Govt dissolves BGMEA board, appoints EPB vice chairman as administrator

The interim government has appointed Md Anwar Hossain, vice chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), as the administrator to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

The Ministry of Commerce today (20 October) issued a circular in this regard under the Section 17 of the Trade Organizations Act, 2022.

According to the circular, the administrator would hand over the responsibilities to the newly elected body of the country's apex trade body of apparel manufacturers through holding a free and fair election within 120 days and thus apprise the development to the ministry.

Earlier on 24 August, Designtex Group Managing Director Khandoker Rafiqul Islam was elected as the president of BGMEA following the resignation of SM Mannan Kochi.

Kochi was elected BGMEA president on 14 March for the 2024-26 term.

The association's board elected Rafiqul president to complete the remaining term.

On 20 August, the Forum – the panel that lost the election months ago – called for the dissolution of the current board and the establishment of an interim committee to oversee a free, fair, and credible election for the trade body.

In a letter to the commerce ministry, the panel alleged that the BGMEA election held in February this year was marred by irregularities and was heavily influenced by the then Hasina government.

The panel leaders also alleged that Kochi had good relations with the deposed premier and was involved in carrying out attacks on students during their movement in July and August. After the political changeover, he has gone into hiding.

Following the ouster of the Awami League government on 5 August, several cases, including one for murder, have been filed against Kochi.

However, speaking with TBS, the BGMEA leader has denied any involvement in the violence and has been in Singapore for his son's treatment since 4 August.