The Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) is gearing up for its biennial election for 2024-26 amidst a hectic timetable.
The election, slated for 11th May, is clouded with uncertainty due to ongoing legal cases and repeated lawsuits.
The final day to publish the list of confirmed and withdrawn candidates was 22nd April, however the candidates are still unsure of the format of the Dhaka and Chittagong elections.
The election will take place following the association’s norms, according to Dr. Md. Razzakul Islam, the deputy secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and chairman of the BGAPMEA Election Board.
The election schedule states that out of 21 directors in the BoD, 16 will be elected from the members of the Dhaka region and 5 from Chittagong.
In response to a question on the lack of a clear indication of the number of votes that a voter will cast, Razzakul Islam stated that they have no idea as of now and that they will decide on the matter after speaking with the candidates on Wednesday.
They will also choose whether or not Chittagong will host the election this year.
Voters for a predetermined number of director positions for Dhaka and Chittagong participated in the BGMEA and BKMEA elections.
On the other hand, the Dhaka candidates won the most recent BGAPMEA election with no opposition, and the Chittagong directors were chosen only through direct polling.
Former BGAPMEA president Moazzem Hossain has declared that there were issues with the previous election procedure.
In February of last year, the BGAPMEA announced its election schedule, with Razzakul Islam serving as the EC chairperson and Ashrafur Rahman and Tania Islam as members.
The RMG sector’s backward linking association is called BGAPMEA.
On 5th September of last year, Moazzem Hossain, the organisation’s previous president, was dismissed as a result of lawsuits and cross-complaints between the leaders. Next, an administrator was chosen by the Ministry of Commerce.
It was through a dubious election that Moazzem Hossain was elected president of the organisation over 2.5 years ago.