Apparel manufacturers, mostly member of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), want to get rid of the culture of selecting their leaders instead of election to run the apex trade body of the country’s RMG industries.The probability of election become stronger as a new platform has emerged recently to contest in the pool to choose the leaders through ballots. They do not want any ‘Selection Committee’ which was an earlier practice and formed on the basis of understanding.“We want to ensure that leaders of the trade body are not selected on the whims of an influential quarter,” said a leader of the platform on condition of anonymity.Two alliances – Sammilita Parishad and Forum – have been leading the BGMEA on the basis of understanding between them. It means if Sammilita Parishad forms the BGMEA board this term, the next board will be formed by Forum leaders, depriving the members from their voting rights.Members seeking anonymity said that they want to elect their leaders who will ensure transparency and be accountability to them.Usually, the general members of the BGMEA vote to elect the leaders for two-year tenure.But in 2015 no election took place although both the panels — Sammilito Parishad and Forum — had announced their nominees. Later the Forum nominees pulled out from the lection leaving the Sammilito Parishad’s presidential candidate victorious by default. Since the Sammilito Parishad was in leadership last time, it is now Forum’s turn to lead the trade body.With the emergence of the new platform, Shadhinata Parishad, the scenario has been changed and the election may be in line for a shake up, said industry insiders. The newly-floated platform of apparel makers has already reiterated its demand for holding an election to the board of apparel markers’ apex body.The Shadhinata Parishad was formed on January 11, 2018 to compete in the BGMEA election. Speaking at the programme, Parishad convener and managing director of Design and Source Ltd Md Zahangir Alam said that the BGMEA has become an ineffective organisation as the leadership of the trade body has not been chosen for long through elections. He also fears that the next board will also be formed through selection, the practice that started a couple of years ago.“Some former presidents played vital roles in the negotiation, it’s made them stronger. Usually they take decision who would be the next president,” said Md Zahangir Alam. Such type’s syndication is not healthy for democratic process, he added. He said that the government has extended the term of the current office bearers thrice since the two-year period of the existing board expired on September 21, 2017. He alleged that the government has been misguided by the current office bearers of BGMEA to get the extensions —one year, six month and one month.About 90 percent of BGMEA members are eagerly waiting for election, which made them empowered and honoured as a member of the apex body, said Design and Source Ltd Managing Director.Meanwhile, the BGMEA announced the election schedule on Sunday last. As per the schedule, the election for 35 directors will be held on April 6. The deadline for nomination submission is Feb 28 and withdrawal is Mar 6. The elections of office bearers would be held on April 18 and the new board would take office of the trade body on April 21.The current board under the leadership of its president, Md Siddiqur Rahman, assumed office on September 22, 2015 for a two-year term through a negotiation process with the rival panel. As per the negotiation, Siddiqur-led Sammilita Parishad holds 19 posts of directorship and Forum 16 posts.Although the tenure of the board was two years, the incumbents remain in office for more than three and a half years as the government extended their tenure thrice.During the negotiation in 2015, both Sammilita Parishad and Forum agreed in principle that Forum would get the post of president of the trade body for the next tenure. As per the negotiation, Forum is supposed to assume the office of BGMEA for the next term.According to sector people, BGMEA former vice-president and Classic Group Managing Director Shahidullah Azim, current senior vice-president and GIANT GROUP Managing Director Faruque Hassan and current vice-president S.M. Mannan (Kochi) are in the list as the president candidate from Sammilita Parishad.Of them Shahidullah Azim had played a vital role to rebuild the country’s image during and after Rana Plaza incident in 2013. Faruque Hassan working as senior vice-president under the Siddiq-led current board; while S.M. Mannan (Kochi) also working as vice-president from the last seven and half years. Mohammadi Group managing director Rubana Huq and Rupa sweaters ltd Managing Director Md. Shahidul Islam are in the list as the president candidate from Forum.Shadinata Parishad convener Jahangir Alam has already started campaigning for the next elections.The negotiation process has stated since 2003 to share the presidential tenure as one year in between Anisul Haque and Kazi Moniruzzaman. After that in 2005-06, BGMEA presidential tenure were shared between Fazlul Haque, Tipu Munshi and Anisul Haque every eight months for each.
