The current vice-chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Md. Anwar Hossain, has been appointed by the Bangladeshi government to serve as the administrator of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). This decision follows SM Mannan Kochi, the association’s chosen president, resigning on August 24.
According to a circular sent by the Commerce Ministry, the post-resignation reconstituted board was set up improperly and neglected to address grievances brought forth by the organization’s general members. The ministry pointed out that persistent instability, such as labour disputes, was having a major influence on the economy and that the government had stepped in because the existing board was unable to handle these problems well.
The statement from the Commerce Ministry underlined how the operations of businesses, industries, and services have been hindered by the BGMEA members’ lack of collaboration. Hossain has 120 days from the date of his appointment to establish a climate conducive to free, fair, and credible elections as part of his mission.
Hossain promised to start talking to BGMEA members right away after being appointed in order to speed up the election process. “My first responsibility is to conduct the elections and quickly turn over power to the elected officials,” he said.
The Forum and Sammilito Parishad are the two rival panels that make up the BGMEA. Despite allegations of electoral irregularities, Sammilito Parishad won all 35 director positions in the organization’s biennial general elections on 9th March 2023. Since then, the Forum panel has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the election and demanded new ones.
The Forum panel’s calls for Kochi and his board to step down were heightened by the recent political unrest, which included the overthrow of the Awami League administration on 5th August. The board was reformed and Khandoker Rafiqul Islam was named temporary president when Kochi resigned. This resulted in more labour unrest and production losses estimated at over $400 million.
There have been persistent concerns about the electoral process, especially in light of the Forum panel’s allegations that 429 voters were disqualified because their tax records were missing. The previous board, which was led by Faruque Hassan, had its term extended prior to recent elections, citing continued geopolitical tensions and the challenges the textile industry encountered during the epidemic.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) was ordered by the High Court in February to settle disputes pertaining to more than 400 clothing companies’ eligibility for the BGMEA election.
With members who account for over 84 per cent of Bangladesh’s exports and more than four million employees, the BGMEA is the country’s biggest trade association.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
