BGMEA misses deadline to form election board

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has missed the deadline to form the election board to hold the polls in order to elect the leadership for 2023-25.

On April 13, the commerce ministry extended the tenure of the current board of the largest trade body of the country representing the apparel industry for six months to October 12.

As per the conditions attached to the extension, a three-member election board and an appeal board with an equal number of members would have to be formed 90 days before the extended term ends.

This means the election board had to be set up by July 10. But it has not been formed yet.

Speaking to The Daily Star, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said the board of directors is working to set up the election board as soon as possible.

Hassan was elected as the BGMEA chief from the Sammilita Parishad in the biennial election that took place in April 2021.

Faisal Samad, leader of the Forum, another panel of the association, said the Forum had reminded the president several times of forming the election board since time was running out, but he had not paid any heed.

As per the charter of the association and the conditions of the extension, the last date for the formation of the board was July 10, but the deadline was missed, the BGMEA director said.

So, the BGMEA might face a constitutional challenge as the election might not be held on time, he said, adding that the president did not uphold the constitution of the association by not setting up the board.

In January this year, the incumbent board decided to extend the tenure of the current board for six months, citing bad business conditions following the Russia-Ukraine war, the severe fallout of Covid-19 and a lower inflow of work orders from international buyers.