The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) will hold its biennial election tomorrow.
Sammilita Parishad and Forum candidates have both declared their intention to win and have presented their separate election manifestos to the electorate.
The general members of the apex trade body in the country’s apparel sector expressed that the manifestos from the two panels are “very innovative” and “industry friendly.”
Many members, however, voiced their opinions that the financial obstacles and bureaucratic intricacies would make it extremely impossible for the elected board to carry out the manifestos.
General members of the BGMEA are searching for a “youth, dynamic, and skilled” leadership to address present and future issues in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector as the nation prepares to leave the list of least developed nations (LDCs) in 2026.
Seventy candidates are running in total from both panels. Of them, 35 candidates from each panel will compete for the positions: 26 from Dhaka and 9 from the Chittagong zone.
The 2,496-voter list was finalised by the BGMEA. Of them, 464 are in the Chittagong zone while 2,032 are in Dhaka.
The Sammilita Parishad‘s main manifestos include: empowering SMEs for sustainable development; facilitating business through the resolution of gas and HS code issues; addressing complex customs issues; addressing issues related to duties, income tax, VAT, and cash incentives; banking and financial services; promoting sustainable industrialization and a prosperous economy; and expanding into new markets and product diversification.
The panel also suggested creating a unified code of conduct, a participatory BGMEA, the green revolution, improving the apparel industry’s reputation, middle management skill development, guaranteeing incentives and policy support for the backward linkage industry, the circular economy, and resolving RSC (RMG Sustainability Council)-related complexities.
However, the Forum panel committed to creating a clean, transparent, and intelligent BGMEA; addressing the issues surrounding LDC graduation; enhancing the industry’s reputation and securing GSP Plus status within the EU; and submitting a proposal for the establishment of a separate ministry for industry development.
The forum also suggested fair prices for RMG products, buyer accountability, market expansion, in-house sales management in non-traditional markets, industry safety, labour rights, environmental protection, revitalising SMEs, sick industry, and dignified businessmen’s departure, industry compliance, and business facilitation.