Sammilita Parishad, one of the panels contesting the biennial Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) election for the term 2021-23, held on Sunday, has bagged the most number of directorial posts even as Faruque Hassan (Managing Director of Giant Group and former Vice-President of the trade body), who led the Sammilita Parishad, is all set to head the trade body as its new President.
According to media reports, Sammilita Parishad bagged 24 out of 35 Directors’ posts even as the remaining 11 Director’s posts were won by the Forum, another of the contesting panels, lead by Chairman of Hannan Group and a former Vice-President of BGMEA ABM Shamsuddin.
Further, Faruque Hassan, who is serving as Consul General of Greece in Dhaka, reportedly, secured 1,204 votes (according to the results published at midnight), while ABM Shamsuddin and Forum’s Presidential candidate bagged 904 votes even as Dr. Rubana Huq (incumbent BGMEA President, who also contested the election) managed to get 1,157 votes.
In his post-win reaction, Faruque Hassan, stated, “We will work closely with the Government and the European Union (EU) to retain duty-free market access in the region up to 2031, after the LDC graduation in 2026…,” which he felt was possible through apparel diplomacy, while going on to add, “My vision of BGMEA is to ensure that it becomes an organisation that prioritises service delivery for its members, where its members can receive them without any hassle.”
Now only the formalities remain to elect Faruque Hassan as the President of the apex garment makers’ body, in a meeting of the newly elected Directors, as per reports.
