The government on Thursday extended the tenure of the current board of directors of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association for one month despite opposition from a section of BGMEA members.This is the third time that the current board of the apparel sector trade body got tenure extension.A commerce ministry official confirmed that the circular regarding the extension was issued on Thursday.The current board under the leadership of its president, Md Siddiqur Rahman, assumed office on September 22, 2015 through a negotiation process for a two-year term.The board of the trade body got its first extension (six months) from the commerce ministry on the grounds that BGMEA had to relocate its headquarters as the Supreme Court declared its building on Hatirjheel Lake illegal and ordered to demolish it within six months.After the six-month extended tenure, the government had further extended the tenure of the BGMEA board for one more year and allowed the existing board to remain in office up to March 22, 2019.As per the articles of association of the trade body, the board would have to announce election schedule by December 22 this year.BGMEA members alleged that avoiding the procedure to form election board, the incumbent president submitted an application to the commerce ministry for a third-time tenure extension for his board.A section of the BGMEA members including its former presidents had requested the commerce minister not to extend the tenure of the current board again saying that the general members of the trade body would not accept the process any more.Despite the opposition, Siddiq got the third extension and he will be in office up to April 22, 2019.
