Things are almost settled that the country’s apex apparel body — BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) — would have its next leadership through a process of selection notwithstanding the fact there is a subtle opposition to the move, the industry insiders said.Members who are opposed to the selection of leadership through ‘consensus’ are, however, are not coming out in the open for fear of reprisal from the ‘influential’ leaders, they said. Expressing their concern over the current move, a section of industry leaders said one can always expect transparency and accountability from the elected leadership. The FE correspondent talked to a number of BGMEA members and good number of them despite having their reservation about the ongoing process would not speak out in the open. Terming the selection process a ‘bad practice’ a BGMEA member, preferring anonymity, said: “Such practice will help keep the leadership within the grip of a few people only.” Expressing his resentment an entrepreneur of Ashulia said, “Selection of leadership is not at all a problem if majority of the members agree. But there is no guarantee that right kind of leaders would be chosen.” ‘Consensus’ process onamid subtle opposition.The BGMEA is now becoming a place for a few people who are not really involved with the trade and that is very frustrating for the future of the industry, he alleged. True leaders should regularly renew all their documents including bond and trade licences, and submit their income tax returns timely, he mentioned. Another entrepreneur who does not agree with the selection process said, “We could not but accept the decision as we don’t want any trouble in the way of doing business.” Explaining the reasons behind the consensus, a number of BGMEA leaders argued that BGMEA needs strong leadership to face the present as well as future challenges due to the ongoing safety initiatives by the western retailers and the changes in the business dimensions. “We are yet to overcome the challenges surfaced after the Rana Plaza building collapse and more new ones are expected to emerge following the changes in the business patterns,” Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury, a former BGMEA president said. “We need to work together to help the sector to meet the future challenges and flourish further,” MA Rahim, director of Dulal Brothers Ltd said. The two groups — Sammilito Parishad and Forum — that compete for its leadership, in a meeting with all its former presidents held on June 25 last, came to a mutual consensus that they would select a single panel and the office-bearers for next two terms. Currently BGMEA is being run by a 27-member elected Board of Directors the number of which has been increased to 35. According to the consensus between the two panels, Sammilita Parishad will be given 19 posts of director and the Forum 16 for the first term and the number would just be reversed for next two years. Next president would be selected from Sammilito Parishad while the chief would be selected from Forum for next two years’ tenure, Md Shahidullah Azim, vice president of BGMEA explained. A total of 38 candidates from the two panels submitted nomination papers to the election board of BGMEA on the last day of submission on August 3, leaving a little chance for any contest in the election, people involved with the process said. They said three out of 38 might withdraw their candidacies so the remaining others are elected unopposed. “The two additional candidates from our panel submitted nomination papers and one of the candidates, Md Siddiqur Rahman, submitted two nomination papers from two units,” a leader of Sammilito Parishad told the FE. He said one of the nomination papers of Siddiqur Rahman will be withdrawn while they are negotiating with two other candidates for withdrawing their nomination papers. Industry insiders, however, expressed their doubt whether the consensus would continue for long as the general members might not accept the process. There was similar consensus in previous years too, especially during the regime of caretaker government. They said that such a process only weakens accountability. The tenure of the present BGMEA leadership, led by Md Atiqul Islam, was earlier extended to September next. The election was due to be held on September 8 next, sources said. But the mutual understanding between the two groups ruined the usual process of electing leadership by general members, some of the members alleged. BGMEA started with only 12 members in 1978 and presently has around 4,222 member factories, according to its official website.
