TDS Desk:

A group of business entities under the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday placed a seven-point demand that included dissolving the association’s current board, and holding a free and fair inter-organisational election.

They made the demands at a press conference held under the banner of “BGMEA general members” at a Dhaka hotel.

Mozammel Haque Bhuiyan, managing director of Maisha Fashion, read out the written demands at the programme.

He called for forming an interim BGMEA management board of 20 non-political members in consultation with general members to oversee a free, fair, and credible election.

He also urged for the proposed interim board to make a transparent voter list, reminding irregularities in the previous election where numerous ineligible companies cast vote despite lacking trade licenses and tax return records

Mozammel also alleged that the last BGMEA election held in February was marred by other irregularities at the behest of the ousted Sheikh Hasina-led autocratic government. The government’s downfall on 5 August in student-led mass movement has spurred hopes within BGMEA of reforming the trade body.

Mozammel also demanded that the current chairman of BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) was an associate of the autocrat Sheikh Hasina, and thus, the university’s board should also be dissolved soon.

At Saturday’s press conference, BGMEA members also called for forming a judicial inquiry committee for conducting a transparent and proper investigation into all the alleged corruption activities committed within BGMEA.

They also urged the interim government to intervene in BGMEA affairs to safeguard the integrity of the garment sector as it accounts for 80% of the country’s total exports.