BGMEA to hold elections tomorrow

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is all set to hold its biennial elections on Saturday.

Some 2,496 members of the apex trade body of the apparel sector will cast their votes to elect a new board of directors for 2024-2025 term. 

A total of 70 candidates are contesting for 35 director positions under two panels –Sammilito Parishad and Forum. 

SM Mannan Kochi is contesting for the president post from the Sammilito Parishad, a panel backed by Faruque Hassan, the outgoing president, while Faisal Samad is the candidate of Forum, backed by former president Rubana Huq, for the post. 

Of the 35 directors, 26 will be picked up from Dhaka while nine will be elected from Chattogram region. 

On 4 December last year, the BGMEA board of directors formed a three-member election board headed by Jahangir Alamin, former president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA). 

It also formed a three-member election appellate board headed by Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President Kamran T Rahman.

The voters in Dhaka region will cast their ballots in booths installed at BGMEA Uttara office, while the voters in Chattogram region will cast votes the trade body's regional office in the port city. 

The voting will start from 10am and will continue until 5pm on Saturday, in which each voter has to put a "cross mark" on the ballot paper to elect 35 directors. 

Seeking cooperation from both the panels, election board chairman Jahangir Alamin told TBS, "So far I'm happy with the arrangements to conduct the election peacefully." 

In a letter, BGMEA president Faruque Hassan has urged all the members to remain united for a better future of the RMG industry. 

The last polls were held on 4 April 2021, with 1,996 out of 2,314 voters casting their ballots to elect the directors, while office bearers were elected on 12 April. 

The tenure of the current board was supposed to end on 12 April last year, but the government extended it by one year in two phases. 

On 13 April, the Ministry of Commerce first extended the tenure by six months to 12 October in response to the plea of the present committee. Then, the extension was made for another six months up to 12 April this year.