A group of BGMEA members on Monday demanded resignation of its current president, SM Mannan Kochi, and his board of directors due to their controversial roles during the recent students’ quota reforms movement.
They also alleged that the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) failed to provide proper directives to its members who faced difficulties operating during the movement and especially after the turmoil stemming from the government change.
They placed the demand at a press conference held under the banner of “General Members of BGMEA” at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday.
Inamul Haq Khan Bablu, a former BGMEA director, alleged that the current board, led by Mr. Kochi, took charge of the trade body through vote rigging and a fraudulent voters list.
He also alleged that Awami League MP Salam Murshedy, Industry and Commerce Affairs Secretary Siddiqur Rahman, and Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam were shamefully involved in vote rigging with their respective forces.
Bablu further claimed that President SM Mannan Kochi opened fire on students during their protest on August 4.
He also alleged that on August 7, a group of BGMEA members went to the BGMEA to submit a memorandum expressing no confidence in the existing board and demanding its dissolution.
But the current board, through a press statement, misrepresented the events of August 7 and condemned it, he said.
Bablu demanded immediate resignation and dissolution of the board and called for the appointment of an interim, non-political board to conduct a fair election with a fresh voter list.
Responding to a question about complaints regarding the election, Mesbah Uddin Ali, managing director of Wega Fashion Sweater Limited, said that they could not speak freely at that time due to fear of the previous regime.
However, he said they filed a writ petition regarding 400 fake voters, but the then attorney general allegedly supported the Sammilita Parishad panel.
The press conference ended abruptly when questions were raised about allegations that some attendees and members of the Forum panel had benefited from the previous regime.
