Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the apex trade body of the country’s apparel industry, has declared March 7, 2018, as the Election Day for choosing their office bearers for the next term, a press release issued by the association stated recently.
In this regard, the BGMEA Election Board announced the election schedule at BGMEA building in capital Dhaka earlier in December 2017.
However, a close source associated to BGMEA claimed that the two panels of the apparel makers – Sommilito Parishad and Forum – have already reached a consensus on ‘selection’ of their President for the next term.
The source (requesting anonymity) also claimed that both the panels are considering Shahidul Islam, Managing Director of Rupa Sweaters Ltd., for the top post at the BGMEA.
Several local newspapers also confirmed the same referring to a quote of former BGMEA president and also a leader of Forum Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez).
“We have come to an agreement that the Board of Directors of the BGMEA will be formed without a conventional election to tackle leadership crisis,” he quoted.
Meanwhile, the Election Board will publish the final voter list by January 27, 2018.
Apart from the presidential post, the BGMEA will also elect 35 Board of Directors through direct voting by the BGMEA members who will take part in the decision-making process of the association. Of them, 26 will be from Dhaka zone and the rest from Chittagong zone. The last date for submitting the nomination of candidature is January 30, 2018.
The tenure of the current BGMEA board, led by Siddiqur Rahman, will expire by the end of March this year.
