Several members of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have called for the dissolution of the current board and the establishment of an interim committee to oversee a free, fair, and credible election for the trade body.
They made this demand at a press conference on the banner of BGMEA general members at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon today (31 August).
Mozammel Haque Bhuiyan, managing director of Maisha Fashion, read out a written statement with seven points demand.
Mozammel demanded the dissolution of the current board and the establishment of an interim committee to oversee a free, fair, and credible election for the trade body.
He also called for an interim board to make a transparent voter list for conducting the next election.
Mozammel alleged that the BGMEA election held in February this year was marred by irregularities and heavily influenced by the Sheikh Hasina-led government.
He also claimed that numerous ineligible factories, lacking trade licenses and not filing tax returns, were allowed to vote in the last election.
In light of these issues, Mozammel urged the commerce adviser and the interim government to intervene to safeguard the integrity of the garment sector.
The demands are – The general members do not accept Khandkar Rafiqul Islam, the vice-president of the present committee of Kochi, the general secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League, who killed the students in the anti-discrimination student movement, Khandaker Rafiqul Islam, as the president of BGMEA. His appointment should be canceled immediately and the Board of Directors should be dissolved.
- Formation of an interim management board of 20 members free from party influence in consultation with the members.
Formation of a judicial inquiry committee for transparent and proper investigation of all past corruptions of BGMEA.
- The current chairman of BGMEA University (BUFT), the friend of murderer Hasina. Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin along with the existing board was dissolved and a new board was formed.
-The deceased in the movement of past students. Compensation to the families of the victims including late Salim Talukdar.
The last BGMEA election was contested by two panels – “Sammilita Parishad” and “Forum”. The SM Mannan Kochi-led Sammilita Parishad won all 35 directorships, which was an unusual outcome.
In the context of change, the garment sector is facing multifaceted challenges. But the initiative of the BGMEA president was not seen to deal with these, because he was in the field with political programmes,” said Inamul Haq Khan, former Director of BGMEA
In the last govt, several times my factories attack and violence, BGMEA board Couldn’t help us to protest he addded.
Now its time to reform board and buft, he added.
Bangladesh is now the flagship of Bangladesh, Buyers giving orders and hope that our apparel orders will incraese more, he added.
