428 voters in this year’s election, out of which 365 votes were cast.

The film actor community had an eventful day during the newest edition of the Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association election. The balloting was held on the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) premises in a festive environment from 9am to 5pm on Friday.

The polls, however, were not without controversy. Nipun had accused Zayed Khan of bribery, but the latter dismissed all allegations.

But that could not dampen the festive mood as actors from opposing panels were seen embracing each other, even during polling.