The Swadhinata Parishad, the third panel at the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), has called for an election instead of a selection method for running the trade body for the next two years. In recent years, with mutual understanding two panels, the Sammilito Parishad and the Forum, have been taking turns in running the apex trade body of the garment sector without holding any election. Currently, Siddiqur Rahman, who belongs to the Sammilito Parishad, has been running the BGMEA as its president, meaning it is now the Forum panel’s turn to reign. Rubana Huq, managing director of Mohammadi Group, a leading garment exporter, is the leader of the Forum Panel. “But this time we want the election so that the general members can exercise their voting rights,” said Jahangir Alam, convener of the Swadhinata Parishad, at a press conference held at Dhaka Club yesterday. He went on to make a threat of filing a case with the court if the election is not held. The BGMEA election is scheduled to be held on April 6 this year. The election is needed as many general members are neglected by the BGMEA employees and the board of directors, said Alam. He went on to cite his case as an example of the BGMEA’s apathy towards the general members. The trade body had taken more than three months to enlist his newly constructed factory in Cumilla. As a result, he could not go into production as per schedule although he is still paying high interest rate for bank loans. “This shows the BGMEA is not serious about the concerns of general members.” Alam said the current executive body does not know the real scenario of the garment sector. “Many factories have faced closure for different reasons over the last few years, but they are not aware of it.” He said Bangladesh has the opportunity to grab more work orders that are being shifted out of China because of tariff war with the US. “We have the opportunity to grow more, but we have been failing at it.” He said the sector’s target of exporting goods worth $50 billion by 2021 would not be achieved as the country could not improve its capacity. In fiscal 2017-18, garment export receipts amounted to $30.61 billion.
