BGMEA formed a board to conduct next election

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has formed a board to hold the election for the 2021-22 term. 

It also formed an election appellate board following an online emergency board meeting on Sunday. 

The election board is headed by Prof Syed Ferhat Anwar, director of the Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka. Other members are Abul Kasem Khan, chairperson at the Business Initiative Leading Development, and Habibullah N Karim, vice president at the Bangladesh Employers' Federation.  

The election appellate board is headed by Kamran T Rahman, president at Bangladesh Employers' Federation. Other members are Syed Nasim Manzur, former president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Shafquat Haider, chief executive officer of the Consortium for Business Development Services.

According to the commerce ministry, a trade organisation has to hold an election at least 15 days before the expiry of the existing committee. 

And as per the BGMEA's constitution, the current committee has a legal obligation to form an election board at least 90 days before the election. The board may announce an election schedule at least 80 days before the election. 

The election board should complete an updated voter list at least 60 days before the election and then it will distribute nomination papers to the aspirant candidates. 

Talking to The Business Standard, Syed Nasim Manzur on Monday confirmed that he is in the appellate board but he is yet to receive any official letter. 

BGMEA Vice-President Moshiul Azam Shajal on Sunday said, "The current committee on Sunday formed a new board for holding the next election." 

"We welcome the new board to conduct the next election," he said, adding that it is a step forward in the continuation of democratic practices by the apparel exporters. 

Apparel entrepreneurs usually compete in BGMEA elections to get a position in the organisation's governing body under two panels of the registered members – Forum and Sammilita Parishad.

Sammilita Parishad has officially announced Giant Group Managing Director Faruque Hassan as its panel leader for the trade body's next election. 

Faruque Hassan is former senior vice-president of BGMEA and president of the Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Currently, he is serving as honorary consul general of Greece in Bangladesh.

BGMEA President Rubana Huq will contest the next election as the panel leader of Forum.

BGMEA sources said the next election was scheduled for 4 April this year.

On 19 April 2019, the current board took the charge of the association for the 2019-2020 term.

The BGMEA with around 4,500 members is run by a 35-member board of directors, including seven vice-presidents.