The executive committee and members of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association expressed concern on Thursday about the trade body’s and industry’s security following an alleged effort to forcibly take over the existing BGMEA board.
According to a news release, these concerns were expressed at a meeting held at the BGMEA headquarters in Uttara, the capital, on the same day. Many general members and BGMEA leaders were in attendance.
The conference, presided over by BGMEA interim president Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, was to discuss the security of the apparel apex organisation and the overall state of the garment industry. The debate included about 150 members.
On Wednesday, a group of BGMEA members led by former vice-president Faisal Samad submitted a memorandum to the current board, expressing their no-confidence in the existing board of directors.
They called for the appointment of an interim board that was honest, efficient and non-political, citing a loss of confidence in the existing board due to its controversial actions during the recent quota reform movement.
The BGMEA stated on Wednesday night, alleging that there was an attempted hostile takeover of the board by members of the ‘FORUM Panel’ and unidentified individuals.
The statement described the perpetrators as engaging in violent behaviour, including toppling the security gate, engaging in fistfights and unlawfully demanding the takeover of the current board.
In Thursday’s meeting, BGMEA general members strongly condemned the unintended incident at the BGMEA head office on 7th August. They stressed that, despite differing opinions, demands for reforms outside established norms were unacceptable.
Concerns were expressed regarding the BGMEA’s security, with the warning that repeated incidents could harm international buyer opinions of both the business and the BGMEA. The discussion also addressed current industry issues, such as the liquidity crisis in banks and its impact on timely wage payments to employees.
The discussions focused on ensuring secure factory operations in the face of potential vandalism threats, the situation at Chattogram port, and the safety of industrial goods vehicles on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.
During the meeting, respects were given to the students, citizens, and administrative personnel who died, as well as those injured during the recent anti-discrimination student movement.
The members offered their condolences to the dead families and prayed for the injured’s quick recovery.
BGMEA’s first vice-president Syed Nazrul Islam, vice-presidents Arshad Jamal Dipu, Md Nasir Uddin, and Abdullah Hill Rakib spoke at the event.
