As many as 30 votes were cancelled in the election of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) this time.

These votes were cancelled on a number of grounds including weird signs and initials of voters on ballot papers, instead of simple cross marks against the names of candidates.

Of the votes cancelled, seven were from the Chamber group and 23 from the Association group.

Every A-class chamber has six votes and B-class four, while an A-class association has five votes and a B-class three.

Business sources said the trade bodies whose votes were cancelled are mostly fake ones having no links with any sort of business and are registered with false identity and addresses.

These votes are usually sold ahead of the election to candidates paying maximum amounts.

Talking to The Daily Star, FBCCI Election Board Chairman Anisuzzaman said this time they tried to make the polls easier for the voters and he did not find any ground for voters to make mistakes in casting votes.

"This year the ballot papers bore photos of candidates with clear instructions on how to cast a vote," he pointed out.

Anisuzzaman said it was surprising to see the standard of voters. "These voters do not have the minimum qualification to vote in the election of the apex trade body."

Some business leaders found it difficult to understand how the businessmen could make such mistakes while casting votes.

Election sources said the ballot papers bearing weird signs and marking led many to believe that those who cast these votes were not businessmen but drivers or servants who were told to cast vote for a person having a ballot number or name.

"But the poor fellows forgot whether to cross or tick the ballot papers and made a mess by giving their initials," was how a businessman interpreted the strange marks on the ballot papers.

The Election Board chairman said the election body only checks the papers and allows publication of the voter list, which complies with relevant rules. "We really cannot stop a voter, even if we have doubts about his authenticity, as long as he has his papers right," he added.